PontiacBonnevilleClub.com

O.K., I've been searching the site but don't seem to find suggestions for type of plug to replace on a stock 2000 SSEi,(supercharged), with 84,000 miles. Yea, the original plugs are still in, (NGK), and are looking a little worn. Any benefit to the new iridium plugs?
Also, any tips on getting to the rear plugs?
Thanks.

NGK TR55 V-power coppers from NAPA. Gap to .055"

Rear plugs on the 2k and newer? Get a blanket, drape it over the motor, and climb up on your belly.

Thanks Willwren!

I looked at the pics of the NGK plugs. The V-Power has a groove cut to supposedly help keep the spark out to the end of the electrode for better performance. But it begs the question, wouldn't the electrode be prone to wearing down faster since it is physically smaller because of the groove at the tip? Looking at pics of the E3 plug, it would appear to accomplish the same thing with the shape difference in the ground electrode. I also looked at the Denso Iririum and think to myself, that electrode isn't long for this world (being so small) and that gap would change drastically if that electrode suffered any damage.

Anyone have any thoughts, or better yet real worl experience with all these new plugs? I am in no way questioning Will's suggestion, just looking to get educated. I hear about these new plugs and I'm just too old and set in my ways to be able to wrap my head around the new designs. I've been using Delco plugs for the past 15 years (in the same car). Now I have the Bonneville and well, I'm willing to learn something if the info is there. Will, would you car to expand upon your experiences with the NGK's? Power? Mileage? Driveability?

willwren wrote:NGK TR55 V-power coppers from NAPA. Gap to .055"

Rear plugs on the 2k and newer? Get a blanket, drape it over the motor, and climb up on your belly.

My Y2K SSEi has just started vibrating but only during a low speed accelleration. When I speed up the vibration disappears. I'm wondering if this is a sign of a bad plug misfiring on not.

Any ideas?

Noah, it's best to start your own topic so we can help you troubleshoot your problem.

HurstGN, the V-Powers 'toggle' the spark back and forth to each side of the groove (edge to edge, or corner to corner if you will). I've been running these plugs for 6 years in one car, 4 years in the other and have never seen any abnormal wear other than when I blew the plug apart running lean at the top end, and when my Piston chunked, wiping out a plug.

TR-55's are good plugs for our application and last a long time.

6 years is good enough for me.

I put almost 101,000 miles on my NGK Iridium plugs, and the center electrode looked like NEW after all those miles. I have the Denso Iridium plugs in my car now, so I should not have to change the plugs again till the car has 275,000(has 175,000 now) miles on her. My gas mileage did not decline even with all those miles on the plugs. The reason I took the NGK's out was to see how they were after 100,000 miles, and I would have left them in but the ground strap was getting thin and that had let the gap open up to .065". I got better gas mileage when I switched from a standard plug(less than 10,000 miles on them) to the Iridium. The '08 427 Corvette comes with Iridium plugs, if its good enough for the 500+ H.P. Corvette, its good enough for my car.

Taken from sparkplugs.con

Iridium

Iridium is a precious metal that is 6 times harder and 8 times stronger than platinum, it has a 1,200=F higher melting point than platinum and conducts electricity better. This makes it possible to create the finest wire center electrode ever. Prior till now, spark plug manufacturers have favored platinum for their long life or performance spark plugs due to its high melting point, also the technology did not exist to machine and bond iridium on a spark plug electrode (at least in a cost effective manner). Champion spark plugs have produced iridium industrial and aviation spark plugs since the 1960's, but they still sell for over a hundred dollars per plug. Just now is the technology cost effective to use iridium in a spark plug for automotive applications. The strength, hardness and high melting point of iridium make it very well suited for a fine wire plug. The primary iridium plug manufacturers at this time are Denso with a 0.4mm center electrode, while Champion and NGK have 0.7mm center electrodes. These are the best performance plugs on the market for traditional automotive use and many racing applications. Autolite has introduced an iridium-enhanced plug (the iridium content is too low to call it an iridium plug) we do not consider this in the same class as Denso, NGK or Champion.
SIDENOTE: Thus far the tech's we have spoken with report no problems using iridium plugs with Nitrous.


ROD

I second the above notion - I am running Delco 41-985's (one heat range colder Iridium's than stock) and VERY pleased on my SSEi with my mods -- and its easy to remember because my WS6 also runs 41-985's.. The STS-V .. I don't have a clue yet

Thanks to all for the comments and advice.
I'll be looking at the iridium's and comparing prices.

silverws6ta,
Your STS-V takes an platinum plug, 41-991 is the stock plug for the STS-V.

2006 CADILLAC STS V V8 4.4L 4371cc 267cid GAS FI S Engine VIN = D
IGNITION / SPARK PLUG 41-991 SPARK PLUG, PLATINUM PLUG


ROD

Thanks Rod, I looked it up too right after I got through with that reply as well...

has anyone tried the E3's? they look like they might be good but i dunno. i have ngk tr55s now but with me running the bottle it wont be long till i change them. someone was tellin me to go to autolite since i have the bottle.

Bob N wrote:...Also, any tips on getting to the rear plugs?
Thanks.

Removing the rear engine lifting bracket gives you a lot more room (only 2 nuts holding it on).

TampaSSeI95 wrote:has anyone tried the E3's? they look like they might be good but i dunno. i have ngk tr55s now but with me running the bottle it wont be long till i change them. someone was tellin me to go to autolite since i have the bottle.

The N20 only dictates heat range, not brand. NGK, Autolite, or Champion. Doesn't matter if they're the right heatrange. E3 plugs? Show me the proof. It makes a spark. There is very little headroom left in the world of spark plugs to make an improvement in the basic existing technology. Most new plugs in the last 5 years have been very little improved or a gimmick.