| Author | Message | ||
     Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 73 Registered: 09-2003 |
Troops: I'm curious... I tuned-up the wife's Nissan Maxima this weekend, and while at the parts store, I saw a little "on the counter" advertisement for these new Bosch Platinum +4 Spark Plugs. For those of you who haven't see them, they look like this:  Here's a link to their site: http://www.boschusa.com/AutoParts/SparkPlugs/PlatinumPlus4/ These new plugs are $5.99 each. Doing the math... $6 X 8 = $48. For plugs. As opposed to $2 X 8 = $16 for regular Bosch Platinum plugs. They also have this "Performance Guarantee Form" in the store and on their Web site claiming that if you do not feel a performance difference, they'll refund your money. They make these "+4" plugs for Discos: 2001 LAND ROVER DISCOVERY V8-4.0L VIN=2 GAS engine Part Number: 4418. I guess my point is analogous to the following: I use a Gillette Mach 3 razor. It has three blades and is damned good. Much better than old single-blade razor. Now, Schick has the Quattro, "The First 4-Blade Razor on the Market". Is it really worth it to have the fourth blade? Well, I don't know. My Mach 3 works fine. To my question (finally): Does anyone have any experience with these Bosch Platinum +4 Spark Plugs in his or her Land Rover (or in any other car)? $32 worth of difference? Comments in general about plugs? How about the new Schick 4-blade razor? (hahahaha) By the way... I got the plain vanilla $1.99 Bosch Platinum plugs for the wife's rig and it runs just fine. Thanks! Bill Mallin Web Dood Houston Land Rover Club http://www.houstonlandroverclub.com 2001 Disco AKA "Sherman" | ||
| Tom McGee (Mcgeetb) New Member Username: Mcgeetb Post Number: 12 Registered: 01-2004 |
Bill, I'm running P-4s in my 99 now. I did notice some mpg improvement when I switched but that could have been b/c my champions were caked. I'm starting to have misfiring though. It may be the plug wires rather than the plugs but I may go back to the single or double elements for my next set. Can't say that b/c I have the fours my pig now does 100mph in 4 flat. I run platinum 2s in my wife's maxima and those have been great. Regards, Tom | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1244 Registered: 09-2002 |
Bill, I succumbed to this advertisement once, and bought a set. It was out of the engine not a week later - the center electrode is so tiny, that if your engine tends to burn even a little oil, they will foul within one tankful of gas. | ||
| CJ SZPILA (Crash05) Senior Member Username: Crash05 Post Number: 283 Registered: 11-2002 |
I had them on my old car, and it led to a lot of engine stumblig adn rough running. Once they were swapped out for a set of $.89 champions the car ran fine. | ||
| CJ SZPILA (Crash05) Senior Member Username: Crash05 Post Number: 284 Registered: 11-2002 |
I had them on my old car, and it led to a lot of engine stumbling adn rough running. Once they were swapped out for a set of $.89 champions the car ran fine. | ||
| Ryan Graham (Ryangraham) New Member Username: Ryangraham Post Number: 2 Registered: 01-2004 |
They're just a gimmick for two main reasons. 1) Land Rover (or any other make for that matter) engineers designed the engine to run the best (fuel mileage, power, emissions) with the O.E. plug. Thousands of hours and millions of dollars went into the design and certification of the vehicle. If the thing ran better with a Plus 4 they would come stock with it. 2) Electricity takes the path of LEAST resistance. Your vehicle will never fire off all four prongs at once, ever. One other thing to note on the whole manufacturer design thing. Manufacturers are so concerned with mileage, emissions, and performance they will do amazing things for even little increases in any of these areas. For example, in the new 2004 GM pickup they actually went to smaller diameter wiring (more strands) and a thinner insulation on all their wiring harnesses for a total savings of 23 pounds. If they went through that much trouble for 23 lbs. I bet they would probably use the right plug for their engine. Sorry this post is so long, I'm just tired of people gettin screwed | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 647 Registered: 09-2002 |
I ran regular Bosch Platinums for a while. Recently I switched back to the OE Champions. I don't think there is any real difference but I do feel better running the plugs that are specified for the engine. SC | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 210 Registered: 11-2002 |
I put the +2 in our Trooper. Idles worse than the old plugs. Gas mileage has not improved. Gimmick. | ||
| Robert Sublett (Rubisco98) Senior Member Username: Rubisco98 Post Number: 1119 Registered: 04-2002 |
I was in dire need of plugs for my D1 and the only thing readily available was the +4's. Within a week they were all fouled, truck having terrible misfires. I stuck in some Denso $1.25 a piece cheap pieces of crap and it's been running like a top for 30k or so now. Avoid those +4s if you are asking for opinions.. | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 74 Registered: 09-2003 |
All: You are all WRONG! LIERS... ALL OF YOU!!! Surely a company wouldn't lie about their product! Seriously, thanks for your responses. I thought it looked a bit gimicky--I'm glad I asked--and glad you responded. No +4s for me! Thanks again! -- Bill Mallin Web Dood Houston Land Rover Club http://www.houstonlandroverclub.com 2001 Disco AKA "Sherman" | ||
| Geoff 93 RRC (Geoff) Member Username: Geoff Post Number: 213 Registered: 11-2002 |
