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Spark plug temperature range

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#1
BlueJay73

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  • Location:Baton Rouge, La.
  • Car Year:1999
  • Car Number:27

Did a search and saw that lots of you guys run a colder plug than stock (e.g., NGK  BKR7E instead of stock BKR5E).

I also see that you advance timing.

Is the advanced timing the reason you run a colder plug?

If I did not run advanced timing, would you suggest the stock temperature plug (NGK5E)?

Thanks.



#2
Tom Sager

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  • Car Number:94

What year is your car?  


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#3
BlueJay73

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  • Location:Baton Rouge, La.
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  • Car Number:27

Sorry. It's a '99.



#4
Tom Sager

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Sorry. It's a '99.

The plug you mention is a popular one for that car.  You'll get more of a performance bump from timing advancement than spark plugs.  You can find hours of reading on the web about spark plugs, but for our cars a 5,6 or 7 heat range plug (using NGK's scale) will all work well.  Some feel that since we probably tune our cars to be a bit leaner (hotter cylinder temps) than factory, that a colder plug works a bit better.  


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#5
Steve Scheifler

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What Tom said. Add to that, the potential downside to a colder plug is that they foul more easily. So in a street car, cold climate with cold-start enrichment and lots of idling, I might go with a 6 heat range. If you live in the South or CA and drive it like you stole it, run the 7s. On a largely stock engine you probably won't notice the difference regardless.
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