Sparkplugs.com specials

SparkPlugs.com is happy to now be a part of the ChevroletForum.com family, and to kick of the month of December, we'd like to run a few specials for you. Below is a list of the products we carry, what would you like to see us start a special or group buy on?

NGK: spark plugs, wire sets, AFX Air/Fuel Ratio Monitors, oxygen sensors

Denso: spark plugs, wire sets, oxygen sensors, wiper blades, filters (air, cabin and oil), starters, alternators, fuel pumps, ac components

KYB shocks

K&N: air filters and intake systems

Champion spark plugs

Autolite spark plugs

Splitfire: spark plugs, wire sets and gauges

Mitchell Online Repair Manuals

I would like to know how the 3.5l colorado would run with the denso ITV16 iridium plugs. I believe you sell them on your website and wondered if you had any info on this. I have the TRUE Flow intake and Magnaflow exhaust. It truck runs great but want a bit more performance, better mileage and even smoother running engine. They work well on my Dual OHC Saturns so I wonder if they would help the 3.5l             Dirk 

Sorry for delay - The key to iridium plugs is the fine wire tip.  Its actually that fine wire electrode that increases performance, but the thin tip requires that the iridium metal be used because the standard spark plug metal, nickel, wouldn't last very long being that thin.  Here is a little info on fine wire plugs and why they work:

Fine wire center electrodes come under a variety of names depending on manufacturer, IE - Tapered point, Ultra-Fine electrode, Taper cut electrode, Necked down electrode). Originally designed to improve starting and reduce fouling in two-stroke engines, this design was found to improve performance in four-stroke engines as well.

All operate on primarily the same principle, a spark plug with a fine wire electrode will perform better than a traditional plug. There are two reasons for this, first is because a smaller center electrode requires less voltage to jump the gap. This means fewer misfires, which should be seen in higher mileage and more horsepower. The second reason is smaller center electrodes reduce quenching. The smaller center electrodes have required exotic metals such as platinum or iridium so that they can still maintain (and usually surpass) the longevity of a traditional spark plug.

Currently the finest wire performance plugs available are made by Denso at 0.4mm diameter, by NGK at 0.7mm diameter, and by Champion at 1.1mm , a traditional center electrode is typically 2.0 to 2.5mm.