Spark plugs may look small and tiny but their purpose is big. They help in igniting the combustion chamber that is required to fire up the engine. Spark plugs are there for one important purpose and without which your vehicle simply won’t be started.
They aren’t just used to fire up the engine but they also help in improving a vehicle’s overall performance that include things like lower fuel emissions and maintenance costs. Furthermore, they can also help you attain that smooth driving experience on roads. So, that’s why selecting the right spark plug is important because it can make or break your vehicle’s performance.
Best Spark Plugs – 2021
You might be wondering about how to pick the right one for your vehicle. Well, you don’t have to worry about that because this guide is here to help you! Just keep reading this best spark plug guide and you will be able to identify the plug that is perfect for your car.
DENSO 4504 PK20TT Platinum TT Spark Plug
The DENSO Platinum TT Spark Plug is the type of plug that not only provides quality but also is easy on the pocket. It offers the best value for the money and also comes with the performance and durability that can’t be matched. The spark plug components are mostly made out of dual-platinum materials that makes it very durable and helps offer better combustion of the air-fuel mixture.
The better the combustion of the air-fuel mixture, better the engine performance and fuel efficiency. There’s also another great feature about this product, which is known as “Purified Alumina Powder” and it is an insulator that helps increase thermal conductivity, which makes it highly durable. However, like any other product out there, this product also has its cons. The main thing that you might notice right away is the incorrect gap. It can be adjusted manually but it would have been better if it came with the correct gap. Apart from that, this is a great product for your vehicle, truck, SUV, or RV.
Features:
- Improves Fuel Efficiency & Performance
- Highly Durable
- Dual-Platinum Construction
- Purified Alumina Powder
NGK 6619 Iridium Spark Plugs
NGK Iridium Spark Plug is one of the best spark plug in this list. The reason why it is on the second position is because of its costly nature. However, rather selling the plug individually, the company offers them as a pack of 6, which is why this product is a little expensive. It is a great option for someone who is looking to replace multiple spark plugs. Additionally, you don’t need to buy this pack only if you are going to utilise all of the plugs, you can simply take one out and put the rest away and use them later.
Furthermore, the spark plug is made from Iridium material, which is known to offer 25% more durability than the plugs made out of platinum or copper. It also comes with an amazing electrode wire that helps increase fuel efficiency and also offers smooth idle. Another great feature of this product is that it features a metal plating that helps slow down corrosion and seizing.
Features:
- Iridium Material
- Pack of 6
- Fine Wire Electrode
- Highly Durable
Bosch 4417 Platinum+4 FGR7DQP Spark Plug
Bosch is a renowned German brand that mostly produces electrical items like Air Conditioners, Refrigerators, etc. They offer great quality and value in their items and that applies to this spark plug as well. This plug is very different in shape from the rest. It offers four improved electrodes whereas a traditional plug only features a single electrode and cap mechanism. Those four electrodes help provide you with an amazing performance boost without spending money on expensive stuffs only because they are made from materials like Platinum or Iridium.
The great thing about this plug is that it requires no adjustments, you just simple plug it and you are good to go. You don’t have to set the gap by yourself as it always comes factory-set and no adjustments are required after the installation. It provides so many great benefits while keeping its price economical.
Features:
- 4 Yttrium Enhanced Electrodes
- Highly Durable
- Easy To Install
- No Adjustment Required
NGK 7090 BKR5EGP G-Power Spark Plug
The NGK G-Power Spark Plug is an amazing plug that guarantees high performance and lower emissions. The reason of high performance is in the tip of this spark plug. The laser welded platinum 0.6mm tip keeps the spark constant at all times and also ensures high durability. It also comes with unique noses that helps improve throttle response greatly. You might be thinking that if it offers so many good features then this might be an expensive plug? But it isn’t! It offers all that for a very low price.
If you are looking for the maximum engine performance then you should definitely add these spark plugs to your list. It also comes with a precise set gap that helps increase the life of this spark plug. Furthermore, it also comes with certain properties that help prevent corrosion and seizing.
Features:
- Made From Platinum
- 0.6mm Laser Welded Tip
- Anti-Corrosion and Anti-Seizing
- Durability
Champion RE14MCC4 (570) Copper Plus Spark Plug
The Champion Copper Spark Plug is one of the most affordable option available on this list. But don’t let the lower price point fool you into thinking that it will be a complete disappointment because it really isn’t. There’s nothing new about this plug nor it features over-the-top advantages like the previous items but it is a good spark plug that offers anti-corrosion and anti-seizing properties. It is a very durable plug that can easily last for a very long time.
This spark plug is very useful especially if you own an older model vehicle because they usually require a copper spark plug. So, if you do own such kind of vehicle then you should definitely add this item to your list.
Features:
- Copper Spark Plug
- Anti-Corrosion Properties
- Ideal For Older Vehicles
- Highly Durable
DENSO 5304 IK20 Iridium Power Spark Plug
This is another great spark plug from DENSO. It is a little heavy on the pocket but there’s really good reason behind it. This is a premium quality spark plug that features tips made out of Iridium material and it also comes with an electrode that has a width of only 0.4mm. Iridium is one of the best material for a spark plug and it offers over-the-top durability and engine performance. Many people consider a slimmer electrode because they offer better performance.
Electrodes width and performance are both directly proportional to each other. It is also the only spark plug in this list that offers the thinnest electrode. Additionally, if you are facing engine performance issues then you should definitely consider getting this spark plug as it can help enhance the engine performance by a noticeable margin.
