spark plugs

Ok, I'm confused. Today I ordered 6-Autolite double platinum spark plugs for my '06 Rubicon. According to the auto parts store, and the Autolite website, the '06 Rubi takes part #APP5224, and that is what I ordered. They are due in tomorrow.

Upon searching the web tonight, I found that according to partsamerica.com and autolite.com the '05 and earlier 6cyl - 4.0L Wranglers take part #APP985.

#APP985 or # APP5224. Both are Autolite Double Platinum. What is the difference?

My hood sticker says use NKG ZFR5N, and that is listed as the correct plug for '06, '05, and earlier 6cyl - 4L Wranglers. Why would the Autolite Double Platinum Plugs be different for the '06?

Tom

Reply to
mabar
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Could just be a catalog# change - carmakers do this all the time; it's possible they're the same plug, just different numbers.

Why change the plugs on an '06 already? And why expensive double-plats? I use the $0.69 cent Champion Coppers and they work great. I've also used these on other cars with ground-to-anode firing designs and they worked well there too.

I've got this buddy that buys $8.00 specialty plugs for his Honda, and he swears it adds 20 hp. Balderdash!

Reply to
Outatime

It is the sticker in the side window that add 5 hp each...

Reply to
billy ray

I agree. The 4.0 likes nothing better than the Copper Champs or the NGK's. Fancy plugs are a waste of money.

Carl

Reply to
Carl

Why bother? Still have the factory plugs in our '99 JGC......

Reply to
hdd

That is just plain silly... sparkplugs certainly last longer than they did back-in-the-day but 7-8 years?

Reply to
billy ray

Reply to
L.W.(Bill) Hughes III

I cancelled the order for the Autolite Double Platinum and went with the OEM, NGK-ZFR5N plugs that the engine came with. Service manual calls for changing the plugs at 30,000 miles. I have about 23000 miles on it now and I know I am changing them early.

Tom

Reply to
mabar

On an '06? That's some serious miles. I've owned my TJ for 2 years and only have 7,000 on it.

I change them out yearly, need-be or not. I'm pretty anal about maintainance though. Coolant gets changed out bi-annually; oil and filter every 60 days, air filter yearly, TB and ACT cleaning as well as PCM error code checking/O2 sensor voltage variances and LT fuel trim checked every oil change, and a complete engine cleaning/detailing every month, that sort of thing. Spending more than a buck for a fancy spark plug is just a waste of money to me.

Glad to hear that you didn't go all-out and blow a wad on double plats. I think this is just creative marketing, nothing more. Spend the bucks you saved taking your woman out to dinner or something nice like that instead.

Reply to
Outatime

HDD have you ever checked them ? My view is that if you have to pull the plugs to see if they are ok, you might as well screw new ones back in.

Dave Milne, Scotland '91 Grand Wagoneer, '99 TJ

Reply to
Dave Milne

Odd that a guy who changes his coolant out twice a year and does oil changes before 600 miles, and spark plugs every 3500 miles, would consider an extra buck or so per spark plug a waste of money. Wow!! :) :) :) :)

I've got dibs on Outatime's Jeep!!

tw

Reply to
Thomas Waldron

Reply to
Dave Milne

Reply to
philthy

I got the OEM NGK ZFR5N that the hood sticker calls for.

Tom

Reply to
mabar

LOL! After posting, I discovered the irony. The point I wanted to make was that a $1.00 copper plug won't perform any better or last any longer than a $8.00 double-plat when changed out yearly. I'd much rather spend that extra money on increased oil change intervals, 2X/yr. coolant changes, and that sort of thing.

I will tell you though, after 2 years, it still looks and runs like new. I use only M1 synthetic, PureOne filters, and Zerex G-05 coolant with distilled water. If you pop the hood, the engine absolutely sparkles. Zero corrosion or residue in the radiator. I even go to the trouble of 'priming' the engine to full running pressure before firing after an oil/filter change. (No one ever does this anymore.) Whoever gets this wonderful TJL after I'm done with it will be very happy indeed.

Reply to
Outatime

I knew what you meant, just thought it was funny.

....and like I said, "DIBS!!" ;)

tw

Reply to
Thomas Waldron

Wow! You change your coolant twice a year? In your original email I thought you said bi-yearly, and I thought that meant every other year. I just changed the coolant on my one year old '06 Wrangler, and I plan to change it once a year, every fall in the future. It seems like twice a year is way overkill.

The OEM, NGK-ZFR5N plugs that I finally bought are $2.98 each.

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Tom

Reply to
mabar

I may have misspoke; I meant bi-annually, or 2X/yr. In another vehicle, I changed it yearly, and was surprised at the junk that came out. I've always been of the opinion that OEM technical writers generally understate realistic maintenance intervals for the sake of increased vehicle sales. Conspiricy theorists will probably agree with me too.

$20 bucks for a set of plugs isn't bad. If you place the OEM next to a Champion 438, they're nearly identical. I've used the Champion 4412 Truck Plugs which use beefier electrodes than OEM's, but that's the only difference I could see. In the real world, the gap eroded and worn just as much as any other plug I've used.

Reply to
Outatime

Reply to
billy ray

I think bi-annual means every other year

Semi-annual would be twice per year.

In any event, it sounds like you take GREAT care of your Jeep!

Tom

Reply to
mabar

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