Part 1;Anyone used NGK Iridium plugs? Part 2; 10-30W OIL??

[Stuart]

My motorcycling friends keep raving on about NGK Iridium plugs.
I notice SparkPlugs.co.uk are selling them for 1.6 Brava/o's @ £6.45 plus VAT post free for a set. That's over a quid each cheaper than ordinary NGK's at my Fiat dealer.

Obviously the manual doesn't mention them, they're too recent I suppose so I need to know if anyone has fitted them and if so are they worth the extra outlay?
They're supposed to last even longer and hardly deteriorate at all, even after extraordinary mileage.

I'd appreciate hearing about your findings if you have them, or your reasons for giving them a miss (apart from their price!)

Would the 1.6 16 valve engine from 1996 suffer any ill effects from using a semi-synthetic oil rated at 10-30W?
I realise it's supposed to have 10-40W grade, but is it absolutely necessary, if so why?
Many thanks, hope you can clue me up!

 

[julian]

r u sure thats £6.45 a set and not each !!! . i sell them , they are as good as they say . usual price around £7 to £8 each plug ?

 

[Ash]

i got them on my 1.6 cant really say they made any diffeence at all dont know about life span i allways change them well before they are ment to b done

with the oil i wouldnt risk it if fiat reccomend something its because thats what the car needs! whats £20 on a new bottle of oil compaired to an engine rebuild! basically if u fix it on the cheep now it will cost you in the long run so its not worth it.

Im Driven to Earn, and I Earn to Drive......

 

[Anonymous]

Iridium plugs claim to offer a longer service life and less of a demand on the car's electrical system to generate a spark.

I fitted Iridium plugs almost a year ago and they are still performing very well. Start up in any weather is effortless, acceleration a little better than a standard plug.

Very pleased with them, in my opinion worth the money.

 

[Stu]

thats per spark plug buddy, unfortunatley

 

[Anonymous]

yep i have them they seem to do the trick

 

[Buzz]

or for £20 in Hellfrauds you can get Bosch Super 4's

they work a treat too. used them without problems ever since i've had bravo's

Buzz (formerly LightWarrior)
The champion of the Bravo 1.4
Owner of the Bravo 1.8
http://www.bravo-guide.co.uk/members/59ianalexandria.htm

 

[Tom]

Aye, start first time every time with super4s, even after a year.

 

[CraigB]

I use 10W-30 in mine 1.4sx absolutely no problems so far, but the selenia 10w40 is what is recommended so the choice is yours

 

[Stuart]

Many thanks for all the advice guys.

Re Part 1; I didn't think NGK Iridiums were six pounds a set(although I can see how it may have looked that way, slap on the wrist for bad grammar.)
I hadn't heard of the Super 4's. I thought only Denso & NGK made Iridium types, obviously not. Thanks for the heads up.

Re Part 2; My Fiat place uses Texaco semi-synthetic 10-40W for Fiats and Synthetic 5-40W for Alfas.
They maintain that Texaco now own Selenia hence using Texaco is the same as using Selenia (only cheaper)!
They don't even have 5L Selenia 20K in stock, although they'll get me some if I want.
All Fiat produced books recommend Selenia but I notice the Haynes manual recommends Duckhams.
I guess you pays your money and takes your choice, perhaps regular oil changes are more important than the make of oil?

Cheers, and thanks again.

 

[Tom]

The super4s are normal plugs. Iridium really only comes into its own on high stress engines (turbo, motorbike etc..) or where daft long service intervals are needed.

Last time I asked Halfords oil was Esso, there are only a few makers but lots of brands.

Good oil is always needed as is the right grade. As long as it meets the spec it will be fine.

Haynes are sponsored by duckhams, or were as I think duckhams is no more.

 

[Stuart]

Tom;
thanks for the explanation about the Super 4's.
Duckhams is no more? Globalisation no doubt.

I guess I'll end up getting Selenia 20K. I used to think Fiat recommended it because they owned Selenia. But, evidently they don't now.
The 20K stuff is supposed to be good for 12000mls, but I'd never expect any oil to last that long!

 

[Tom]

Duckhams was never really more than a brand name, can't remember who was behind it. Funky green oil though.

Some new cars designed for fully synth are going 24k between changes. I THINK some of the subaru engines go 50k or more between plug changes.

 

[Anonymous]

I thought Subaru's and Mitsu Evo's had a very low 6,000 mile service interval?

 

[Anonymous]

I thought Subaru's and Mitsu Evo's had a very low 6,000 mile service interval?

 

[Tom]

Subaru make normal cars too.

 

[ryan]

tom did u mean subaru's go 50k between oil or spark plug changes?? Alfa's are 60k for plugs.
Also Tom ive heard that some alfa specialist recommend using 10-60 oil rather than 10-40 as it reduces oil consumption. Do u think there claims are correct?

 

[Tom]

Plug changes. Also its hard to change plugs on the flat 4.

Thicker oil will reduce oil consumption BUT you'll have less oil flow which could be very bad. An engine that uses a bit of oil is not a bad thing, just means you have to check it.

A certain amount of oil HAS to go down the valve guides and around the pistons otherwise they would be unlubricated and wear.

Unless an engine was really old and slack as heck I'd keep to the recomended spec.