Yeah, I think Bosch was looking for ways to stimulate their aftermarket business and saw how well Splitfires did and copied it. AC Delco did it too with their "Rapidfires". | ||
| Bill Ross (Billr) Member Username: Billr Post Number: 127 Registered: 11-2002 |
Ultimately I think it depends on things like combustion chamber design as to how well these types of plugs work. I had a set of P4s in an Audi V6 and they worked great; but the standard plug was already a tri-electrode type. I've used Splitfires in my two-stroke dirt bikes and they work well in that application. But let's face it, Rover engines are pretty basic as is their chamber configuration. I tried P4s in my Disco and just as others have experienced, they were crap. Went back to good ole' Champions and they worked like a charm. In my current '93 RRC, I've used both copper-core NGKs and Champions, and the latter work the best. Basic technology to match basic technology. | ||
| mark zeyenda (Mark_zeyenda) New Member Username: Mark_zeyenda Post Number: 21 Registered: 01-2004 |
They are the best plugs on the market you made the right decision champion plugs are not the best plugs they are the" cheapest so Landrover put them in" ...they are cooper top etc.....you could also try NGK Vs they are almost like bosch Platinum 4 s .......its very hard to foul plugs on a Discovery #1.. you would have to screw the firing order up to foul plugs flood etc....these guys that say bad things about Platinum plus 4s cant afford them its like magnacor wire sets they are better than stock but people bad mouth them all the time..if you use Magnacor 8.5 wire set with bosch platinum 4s plus K/N air filter you have a serious hp increase plus a borla cat back free flow system you have done alot ..never mind ecu chips or Jacobs ignition well maybe jacobs but it pretty much ends with jacobs...headers will not clear steering column so thats out of the question .....if I have left anything out Im sure the peanut gallery will let me know.. | ||
| John Lee (Johnlee) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Johnlee Post Number: 790 Registered: 03-2003 |
I've had the Platinum +4's in my truck for the last 60k miles. I can't tell any difference, good or bad. | ||
| J E Robison Service Co (Robisonservice) Member Username: Robisonservice Post Number: 137 Registered: 10-2002 |
We use the Bosch P+4 plugs where they will make a difference. Late model Mercedes engines, for example, benefit from these plugs over the original 1 electrode platinums. I have not seen a difference in LR engines, and I have not found the Champions to be deficient in this application. Also as posted the P+4 will foul quicker in an engine that uses oil. These are a modern plug to get the most from modern engine designs. Our Rovers are far from a modern design. | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1259 Registered: 09-2002 |
ROTFLMAO Let's see... 8xBosch plugs, say, at $5 a pop. Magnecor wires, say, $100 a set. K&N filter, say, $40. $180 for a serious hp increase sounds like a guy who can afford the real shit. | ||
| flyor (Flyor) New Member Username: Flyor Post Number: 33 Registered: 05-2003 |
I agree with JE, I have used Champions and Bosch in my own and customers Land Rovers, and the only difference I could tell was Bosch cost more. Peter, what exactly does ROTFLMAO mean? | ||
| ron morgan (Rpm2429) New Member Username: Rpm2429 Post Number: 23 Registered: 08-2003 |
Try this trick to get the best m.p.g and performance, it works on any piston engine; gap the plugs .010 over stock setting, run them for 1000 miles and record m.p.g., keep gapping them .010 until m.p.g. starts to decrease, then set them at previous gap. This will give you the best spark, to begin the combustion kernal and flame front. Every engine will be different, do to certain parameters. Engines are designed for the average Joe, that does not tune-up when needed, lives in a cold climate. My two cents, Ron | ||
| Steve Cooper (Scrover) Senior Member Username: Scrover Post Number: 651 Registered: 09-2002 |
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=ROTFLMAO | ||
| Christopher Boese (Christopher) Senior Member Username: Christopher Post Number: 274 Registered: 10-2002 |
I agree with Ryan. Land Rover has for years been very specific about what plugs (Champion only) to use. I won't second-guess LR's engineers, who must have had a reason to specify a particular brand. That said, there are lots and lots of mods you can do, just maybe not to the engine. | ||
| Dave Thomas (Dthomas) New Member Username: Dthomas Post Number: 33 Registered: 11-2003 |
I think the best you can hope for with the platinum plugs is for them to work as well as a fresh set of Champions. The idea behind platinum plugs is not increased performance, but long life. If you can only manage to change plugs every 50K then perhaps platinums are for you...but I would go for the NGK's that have a 'normal' sized electrode over the Bosch. Google around for 'bosch platinum sucks' and you will find a wealth of info ;-) | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1264 Registered: 09-2002 |
Dave, I've replaced the set of stock Champion plugs on my '96 Disco at ~115kmi, first time after having bought it in 99 with 40kmi on the clock. The Champions did not look a single bit dirty, or burnt out, or anything - neither did I suspect them to be bad. I figured that if I left them for another 50kmi, I'd pull the threads right out of the heads. And, once they were out, no reason not to put new ones in. As long as geometry and heat range are fine, with the well-running engine it is extremely difficult to observe any changes at all. Oil burners is a very different story. |
