Spark Plug brands for the festiva's?

[festivagiant]

Just wanted to get an idea of what all you guys are running for plugs and wires. I know not all believe this, but I have experienced night and day differences with performance and gas mileage by changing the spark plugs and wires. With my suzuki just by switching over to a bosch platinum 4 I was getting 3-4 mpg better, and when I would switch back to an ngk it would consistently go back to the old mpg results.
So with the festiva's what's the general idea and experience? Does anyone run a specific plug, and which ones run best in these mazda engines?

[aries405]

is that so?.. il change my plugs from ngk to platinum and see what happens

[jasonpaulbauer]

The standard autolite/motorcraft copper plug is all I run. Very reliable plug. Platinum is only nessesary if you want to attempt to get 100K miles out of a plug. Bosch and champions would be the last plug I put in any vehicle of mine.

NGk and Denso plugs would be very good plugs. If you can get them in a basic copper, or want to spend additional money on platinum or iridium. But again, the rare metals are not nessesary on these cars.

[ch33z3x]

I use the NGK iridium ones. Wayyyy more expensive. But i run my car pretty hard, so i treat it the best i can when it comes to stuff like that. With semi sythetic oil, good filters, and 92 octane, it runs VERY well.

[hawkdoc60]

I'm using standard NGK's and they have been no problem. I agree with Jason in that I would never put Bosch or Champion in any of my vehicles.

[festivagiant]

what is it about the bosch and champions you don't like?
I've heard that certain auto makers have engines that run better with certain plugs. I just had great success with the bosch's on japanese vehicles and wondered about the festiva's

[jasonpaulbauer]

Both champion and Bosch are low quality plugs. The process/quality control is just not there. To much variation in what you get.

The bosch +4's and other multi electrode plugs are just gimmicks to have a longer lasting plug. A standard copper will last 30k+ miles and with older engines its good to pull the plugs occasionally anyway to check for proper engine operation.

All you really want in a plug is a gap that is not going to grow much over time and one that is a good gap from the factory. A gap that has to be adjusted on the plug doest last as long as a factory gap.

These engines do not have the cylinder pressures that create the excessive plug wear that would require a platinum or iridium electrode or ground strap.

[hawkdoc60]

^^^^I couldn't have said it better. I've gotten Champion plugs in the past that were garbage right out of the box. I wonder where their QC department is.

[MONSOON]

Besides the fact the no matter how many points there are on the end of the plug. The spark is going to choose the path of least resistance. Whether it be one or all four points. Ive used the Bosch Platinums in the past and had one go bad after less than 5000. Ill stick with NGKs or Motorcrafts thank you.

[Axlander9289]

I'm running Motorcraft copper plugs at the moment. Bosch plugs are junk IMHO.

[jglutz]

Plugs....Champions....changed every year or 12k....what ever comes first.....never had a problem. The NKG or Bosch.....I' sure they are better...or sure hope they are for the price....probalbly hold up longer...but I'd rather change them frequently...I can still buy them for about a buck a pop. Not a Motorcraft fan...I don't like the 'plating' they use...I think its black chromate.

Wires....I have bought a lot of cheap sets and expensive sets....I prefer the pricey ones. They have a much snugger fit and tend to corrode less. Recently, I've been buying wires from NAPA....±$35 a set. I forget what's on the box but i know they are made by Belden.

[Bathtub Tom]

Plugs.

I always put an ohmeter through the centre electrode, and check the insulation resistance of every new set.

If they aren't all similar, I return them.

[festivaWES]

ngk vPowers and MSD magnacore wires

[elcamino1]

NGK for the Festiva.
Champion for the Cordova.
AC for the Elcamino.
Motorcraft or Autolite for the F150.