Considered the second-densest natural metal, iridium plugs are generally well-liked by drivers, but they have a few drawbacks, including a substantially higher cost. Extra care must also be taken during the installation of such spark plugs due to the brittle and combustible nature of iridium-coated electrodes.
Thanks to its strength, iridium spark plugs can last up to 25% longer than comparable platinum spark plugs. Iridium spark plugs feature a fine wire center electrode that is designed to conduct electrical energy better and increase firing efficiency. There is a price for this precious metal.
One of the main drawbacks is the cost of the equipment. Iridium requires the purchase of both a satellite phone and a satellite modem, which can be expensive. Additionally, the cost of the service is higher than that of terrestrial networks.
Iridium Spark Plugs – Service Life
Denso Iridium spark plugs use a much thinner electrode than even the NGK. Given how long the NGK electrodes last you could argue the NGK are over engineered and reducing their diameter would have no effect on their service life.
Greater engine power from iridium spark plugs
The spark plug manufacturers are unanimous about the fact that iridium spark plugs can considerably improve the engine power. The advantage is crucial when you need to navigate through difficult driving situations or climb steep slopes.
The benefits of iridium for a spark plug include: It's as much as eight times stronger than platinum, so iridium can have a sharper center electrode that conducts a more durable, powerful spark. Iridium is much harder than even platinum, so it resists wear for up to 25% more lifespan.
Iridium spark plugs are better at starting engines than other types of spark plug because the spark is highly concentrated in the central electrode, and consequentially requires less voltage to operate. This makes ignitions faster and more reliable, and also reduces power consumption.
In older vehicles, the ignition system itself is outmoded, and so in most cases the ignition voltage is low. Thus, the merit in using an iridium spark plug that enables stable sparking at a low voltage.
Platinum has better performance in terms of durability than other standard spark plugs. However, when compared with iridium, there's a major difference. Iridium has better performance in igniting the air-fuel compression within the combustion chamber.
Not only had the growth in cellular networks drastically eroded Iridium's target market, but Iridium's own technology was never able to overcome key design, cost, and operational problems. Put simply, Iridium didn't have a viable business plan.
Iridium is a hard, silvery metal. It is almost as unreactive as gold. It has a very high density and melting point. Iridium is the most corrosion-resistant material known.
Korea, Poland, & Hungary. The embargoed countries where a satellite phone will work in these countries (we cannot guarantee service), but there (may be) issues taking an Iridium phone into these areas at customs/border patrols: Cuba, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Angola & Yugoslavia.
The estimated mileage of iridium spark plugs – depending on the thickness of the central electrode and the construction of the ground electrode – ranges from 60,000 km up to 120,000 km in the case of DENSO Super Ignition Spark Plugs, which feature a protruding ground electrode, like DENSO's Twin Tip (TT) Spark Plugs.
Best Iridium Spark Plugs—NGK Iridium Spark Plugs
Iridium plugs are well known for offering increased fuel economy, and this six-pack of NGK plugs is one of the highest quality available. Unlike most other plugs, iridium plugs don't need to be gapped.
Comparing a normal plug (W20FS-U) with an IRIDIUM POWER (IWF22) on a 2-cycle 50cc engine, fuel consumption improved from 41.74 km/L → 43.69 km/L, an improvement of about 5%.
NGK builds two types of iridium spark plugs: OE Iridium and Iridium IX®. Every plug in the Laser Series was designed for an OEM application. All dual precious metal plugs are designed to provide maximum longevity.
Ordinary copper and nickel spark plugs should be changed every 30,000 to 50,000 miles, unless otherwise suggested by the spark plug manufacturer. Platinum and iridium spark plugs tend to last longer than standard copper and nickel spark plugs. Expect to change them every 60,000 to 150,000 miles unless otherwise noted.
The copper core does transfer a significant amount of heat. Reeves emphasized that the heat range rating of a copper-core spark plug and an iridium plug will be the same and that it is the tip (overall) length of the center ceramic that determines any plug's actual heat range.
Investing in high-performance spark plugs is a surefire way to save some money in the long run. Better gas mileage is just the beginning. These premium spark plugs last longer than conventional plugs, which means you'll be able to go a longer time between tune-ups, keeping your maintenance costs down.
Platinum spark plugs
These plugs are a high value for the money, giving you considerably higher performance, gas mileage, and longevity that's second only to iridium plugs. They can last about twice as long as their copper counterparts, making them a popular choice in city cars and some sports cars.
Its price has surged in recent times due to increased demand from the tech industry. Iridium is one of the rarest elements in the earth's crust. It is believed to have arrived in the same meteor that killed the dinosaurs.
The iridium used in them has a superior hardness. The electrode's diameter in these plugs shrinks more than an NGK. For this reason, Denso plugs won't last longer than NGK units but they will be better at producing powerful sparks.
Can I use copper plugs instead of iridium? If your vehicle originally was equipped with iridium spark plugs, it's not advised to downgrade to copper. You'll notice loss of performance and dependability.