Iridium spark plugs
- Thread starter Bitza
- Start date
Nickj
UKMOC Member
I more used them in 2T's beacuse they wore really well and the small electrode gave you a really good spark, then again the small electrode did mean thay could foul. They are a bit more tolerant in more extreme combustion as in a high tuned engine or in very cold conditions.
Irridium is a good conductor and better than platinum which is the next plg material step down, it's also more expensive so the plugs cost more. Depending on manufacturer you either get an irridium allot tip (Best), a multi coated tip (next best or a single thin coat (not good) so always go with best reputable branding. This good conduction means the plugs are good with less voltage and really good with systems making decent volts. KV for KV the spark is fatter.
They have a very long life, they tend to be life rated for silly numbers with some makes touting 100000 miles, and tolerance to a big gap which is a side effect of the small electrode and irridium doesn't interact with much so there's no corrosion effects.
Overall they give a bigger spark, last longer and degrade a bit more gracefully.
Oddly irridium dust highly flammable!
Irridium is a good conductor and better than platinum which is the next plg material step down, it's also more expensive so the plugs cost more. Depending on manufacturer you either get an irridium allot tip (Best), a multi coated tip (next best or a single thin coat (not good) so always go with best reputable branding. This good conduction means the plugs are good with less voltage and really good with systems making decent volts. KV for KV the spark is fatter.
They have a very long life, they tend to be life rated for silly numbers with some makes touting 100000 miles, and tolerance to a big gap which is a side effect of the small electrode and irridium doesn't interact with much so there's no corrosion effects.
Overall they give a bigger spark, last longer and degrade a bit more gracefully.
Oddly irridium dust highly flammable!
I run NGK iridium in my (standard) 1000ds - not sure this will help tho
I have no complaints with them
they are an expensive option and I don't do a high enough mileage to confirm the claims re increased mileage
I have no complaints with them they are an expensive option and I don't do a high enough mileage to confirm the claims re increased mileage
Conventional copper cored plugs usually last 6000 miles or more in my M900ie.
I tend to change them at about 6000 now as I've had problems at that mark historically.
I've read, on here I think, that Iridium plugs need a larger gap. could anyone comment on that?
I tend to change them at about 6000 now as I've had problems at that mark historically.
I've read, on here I think, that Iridium plugs need a larger gap. could anyone comment on that?
Martin C
UKMOC Member
I’ve used NGK iridium plugs in my Ducatis (M900 & ST4) for almost 20 years, and they have literally “never missed a beat”.
I recall they (and platinum ones) were developed when expensive catalytic convertors (requiring unleaded fuel) first started to be fitted to US petrol cars, and by US regs the convertors had to have a car manufacturer’s warranty for 50,000 miles - but engine misfires could quite easily cause damage to their internal honeycomb structure. So the car manufacturers swiftly demanded very reliable plugs in order to avoid misfires.
(I personally imported into the UK the very first ‘Walker Exhausts’ catalytic convertor for aftermarket fitment over here!).
I recall they (and platinum ones) were developed when expensive catalytic convertors (requiring unleaded fuel) first started to be fitted to US petrol cars, and by US regs the convertors had to have a car manufacturer’s warranty for 50,000 miles - but engine misfires could quite easily cause damage to their internal honeycomb structure. So the car manufacturers swiftly demanded very reliable plugs in order to avoid misfires.
(I personally imported into the UK the very first ‘Walker Exhausts’ catalytic convertor for aftermarket fitment over here!).