Spark Plugs - Bosch Platinum - anyone use these?

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 12:53 pm

ok.. gonna change the ole sparkplugs.. i was thinking about Bosch Platinum plugs.. anyone use those.. i know.. i know.. i saw the tech thread.. good info in there.. but someone was saying in that thread about using Bosch Platinums.. so wanted to know if they or anyone else is using them.. how goes it ? also.. part # for them?

I saw this part number online #B4428 BOSCH PLATINUM +4 SPARK PLUG

I know they say they dont need gapping so how are they?

thanks in advance..

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 1:57 pm

I'll speak from personal experience (but not with my Liberty - a different car)

1st - you'll be dissapointed with the $$ / benefit area. While the spark plugs have 4 unique electrodes to ignite the incoming air&fuel mixture, the spark will be no hotter than it would with a regular single electrode plug that has been properly gapped. Also, each kernel will only jump to 1 electrode. I think if you took a regular platinum plug and the +4 plug and put them side by side on a tester, you would see the same electric kernel appear. On an old distributor / coil igintion V8 - I've seen these types of plugs cause poor performance and hesitation issues. I know that coil on plug ignitions are much more powerful, but there still can not be any benefit to those extra 3 tips.

2nd - the +4 tips block the kernal from the air&fuel mixture, which can actually hurt your performance since the flame has to travel around the electrode into the mixture to cause ignition.

Some people may see this topic differently than that, but this is the experience that I have seen

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:11 pm

sleeve84028 wrote:

I'll speak from personal experience (but not with my Liberty - a different car)

1st - you'll be dissapointed with the $$ / benefit area. While the spark plugs have 4 unique electrodes to ignite the incoming air&fuel mixture, the spark will be no hotter than it would with a regular single electrode plug that has been properly gapped. Also, each kernel will only jump to 1 electrode. I think if you took a regular platinum plug and the +4 plug and put them side by side on a tester, you would see the same electric kernel appear. On an old distributor / coil igintion V8 - I've seen these types of plugs cause poor performance and hesitation issues. I know that coil on plug ignitions are much more powerful, but there still can not be any benefit to those extra 3 tips.

2nd - the +4 tips block the kernal from the air&fuel mixture, which can actually hurt your performance since the flame has to travel around the electrode into the mixture to cause ignition.

Some people may see this topic differently than that, but this is the experience that I have seen

Well put. Couldn't have said it better. I sell Bosch plugs and still suggest stock, OEM NGK's for the KJ.

chetos · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 2:13 pm

I put these in and since then I've seen a DECREASE in MPG. Next time, I am going back to stock NGK's.

the1jferg · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:00 pm

I ran them for a while and replaced them with the NGK's. The NGK's have better power and MPG for me.

nolakj · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:15 pm

I am running the Bosch Platinums. The dual electrode version. Nothing to write home about. No real increase in performance or fuel economy. I will go back to the NGKs as well.

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 3:33 pm

My 2 cents,Bosch plugs are okay but overpriced,NGK plugs are total junk(seen them destory many engines)and junked them only after 200 miles and went to old reliable-Autolites.Just my 2 cents though.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:03 pm

I run autolights in the Liberty as well, but the NGk plugs did fine for the first 30k miles I had on the liberty...

04kjsport · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 4:56 pm

tjkj2002 wrote:

My 2 cents,Bosch plugs are okay but overpriced,NGK plugs are total junk(seen them destory many engines)and junked them only after 200 miles and went to old reliable-Autolites.Just my 2 cents though.

just out of curiousity how got ngk plugs destroy an engine???

tjkj2002 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 5:12 pm

Quote:

04kjsport

tjkj2002 wrote:
My 2 cents,Bosch plugs are okay but overpriced,NGK plugs are total junk(seen them destory many engines)and junked them only after 200 miles and went to old reliable-Autolites.Just my 2 cents though.

just out of curiousity how got ngk plugs destroy an engine???

One engine was my buddy Rodneys 555ci in his '70 nova,the ceramic around the electrode failed and the electrode fell from the plug(totally 3 plugs let go at the same time)and caused major scoaring off the cylinder walls and pistons.The second was from one of my buddies in Washongton(Matt),the same thing happenned to his plugs in his totally stock '03 ram 1500 with the 4.7,but only 2 plugs failed.

jg45 · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 6:30 pm

I am running the +2 version. I noticied a much smoother idle immediately and it seems to have a little more responsive throttle. I wouldn't say more power just less time from when I press the pedal to when I feel the torque applied. I haven't noticed an increase or decrease in fuel economy, it sucks all the time. I was running 6 month old NGK's previously. Prior to the Bosch plugs, the idle always seemed like it had a miss (not really more like a cam with some lope). I noticed the same idle charecteristics on my father in laws Dakota with the 3.7. After changing to the Bosch plugs, the idle is more like my wifes Tribute, very smooth.