Features:
- Made From Iridium Material
- 0.4mm Electrode Width
- Improves Engine Performance
- Highly Durable
Autolite APP104 Double Platinum Spark Plug
The Autolite Double Platinum Spark Plug is a perfect plug for everyday use. This product doesn’t promise premium performance but it gets the job done especially if you are like me who drives his car from work to home or maybe to a shopping mall. But if you are the type of guy who likes to perform in street races or make doughnuts then you may have to look at other options. This spark plug is made from good quality material and offers great durability.
This plug is a perfect blend of affordability and performance. Furthermore, it can help improve engine performance and fuel efficiency. It is a copper spark plug and some older model cars actually prefer copper spark plugs. It isn’t the best plug out there but it sure will get the job done.
Features:
- Platinum Tip
- Highly Durable
- Improves Engine Performance
- Affordable
See Also: How To Change Spark Plugs
Best Spark Plug Buying Guide
So, above you saw our list of to 7 best spark plugs. Now, if you have never bought spark plugs and it is your first time buying one then this guide is perfect for you and even if you are a so called “expert”, still you should read this guide because I ensure you that you are going to learn something new from this guide.
So, finding the right spark plug is very crucial because a study has found that a faulty spark plug can reduce up to 30% fuel efficiency. In order to find the perfect spark plug for your vehicle, we first should know how do they work.
A spark plug might seem like a simple electrical device but they do play a really crucial role in a vehicle. It is fitted in the cylinder of the engine and its head is sunk into the mixture of air and fuel that helps in the ignition. However, if you own a diesel engine vehicle then they use glow plugs instead of spark plugs.
Types of Spark Plugs
Spark plugs may seem simple but they are few differences that makes them different from each other. Visually, the look all the same but it is the inside construction that is different. Another main difference between them is material. They are currently available in three materials and those materials are: Iridium, Platinum, and Copper. Each material has its advantages and disadvantages. Below, you can see a detailed explanation for better understanding the differences:
Copper Spark Plugs
The Copper Spark Plugs are the original but they are the least favourite of the public and that is because their construction is old and better alternatives are available in the market. However, they are still used by many people who either own an older model vehicle or don’t want to spend too much. They aren’t completely trash but since there are better alternatives that people can get at almost the same price point. But if you own a modern car then you might not be able to use copper plugs at all.
Platinum Spark Plugs
Platinum Spark Plugs are the optimal plugs that most people prefer. They help enhance performance and fuel efficiency compared to the copper ones. They offer quality at a much affordable price tag. There are also dual-platinum spark plugs that help further improve the performance and durability.
Iridium Spark Plugs
The Iridium Spark Plugs are considered to be the best in business. They offer highest performance and increase fuel efficiency drastically. They are highly durable but are expensive compared to the previous two types.
Symptoms of a Faulty or Bad Spark Plug
Just like any other thing on this planet, spark plugs are not immortal, which means that they can’t last forever. The most common type of spark plug, which is the copper plug and it can do around 20,000 miles before it completely wears out. The ones that are made from platinum can offer up to 60,000 and the most highest quality of spark plugs, which are Iridium can easily do 100,000 miles before rendering itself completely useless.
It is a good practice to replace your spark plugs as soon as you feel that something is wrong with them. You should never let them worn out completely because that can worsen the engine performance and fuel efficiency that can eventually cost you a lot more than if you’d just replace them with a set of new plugs.
Below you are going to see a list of common symptoms that are directly linked to a faulty spark plug:
1. Misfires: They are caused by faulty plugs that are unable to fire properly and that causes the misfires.
2. Lower Acceleration: This is another symptom that is linked directly to a bad plug.
3. Rough Idle: If your vehicle struggles on idle and makes irregular sounds then this could be linked to bad spark plugs.
So, these were the most common symptoms and if you are facing any one of them then you should immediately get your spark plugs replaced. Another common symptom to include is lower fuel efficiency, which means you are not getting enough miles per gallon that you used to have a few weeks back. This problem can be related to faulty spark plug but that might not be the case at all time.
Which Spark Plug To Select: Hot or Cold?
If you are unfamiliar with the hot or cold spark plugs then the only changed thing is the tip of the spark plug. The cold spark plugs feature colder tips and the hot spark plugs feature hot tips. You should pick them depending on the weather conditions in your location. The cold spark plugs are perfect for people who live in a warmer climate. Whereas the hot spark plugs are perfect for cold weather and no matter how cold it is outside the tip of the spark plug shall remain hot.
If you get confuse then simply think of them as a total opposite of each other like cold equals hot weather and hot is equal to cold weather. The cold tips spark plug is perfect to use on a very hot day because it can improve engine performance and provide you with higher RPM. The same thing goes for the hot tips spark plugs except the temperature, which is really cold. The hot spark plugs help ignite the air-fuel mixture without any hassle in the winters.
Conclusion
So, that was our article on Top 7 Best Spark Plugs for your vehicle. We recommend that you should only get the Iridium spark plugs for your vehicle because they offer unbeatable performance, fuel efficiency and durability that can’t be matched. Except, if you are on a tight budget and just want to get the job done then you can pick whichever you like on this.
If you enjoyed reading this article then please don’t forget to share it with your friends. If you have any questions related to this post then make sure to drop them in the comments section.