OEM sparks plugs vs. NGK

[Troyport]

I'm still chasing my slight rough idle.. I have always been an OEM guy, especially on tune up parts. This site talked me into the TR55 plugs over the AC 41601 plugs. I had the 41601 plugs in it for 130K miles with no issues, now I have this idle issue. My mind tells me this issue is NOT caused by the plugs, but I wonder, since most people here are looking to get as much horse power out of their cars as possible, is there a trade-off of sorts making the change to this NGK plug? This is just something that has jumped into my head, as I am running out of ideas. Thanks for any input. Mike

[robertccach]

You know I first put in platium plugs a few months ago and then reading in here that I should not use them in a sc motor I went to get ngk 55s but because advanced auto only had 5 of them I went instead with champion copper plugs..Not a problem with them what so ever.But still wanted to try the ngks so 2 weeks ago I went back and got six and put them in.With in a week I was getting a random misfire code(cylinders 6 and 4).So I put 3 of my champion plugs back in(back of engine)and left the ngks in the front and not a problem.I would have put the other 3 back in but I broke 2 of them taking them out.So either I got a bad set of plugs or ngks are not as great as people say they are.What are the oem plugs anyways?

[robertccach]

I think the ACDelco 41-601 is the same thing as the ngk 55s by the way....

[willwren]

They are not the same. AC Delco does not offer a V-Power design plug.

Attributing a misfire to plugs without considering other factors can be very misleading. I've run the TR55's in all three of my 3800's, supercharged or not, and have always had great success with them.

[robertccach]

I understand that but then why misfires with one brand and not the other?Did I just get a set of bad plugs?When I took out the ngks they looked perfectly fine.All I know is Im not getting misfires with the champion plugs.Its not that Im pushing one brand of plug over another brand but if someone can explain why One brand gives codes and another brand doesnt seem to.I would love to hear it.....

[Jrs3800]

You may have gotten a bad batch... Hard to say...

I have NGK's in all of my 3800's... Have had no issues with the plugs... Well thats not true, I actually cracked one installing it, did not know till a lot later that I cracked it...

I have used both the NGK Copper and NGK Plats with no issues...

I have also used Autolite 606, AC Delco 41-606...

The Only one I have that idles a little off kilter is my van, but a .517 cam will do that, it too has NGK TR55 Plugs... My 03 SLE has the TR55's and idles fine, my 95 Bonneville is the same..

Not really sure what to tell you

[00Beast]

NGK TR55's here, and they're better than AL605's, IMO.

[robertccach]

What I will do tomorrow is go get 3 new ones and see what happens and report back.But is there really a difference between say the ngk 55s and the champion copper plus as far as voltage used to run it?if so maybe that might mean coils going bad?I dont know..

[Troyport]

Hmmm... I think my thread got stolen, but that is okay, I don't mind, the conversation is interesting. I was just curious if there was, for example, a low RPM (like idle speed) sacrifice for something gained elsewhere by using these plugs. I'm not trying to solve an issue inappropriately, just thought I would inquire on the possibility. I've seen plenty of goofy things in 45 years.... didn't hurt to ask. Mike.

[Troyport]

For instance, after I blew my head gaskets in my 3800 ford engine years ago, I had a poor idle after I got it back together. Chased it for weeks, drove myself nuts. Turned out to be the plugs, tried 3 sets since the autoparts store (local napa, not autozone crap) swapped them for free, finally I went back to OEM, and she was like new again. FWIW, between that engine and the AXODE tranny, that car sucked. My one and only ford. But I digress...

[repinS]

What is/was your gap set at?

[2 loud]

i am running halo sparkplugs in my ssei 92 ,, the gap it mutch smaller then oem but after a short while of stumbling the engine runs smoth again , those plugs are amazing and becuse of the smaller gap i can add moore boost without owerheating them

http://halosparkplugs.com/

these once shall fit B-GR15YC-1 but i couldent find any else then B-GR15YC ( less gap ) here in sweden so those are the once i run ,, and the idle is smoth
but heres the answer you got if you ask the seller of them if they match a 3.8 bonnie

Spark Plugs for this automobile make, model, year and engine are currently not available. For further information please write to sales@lsgbrisk.com.

[Troyport]

All plug gaps measure .058" - .060"

[willwren]

i am running halo sparkplugs in my ssei 92 ,, the gap it mutch smaller then oem but after a short while of stumbling the engine runs smoth again , those plugs are amazing and becuse of the smaller gap i can add moore boost without owerheating them

http://halosparkplugs.com/

these once shall fit B-GR15YC-1 but i couldent find any else then B-GR15YC ( less gap ) here in sweden so those are the once i run ,, and the idle is smoth
but heres the answer you got if you ask the seller of them if they match a 3.8 bonnie

Spark Plugs for this automobile make, model, year and engine are currently not available. For further information please write to sales@lsgbrisk.com.

Another member falls for a scam. A spark is a spark is a spark. There is only a limited amount of energy in the air-fuel mixture compressed in the cylinder. A different plug can't get you more energy, but the wrong plug can cost you energy. Quit wasting your money on scam plugs like that one and the E3, and simply by 2-dollar copper plugs like the rest of us. In addition, a spark plug will NOT let you safely add more boost. There's far more to the equation to keep from blowing up a motor than just plugs.

[wjcollier07]

I've been using NGK TR55s in everything 3800 that I've owned (90 Electra, 89 LE, 93 SE, 98 SE & 98 SSE) including the 3300 that was in my Ciera. Excellent plugs. The only thing I noticed is that their insulators tend to be very fragile...and I've cracked a few, ended up with a misfire without knowing why, and that ended up being the case. Otherwise, they're excellent plugs for the price, much much better than autolite or champion for sure. As long as they're gapped and installed correctly, there's absolutely no reason they should give you an issue unless there is something else going wrong, such as a crack in the insulator, a failing coil, incorrect gap, etc.

[LeSabreUltra]

My 3800 was always smooth running TR-55's...that being said...

My 4.3 (which is universally considered to be a rougher engine) did not like NGK TR plugs much on any occasion I tried them but with AC Delco platinum is now the smoothest engine I have ever owned...seriously. Can't even feel it running. For a 4.3 that is rare.

Different engines of course but I thought I'd share my experience.

My Buick was never a perfect idler on any plug though, I'd always feel a small shake to it at idle.
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[Troyport]

removed the Tr55's, put in the stock plugs, problem solved. Probably a funny set of plugs since everyone has great luck with these, but, seemingly every time I get talked into aftermarket stuff, get burned.. Just crappy luck.

[Bob Dillon]

With in a week I was getting a random misfire code(cylinders 6 and 4)

It's not the plugs.

Get new plug wires. You probably pulled the connection apart removing them from the old plugs. I use a dab of dielectric grease inside the boots. Don't pull them off, twist them off.

[enslow]

removed the Tr55's, put in the stock plugs, problem solved. Probably a funny set of plugs since everyone has great luck with these, but, seemingly every time I get talked into aftermarket stuff, get burned.. Just crappy luck.

I'll bet that one wire wasn't seated properly on the plug. I had a rough idle once with new plugs and wires. I went out and got a coil tester and an inline spark plug tester. Everything tested fine. I put it back together and had no further problems. I do find wires hard to seat properly sometimes.

[robertccach]

All I know is with the ngk 55's I got missfires so I went out and got the AC Delco 41-101's and have not had a problem since...