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Thread: Spark Plug Heat Range

  1. #1
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    Spark Plug Heat Range

    Can anybody tell me why it is beneficial to run colder heat range plugs? I have a tune and most people seem to run colder with a tune. Do you lose power or gain power by running colder? I'm looking at the xp103's and xp104's in particular. Thanks!
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  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maraudermike1 View Post
    Can anybody tell me why it is beneficial to run colder heat range plugs? I have a tune and most people seem to run colder with a tune. Do you lose power or gain power by running colder? I'm looking at the xp103's and xp104's in particular. Thanks!
    If all you have is a tune run the XP104. The colder plug is to help prevent
    detonation. I ran a colder plug and lost 30rwhp on the dyno. Returned to normal heat range and the 30 hp came back. It was a waste of a considerable amount of money...
    2004 DTR Marauder, Built 26 February 2004, Inservice: 02 July 2004 Retired from DD 17 July 2008. Survived the cut, 28 April 2012. Back as a DD as of 18 November 2012.

  3. #3
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    what if you have a k&n cai,steeda underdrive pulleys php intake spacer,180 thermostat,& a lidio tune. should i go with the colder spark plug like the autolite xp103s or should i get the xp 104s ?

  4. #4
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    That's what I thought. My understanding was always the hotter the spark the better. But I have read in a few places that even with just a tune on a MM, you will disintegrate stock heat range spark plugs. Yea, and 30 rwhp is enough to make sure i'm getting this right! haha
    -2003 Marauder Black 300A Eaton swapped
    -2003 Redfire Mustang Cobra Convertible VMP Gen II
    -2007 GT500 VMP Gen II
    -1990 Fox Notchback. HCI/Supercharged
    -1995 Thunderbird SC
    -1996 Bronco 460 EFI Conversion. 9" Lift 35" BFG
    -1999 F350 Super duty 7.3
    -1989 Lesabre T-type
    -2007 Cadillac DTS
    -2012 Cadillac Escalade
    -2015 Challenger Hellcat Sublime green A8

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by rayjay View Post
    If all you have is a tune run the XP104. The colder plug is to help prevent
    detonation. I ran a colder plug and lost 30rwhp on the dyno. Returned to normal heat range and the 30 hp came back. It was a waste of a considerable amount of money...
    This is a first, for me, where dyno results Vs spark plug range have had that much of an impact, good info.

    Most of the reports are SOP.

    Was the gap the same on both heat ranges?

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pat View Post
    This is a first, for me, where dyno results Vs spark plug range have had that much of an impact, good info.

    Most of the reports are SOP.

    Was the gap the same on both heat ranges?
    Yes they were.
    2004 DTR Marauder, Built 26 February 2004, Inservice: 02 July 2004 Retired from DD 17 July 2008. Survived the cut, 28 April 2012. Back as a DD as of 18 November 2012.

  7. #7
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    Running a colder heat range plug allows your tuner to add more timing. More timing = more horsepower. Just installing colder heat range plugs does nothing unless your tune compensates for the colder heat range.
    “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
    Ronald Regan

    "The only way to deal with the Islamic State - these blood thirsty, blood-drunken, terrorists -
    is to kill them, keep on killing them, until you kill the last one, then you kill his pet goat."

    Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters

    “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”
    "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes, if you **** with me, I'll kill you all"
    General James Mattis




  8. #8
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    Specifically if your running a Dennis Reinhart tune, you should run the colder plugs and a 180* tstat. If your running a Zack or Lidio tune then use the stock heat range.
    Here is the info from Lidio's site:
    http://www.alternativeauto.com/prods...uder_tune.html

    2nd paragrapgh under the dyno sheets

  9. #9
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    What is the stock heat range?

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by tallpaul View Post
    What is the stock heat range?
    I don't know the specific heat range but here is my list of plugs:

    Spark Plugs:

    Stock Heat range
    Autolite –104
    Autolite Double Platinum – APP104
    Autolite Iridium / Xtreme Performance – XP104
    Champion Copper Plus – RS12YC
    Champion Platinum Power – 3401
    Champion Double Platinum – 7963
    Champion Iridium – 9204
    Bosch – BSH7571
    Bosch Platinum – BSH4205
    Bosch Platinum+2 – BSH4305
    Bosch Platinum+4 – BSH4458
    NGK V Power – TR55
    NGK G Power Platinum – TR55GP
    NGK Laser Platinum – PTR5C-13
    NGK Irdium IX – TR55IX
    AC Delco – R42LTS6
    AC Delco Platinum – 41810

    Colder Heat range
    NGK – TR6 (+1 colder)
    Autolite Iridium / Xtreme Performance – XP103 (+1 colder)

    Here is some good info on spark plug heat ranges, etc.

    http://www.autolite.com/carcare/techSpecs.php
    “When you can’t make them see the light, make them feel the heat.”
    Ronald Regan

    "The only way to deal with the Islamic State - these blood thirsty, blood-drunken, terrorists -
    is to kill them, keep on killing them, until you kill the last one, then you kill his pet goat."

    Lt. Colonel Ralph Peters

    “Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”
    "I come in peace. I didn't bring artillery. But I'm pleading with you, with tears in my eyes, if you **** with me, I'll kill you all"
    General James Mattis




  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by Maraudermike1 View Post
    My understanding was always the hotter the spark the better.
    Heat range has nothing at all to do with the electrical characteristics or quality of the spark. It refers to the ability of the plug to transfer heat from the combustion chamber to the head. A "hot" plug retains more heat, while a "cold" (or cooler) plug transfers more heat to the head.
    But I have read in a few places that even with just a tune on a MM, you will disintegrate stock heat range spark plugs.
    Uh...no. If your tune is so radical that you have massive detonation you might disintegrate the pistons...
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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by RF Overlord View Post
    If your tune is so radical that you have massive detonation you might disintegrate the pistons...

    and most likely the cheapo oil pump that usually takes a dump with detonation causing engine failure...
    2004 DTR Marauder, Built 26 February 2004, Inservice: 02 July 2004 Retired from DD 17 July 2008. Survived the cut, 28 April 2012. Back as a DD as of 18 November 2012.

  13. #13
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    Smile Was Car Retuned?

    Quote Originally Posted by fastblackmerc View Post
    Running a colder heat range plug allows your tuner to add more timing. More timing = more horsepower. Just installing colder heat range plugs does nothing unless your tune compensates for the colder heat range.
    Rayjay, I understand from your post that just the plugs were swapped and that no re-tune was involved. Is that correct?

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pat View Post
    Rayjay, I understand from your post that just the plugs were swapped and that no re-tune was involved. Is that correct?
    Thats correct. The dyno tuner was at a loss as to why the car lost 30rwhp. He pulled the XP-103's and asked why I put those in. I can't repeat what he said here. He put OEM plugs in and bingo, the HP came back. As I've said elsewhere here, it may be just my car, or it could be that they were not the correct heat range. For a long time I had listed $310 spark plugs in my sig.
    2004 DTR Marauder, Built 26 February 2004, Inservice: 02 July 2004 Retired from DD 17 July 2008. Survived the cut, 28 April 2012. Back as a DD as of 18 November 2012.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by rayjay View Post
    Thats correct. The dyno tuner was at a loss as to why the car lost 30rwhp. He pulled the XP-103's and asked why I put those in. I can't repeat what he said here. He put OEM plugs in and bingo, the HP came back. As I've said elsewhere here, it may be just my car, or it could be that they were not the correct heat range. For a long time I had listed $310 spark plugs in my sig.
    How did plugs cost you $310


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