

Carbon and corrosion that forms between the plug shell and cylinder head can make these plugs very challenging to remove. The original Motorcraft plugs are a two-piece design with a metal shroud that wraps around the electrode on the bottom half of the plug. But if there is a valid reason for switching brands, they may do so.Ī case in point are the original equipment spark plugs used in 2004 to 2008 Ford 5.4L V8 and 6.8L V10 engines, and 2005 to 2007 Ford 4.6L V8 engines.
#Iridium vs platinum spark plugs install#
Many professional technicians prefer to install the same brand of spark plugs that were originally in the engine, and may be reluctant to try a different brand.

Even so, AC, Autolite and Champion all make spark plugs that fit most import applications, while Bosch, DENSO and NGK make spark plugs that fit most domestic applications. And as more domestic and European automakers switch to iridium plugs, the demand will continue to grow.īosch spark plugs are used in most European makes, while DENSO and NGK spark plugs are usually standard in most Asian makes. If they don’t have iridium spark plugs, chances are they will lose sales to competitors who do. Most spark plug suppliers want the ability to offer their customers replacement spark plugs that are OEM equivalent in their product lines. But as the list of OEM applications has grown, so has the demand for aftermarket iridium replacement spark plugs. NGK developed a fine wire electrode with an iridium tip that offered many of the advantages of a performance spark plug (concentrated spark and reduced firing voltage requirements) with long wear characteristics comparable to or possibly even better than platinum.Īs with platinum spark plugs, the initial use of iridium plugs was limited to a handful of import makes (Japanese nameplates). Why iridium? Because iridium has a higher melting temperature than platinum, it is six times harder than platinum, and it is more corrosion-resistant than platinum or most other metals.

In 2005, the first iridium spark plugs were introduced by NGK as a long-life alternative to platinum plugs.
