# Spark plugs **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 6, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303 "2008-02-06T19:59:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![corgis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a3d4f5/32.png) [@corgis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/corgis)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 7:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/1 "2008-02-06T19:59:19Z")
I have 53,00 miles on my dodge van when to change, and what kind should I use. ---
**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/2 "2008-02-06T20:27:07Z")
Hard to know without knowing the model, year, engine size etc. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 8:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/3 "2008-02-06T20:33:02Z")
The best quality now is Iridium coated plugs. Mine are Bosch, and they last along time. Your mechanic will know the size, heat range, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 8:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/4 "2008-02-06T20:46:26Z")
Iridium plugs are great, but are not for all vehicles. They have a cooler spark and can cause issues. When in doubt, just get whatever plugs are OEM. ---
**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/5 "2008-02-06T20:47:32Z")
The best bet is exactly the same ones that are on there now. The manufacturer knows what works well. There are only three kinds of plugs Basic (like OEM), Platinum (longer life) and Designer. I strongly suggest not using the platinum plugs unless they are what came on your car, in which you are changing them early, or you don’t mind playing a little extra and plan on changing them at the regular interval anyway. Too many times plugs left in there too long get stuck and cause problems when it is time to remove them. Designer plugs are those with all kinds of fancy names, 17 spark gaps, produce 186% more spark, 14.8% increased fuel economy, will work under water and come in really need fancy boxes. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/6 "2008-02-06T21:28:24Z")
> The best bet is exactly the same ones that are on there now. The manufacturer knows what works well. I agree 100%…What’s funny is on my 4runner…when I changed the plugs over the summer…the drivers side plugs were Denso…the passanger plugs were NGK. And from other toyota forums…this is common. I replaced all 6 with NGK. ---
**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2008, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/7 "2008-02-06T23:25:58Z")
I wholeheartedly agree with the posters who recommend using what the manufacturer suggests. Different types of plugs have different characteristics, such as different heat ranges and spark characteristics. These things can and will affect flame propogation and can cause adverse effects such as incomplete combustion or even the dreaded “ping”, which can damage an engine. The parts store will have the appropriate listing for your vehicle. NOTE: while you’re at the parts store, be sure you get a repair manual with the spark plug torque specs and a torque wrench. Or else you may end up posting with advice on how to repair a stripped out plug hole. Spark plug types currently in use for cars are platinum tipped, iridium, and “designer”. Platinum tipped plugs are the “basic” plugs with the recognizable 3/16" wide (approximately) electrodes. Irridium plugs can be recognized by their very amall diameter center electrodes. Irridium is some 8x harder than platinum and erodes at a far slower rate. “Designer” plugs are the plugs with bifurcated, trifurcated, and other weird configufations of electrodes. They claim all sorts of amazing improvements in mileage and/or performance. The claims are grossly exaggerated. ---
**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2008, 5:25am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/spark-plugs/10303/8 "2008-02-07T05:25:04Z")
Denso is close to ngk so maybe they ran out of the one and installed the other but that was a good bit of info. Tricky, those guys.