GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => General Technical discussion => Topic started by: miguel quintas on Sunday, 19 November 2017, 07:09 PM

Title: spark plugs
Post by: miguel quintas on Sunday, 19 November 2017, 07:09 PM
Good morning

simple question..spark plugs..ngk iridium..best option?
another thing..bar raisers..i'm looking for some bar raisers same sizes but in titanium colour or black..any ideas?
thank you
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: seth on Sunday, 19 November 2017, 07:26 PM
just use standard ngk spark plugs
iridium ones are no better and have been known to fail if not used constantly.
do you have a powder coating place as they should be able to add a titanium finish to any risers you like .
:cheers:
seth
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Mick_J on Sunday, 19 November 2017, 07:27 PM
This will start a few arguments but I always use NGK Iridium plugs in all my bikes.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: gsxbarmy on Monday, 20 November 2017, 12:33 AM
Personal choice Miguel, but on the 14 there is no advantage to fitting Iridium plugs, mainly because it's not a high performance engine. Also Iridium plugs are rather expensive. Standard plugs will last you quite a few thousand kilometres!
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: miguel quintas on Monday, 20 November 2017, 01:10 AM
Thanks guys..
my precious  is getting to 16000 km (yes she is just a baby and i was lucky to find her!) and i think it's time!
I've red some stuff about the iridium sparks and some say they last a bit longer..that' s the only reason i mention the iridium ones..i'll try to find some cheap ones!!!
thanks
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Timothy Spencer on Monday, 20 November 2017, 01:56 AM
I always use iridium. Shop around though as cost vary a lot from supplier to supplier. Lexus only use Iridiums - for a reason.
No reason to expect them to die just due to time.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Starion VR4 on Monday, 20 November 2017, 03:06 AM
Quote from: gsxbarmy on Monday, 20 November  2017, 12:33 AM
Personal choice Miguel, but on the 14 there is no advantage to fitting Iridium plugs, mainly because it's not a high performance engine. Also Iridium plugs are rather expensive. Standard plugs will last you quite a few thousand kilometres!

Well I'm going on 70,000Km's on a set of STD NGK plugs, don't waste your money on Iridium.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: T 24 on Monday, 20 November 2017, 03:11 AM
14 is not a high performance engine. That is why I dont need any iridium plugs, just standard NGK is good enough.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Tony Nitrous on Monday, 20 November 2017, 04:09 AM
Not my 14 but my old Busa.

Tried both over the last 10 years and a fair heap of miles.
Never found any difference at the drags, chasing mates, commuting, touring or being left stored.

Both work fine but I personally never noticed any advantage other that the standard plugs cost.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: miguel quintas on Monday, 20 November 2017, 11:04 AM
So the iridium only if their cheap!
70000miles with the same sparks?maybe i shouldn't be so worried!!!
thanks i'll see what i can find!
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: grog on Monday, 20 November 2017, 07:17 PM
i put iridium in mine. no difference at all. just fitted because i could. my old hilux went 100th ks on standard ngk. cheapest price in oz for iridium x4 was 112 bucks, landed at home from uk was 48. us ozzies sure get ripped off. that was 4 yrs ago.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: gsxbarmy on Tuesday, 21 November 2017, 04:10 AM
Quote from: miguel quintas on Monday, 20 November  2017, 11:04 AM
So the iridium only if their cheap!
70000miles with the same sparks?maybe i shouldn't be so worried!!!
thanks i'll see what i can find!

Be careful of "cheap" - if you use eBay be warned there are a lot of cheap copies there, probably on other auction sites too. Have heard stories of the centre electrode "coming free" on some and dropping into the engine.

Be very careful to buy genuine only if you go the Iridium route.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Kiwifruit on Tuesday, 21 November 2017, 05:35 AM
Over 50,000 k's on standard plugs. Not thinking of changing them.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: KiwiCol on Tuesday, 21 November 2017, 02:05 PM
I haven't even got 50K on the bike Col!   The pup needs more running!
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Starion VR4 on Tuesday, 21 November 2017, 04:54 PM
Quote from: miguel quintas on Monday, 20 November  2017, 11:04 AM
So the iridium only if their cheap!
70000miles with the same sparks?maybe i shouldn't be so worried!!!
thanks i'll see what i can find!

Sorry Miguel, slight correction.... 77,000 Km's now! I ain't going to change them till the Beast starts Missing! :stir:
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: V_i_c_i on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 03:06 AM
Standard NGK is enought for this motor. And standards are more bulletproof against overfueling than iridium.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: T 24 on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 03:37 AM
You are correct Vici, iridium plugs are more sensitive to inaccurate fuel injection control. And 14 has inaccurate fuel injection.
Standard NGK plugs will work jus fine.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: miguel quintas on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 07:58 AM
Guess i'll follow your advice vr4!she's running fine..no reason to change!
Cheers :cheers:
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: T 24 on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 05:34 PM
There is one reason to open or change the plugs after couple of years, is to prevent stuck or damage of threads.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Tony Nitrous on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 05:55 PM
Quote from: T 24 on Wednesday, 22 November  2017, 05:34 PM
There is one reason to open or change the plugs after couple of years, is to prevent stuck or damage of threads.

I pull mine out occasionally just out of interest to check the colour.
Last time I had 4 new ones going in anyway but probably didn't need them.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: grog on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 07:03 PM
had a big read up on plugs today. iridium only advantage is longer life. they have more resistance than standard plugs. thats it in a nut shell. about all i needed to know.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Starion VR4 on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 07:04 PM
Quote from: T 24 on Wednesday, 22 November  2017, 05:34 PM
There is one reason to open or change the plugs after couple of years, is to prevent stuck or damage of threads.

Don't you use Never-Seize or oil or copper paste.. considering they will be in there for 60,000 Km's  +! :clapping:

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: grog on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 07:15 PM
never seize, coppercote. great products.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: T 24 on Wednesday, 22 November 2017, 08:17 PM
Quote from: Starion VR4 on Wednesday, 22 November  2017, 07:04 PM
Quote from: T 24 on Wednesday, 22 November  2017, 05:34 PM
There is one reason to open or change the plugs after couple of years, is to prevent stuck or damage of threads.

Don't you use Never-Seize or oil or copper paste.. considering they will be in there for 60,000 Km's  +! :clapping:

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
I have used Weicon, Molycote and Thread Eze  anti-seize pastes and I havent had stucked plugs, but I have also opened several stucked plugs from aluminium cylinder heads. That is why I wrote what I wrote.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Andre on Thursday, 23 November 2017, 02:21 AM
Workshop manual recommends changing spark plugs every 12000 km (7500 miles). I will stick to that, as I had one plug go really bad, shooting out flames between ceramic and hex and killing the head cover gasket. Happend at 46k. Don't know how long it had been in there as I bought the bike with 44k. Didn't look like fake plugs either.
Title: Re: spark plugs
Post by: Barbastro K6 on Sunday, 03 August 2025, 12:49 AM
I use iridium not resistance denso IU24A.
Works fine