GSX1400 Owners .org

Technically Speaking => Electrics => Topic started by: Suzuki boi on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 05:12 AM

Title: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: Suzuki boi on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 05:12 AM
I've been told iridium plugs are meant to be better then standard ones ,more so they last longer.
I can get 4 of them from halfords here for €40 with trade card. They havent got standard ones at halfords(usually do an fleabay job but halfords can be cheaper at times).
But I've read up about them being rubbish and breaking. On previous threads on here I see there's conflicting opinions.
Think there worth it at this price?
Bite the bullet and try them out?
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: shanered6 on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 05:21 AM
I think its a personal choice and unless you try them you will never know !
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: KiwiCol on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 05:22 AM
Your call, but I'd say it'd be 80%+ here use std ones.        Actually my blue came with iridium plugs in it, no probs so far, so up to you.  My black has std.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: seth on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 05:26 AM
Tried them but they failed after sitting over winter so back to standard plugs won't be using them ever again .
They made no difference to how the bike ran .
:cheers:
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: ARH on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 05:27 AM
I swapped out std for iridium a while ago... no change in performance but I've not touched them since fitting... around 15k so far.  Would I buy again? Probably not....
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: gsxbarmy on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 07:53 AM
Quote from: ARH on Wednesday, 20 June  2018, 05:27 AM
I swapped out std for iridium a while ago... no change in performance but I've not touched them since fitting... around 15k so far.  Would I buy again? Probably not....

Exactly as I found on my 14. No difference overall.

The main problem with iridium plugs is not the Iridium plugs themselves, but that there are so many fake ones around, making sure you have genuine ones is a problem. However fake or not, they make no difference to starting, running or performance. Standard plugs work just as well.

So personal choice.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: northern on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 04:05 PM
As far as both plugs are new, there is now difference in performance. Both sparks should ignite fuel and this is exactly what they do.
But all plugs wear out, ans as a result spark is not so strong anymore and it's harder to ignite AF mixture and then engine performance suffer.

Iridium plugs benefit is - they should last longer, and also last longer in good condition.

Theoretical example (numbers are just to show point, and may be not presise).
Lets say plugs are in top condition 2/3 of they lifespan and after that they start to perform slightly less, affection power and milage performance.

Lets say regular plugs last 30000km. So, 20000k they perform OK, then 10000 worst. Then you replace them... And same circle repeats and repeats....
Lets say iridium plugs last 3 or even just 2 times longer then regular. If we accept, what they also perform in the top of their possible performance, during 2/3 of their lifespan, then it's 40000k or even 60000k against 20000k of regular...

And comparing price level, there is no question for me, what to choose (I know, Europe prices are different):
https://www.ngk.com/product.aspx?zpid=9677
https://www.ngk.com/product.aspx?zpid=9676

I know, my opinion is theory, based on spark plugs producers advertisement and information I get from Internet, but at least for me it seems logical.
Unfortunately - I do not ride my motorcycle so much to have personal tests to compare, and both of my cars are diesels. But I repeat - this text is theory. Feel free to correct or be disagree with me  :salute:
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: T 24 on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 04:06 PM
Iridium plugs are more sensitive to inaccurate engine control, and ECU of 14, especially older type ECU, is what it is.
So don't waste your money to iridium plugs. I use std plugs with std heat grade.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: Tony Nitrous on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 04:42 PM
I've ran stock and iridium plugs in my Busa. Not real difference on the dyno or strip. I pull the plugs out and have a quick look at service time so the fit and forget isn't valid for me.
Rather use standard ones and change more often, saying that, the stock ones last well enough.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: Hooli on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 05:27 PM
Mines got iridium plugs in currently as they were abut the same price so thought I'd try them. No difference at all that I can feel.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: froudy on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 06:20 PM
Quote from: ARH on Wednesday, 20 June  2018, 05:27 AM
I swapped out std for iridium a while ago... no change in performance but I've not touched them since fitting... around 15k so far.  Would I buy again? Probably not....

I did the same when I fitted Iridium plugs a few years ago...Fit and forget.
Be careful though as I recently changed them as they'd covered around 25k miles. I was horrified at how rusty they were and 2 of them were so tight I thought they were going to break off while removing them! They did come out without breaking off, but best to check them every so often.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: grog on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 06:57 PM
iridium in mine, done 30 th ks. no prob. no difference. $7 each stock, $16 for iridium. Froudy use some coppercote/ never seize. a must. next change, probably just cr8 normal. i like to have a look at them. wifes car runs iridium in back bank. normal in front. to change rear is manifold off. only reason. have read all about. normal is better in high power motors. just what i read. never had a failure in either type. back in gt750/kawa 500 days, always carried spare set. 2 strokes.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: Hooli on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 07:10 PM
Normal plugs for a 14 last 50k miles, I got to 100k on two sets. Only put iridium in this time as it was the same price just to see if there was any difference.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: Mick_J on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 08:48 PM
I prefer iridium plugs, don't cost twice as much but last at least twice as long so cheaper in the long run, as for performance in the 14 make no difference I can tell.
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: Suzuki boi on Wednesday, 20 June 2018, 09:54 PM
 Sound guys.
A fella gsx member on here has sold me there unwanted iridium plugs  :onya:
From reading here the main benefits are there longevity. So If you can get them at same or cheaper then standard go for it.
I'll lash these into my bike and try them out( that is if I get the ould girl up and running soon  :whistling:)
Title: Re: Iridium plugs yay or nay
Post by: V_i_c_i on Thursday, 21 June 2018, 11:26 PM
I don´t like iridium plugs in our bikes. They are not better and do not have a longer life in our bikes. Just are more expensive.
Last week, I had 14 at my service. Running as a tractor. I clean fuel filters, did throttle boddies synchro and still run not perfect. Change iridium plugs that had 10 thousand kilometers for standard NGK CR8EK with 21 thousand kilometers (from my bike) and suddenly the engine run perfectly. Iridium plugs don´t like rich running and our bikes run very rich most of the time.