LostRenegade · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 7:35 pm

I've been using the Bosch Plats +4 for about 2 years now and have had not trouble. I've noticed a bit of performance increase, but I also have an air intake and Magnaflow muffler.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:45 pm

I have run NGK's in every vehicle I have owned from a car I drag raced regularly to an old chevy pickup, wifes mini-van, all my current Jeeps, and several others. Been using them for going on 20 years and never seen any type of failure. I know of many racers in many different types of vehicles w/ same experience too some even being sponsored by other brands but always had NGK's installed. My ex-bro-in-law also worked for them for a while and has all kinds of interesting info on the competitions plugs. The worst were Splitfire and Autolites. Both used the cheapest materials known in the industry. The best plugs they tested (materials, wear, performance, etc.) were Nipondenso, Bosch, and of course, their own. Anyhow, not looking to argue, just stating my experience.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:29 am

The ceramic can fail on any plug [from any vendor.] Someone might experience it with one company, while another person might experience it with a different company. My friends boat motor had two motorcraft plugs do the same thing.

JJsTJ · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:23 am

sleeve84028 wrote:

The ceramic can fail on any plug [from any vendor.] Someone might experience it with one company, while another person might experience it with a different company. My friends boat motor had two motorcraft plugs do the same thing.

True but there are many different qualities of ceramic and some companies use inferior materials to save costs. I have seen plugs fail that were not handled properly or installed too tight, etc. That will cause the ceramic to crack where the metal shell is crimped but not show up until heated up and it causes a spark leak which leads to missfiring.
I suggest always inspecting whatever plug you use for any defects prior to installing and be sure to install correctly and not overtighten them. Before leaving the store I check for any damage to the package, check the ground electrode to make sure it is not loose and look for any obvious cracks in the ceramic. I have found damaged plugs right out of the pack. When I worked at an auto parts store we were always getting damaged plugs returned to us from shops. We starting inspecting all the plugs we sent out and telling the shops we were doing it. We think a lot of those "bad" plugs were because boxes were getting dropped either at the shop or while in transit. The worst problems we saw with mfg. defects was Autolite and Champions though. We would find plugs right out of the pack that were not even crimped properly and you could pull them apart w/ your bare hands. The shop I worked for stopped using either of those brands unless the customer had to have them even though we tried to talk them out of using them. Sorry for the long post..blah blah blah...

Jeger · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 10:28 am

I generally use bosch platinum (not the +4) and have no trouble, also use autolite platinums with no problems as of yet. I really dont see the point in the +4 design, like others have said it is only going to arc to one point anyhow. I DONT see how the tips would block the arc from the air fuel mixture though? hows that happen?

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 11:59 am

It's not the A/F mixture that gets blocked... The kernal is what gets blocked due to the design of the tips.

Where your typical plug is shaped like a C-clamp that is open on all sides, the +4 tip is shaped almost like an 'L' (just shorter and with curve) and on 4 sides of the plug. It's harder for the kernal to be exposed with a design like this.

brpn#1 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 3:09 pm

thanks for the replies.. i will note i have used autolite plugs in my 70 chevelle and they would foul out so fast it was horrible.. i stopped using them and went with NGKs.. also i run NGKs in my 93 gtz quad4 with no problems.. just was wondering about these platinums +4s.. i stopped by advance auto this morn to checkout what they have available.. they said they got a new NGK IX iridium and that they were supposed to be great.. now with that said.. anyone use those before?

I really appreciate the advice.. as always..

the1jferg · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 6:07 pm

Those plugs that busted were probably too long or somthin, maybe the piston hit them.

Never seen one break like that.

warblade666 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 01, 2006 9:40 pm

I've had great luck with the Bosch +4's in other rigs. True the spark only goes to one tip at a time, but it will alternate between them (longer life). I recemend them on any V6- FWD car/van that takes major work to change. Most the time they will go over 100,000 miles between changes.
Every engine I have put them in started easier & idled smoother, but I never really noticed more power or better mileage.

My wifes old car ('99 Dodge Avenger ES) you had to take half the engine apart to change the plugs on one side. I changed them once and never did it again.

Spark Plugs - Bosch Platinum - anyone use these?

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