Would You Trust These New Champion Spark Plugs?

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dibbons

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Local O'Reilys (here in Mexico) offered me four conventional looking plugs: right in photo (origin unknown) and four shiny looking plugs: left in photo (China). I departed without making a purchase and instead I am now looking around for the plugs in storage that I removed awhile back (they were new but very black after running in a misfiring coil 340). I plan to clean 'em up somehow and put 'em back in (will try degreaser/brake cleaner/acetone).

Chinese Champion Spark Plugs.JPG
 
After using a spark plug testing machine at an airport that was doing engine annuals, I found that it doesn't matter what it "looks" like or brand.
You can go through a box of "new" spark plugs and only find a few that still work under pressure/high compression.
Too many people follow the rest of the sheep about parts. You should always buy more than you think you need. Not like parts will spoil with age if stored properly.

Always remember that last years parts are not this weeks parts or next years.

That most parts are made by just a few makers.

When these cars were made, most of the other companies were not in business or specialised in parts for other brands.

Chrysler name was synonymous with Champion Sparkplugs.

A/C ( Albert Champion) ?

Autolite

Delco were the big hitters.

Test everything you use. New doesn't mean it works.
Just like tires.
Anyone who drove a car in the 60's and 70's knew that Firestone was the big guy, Good Years were second.
Now everyone acts like every car came with Goodyear Poly-Glas tires or T/A Radials.
Not the case. A very few with the PolyGlas, and none, repeat none ever came with BFG T/A Radials.

Firestone dominated the racing scene from Indy , and they won every indycar race from 1910 until the Change of ownership in the 1980's.( which is where the Indy Low profile tire came from), NASCAR and stock class drag racing. Bonneville, virtual monopoly.
Do some research and only trust your own testing or personal research.
With parts selection. Most stuff has been Canada or Mexico made for decades.
Made in USA should really read, Made in North America. instead.
Engine mfg and assembly, mostly Mexico. Nobody complains much about Hellcat quality.
Today's enthusiast has the advantage of the internet and a home computer.
Something never imagined years ago.
And do not trust AI at all.Wrong information, guaranteed..
.
 
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After using a spark plug testing machine at an airport that was doing engine annuals, I found that it doesn't matter what is "looks" like or brand.
You can go through a box of "new" spark plugs and only find a few that still work under pressure/high compression.
Too many people follow the rest of the sheep about parts.
Always remember that last years parts are not this weeks parts or next years.
That most parts are made by just a few makers.
When these cars were made, most of the other companies were not in business or specialised in parts for other brands.
Chrysler name was synonymous with Champion Sparkplugs.
A/C ( Albert Champion) ?
Autolite
Delco were the big hitters.
Test everything you use. New doesn't mean it works.
Just like tires.
Anyone who drove a car in the 60's and 70's knew that Firestone was the big guy, Good Years were second.
Now everyone acts like every car came with Goodyear Poly-Glas tires or T/A Radials.
Not the case.
Firestone dominated the racing scene from Indy , and they won every indycar race from 1910 until the Change of ownership in the 1980's.( which is where the Indy Low profile tire came from), NASCAR and stock class drag racing.
Do some research and only trust your own testing or personal research.
With parts selection. Most stuff has been Canada or Mexico made for decades.
Made in USA should really read, Made in North America. instead.
Engine mfg and assembly, mostly Mexico. Nobody complains much about Hellcat quality.
Truer words have never been spoken.
 

Now there is a needed tool for you racers out there. A Champion Spark plug testing machine.
Should be a lot of them out there but nobody ever asks about them. Probably cheap. and look at the advantage you could gain on your tune ups and be
the envy of the Car Club.
Mandatory tool for aircraft where reliability will save your life.
 
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I just saw a you tube video saying Champion Copper Core are one of the worst plugs to buy. I have a 05 Ram, 5.7 hemi with those exact plugs with 110,000 miles on them. I pulled one at 100,000 and it looked perfect. Plan on changing them now that the weather is warming up.
 
Did a search $200. and up for a vintage 1940's and up aircraft spark plug clean and test.machine. It also cleans the plugs..
So you understand, this doesn't just send a jolt to the plug.
It also uses air pressure PSI to simulate chamber pressure as well.
You may get good spark at 1500 rpm and when you crank up the speed, which alters Dwell time and manually increase the chamber/cylinder pressure and then, lights out !
You also find out the limitations of the ignition system as well. Need more coil ? Different plug gap ?, plug type ? A great diagnostic tool.
 
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I just saw a you tube video saying Champion Copper Core are one of the worst plugs to buy. I have a 05 Ram, 5.7 hemi with those exact plugs with 110,000 miles on them. I pulled one at 100,000 and it looked perfect. Plan on changing them now that the weather is warming up.
Exactly. My 2006 Magnum R/T has run flawlessly on 16 of them, every 30k as recommended in the FSM.
I have used Champion since 1969 In every 50's Chrysler ( FirePower Hemi). 60's and 70's Dodge and Plymouth as well as current 5.7 Gen III, 150K now.
Change them, properly gap them, have them tested if possible.
The biggest problem I see out there is that people will change everything under the sun on and inside their engine with little worry about consequences..
but when it comes to spark plugs ... It doesn't run right !! ...
It works great when used with the factory engine and tune.
 
I just saw a you tube video saying Champion Copper Core are one of the worst plugs to buy. I have a 05 Ram, 5.7 hemi with those exact plugs with 110,000 miles on them. I pulled one at 100,000 and it looked perfect. Plan on changing them now that the weather is warming up.
If it's on youtube, it's gotta be true.
 
I got tired of chasing random misfire codes in my Dakota with a 5.2. After changing cap, rotors, wires, and coil. Both the cam and crank sensors. New intake gaskets. Still random misfire codes. I even moved the injectors around to see if it was one of them. Still random misfire codes. I took the Champion spark plugs out and install a set of NGK plugs. That has been about 4000 miles ago. The MIL has not come back on yet. I'm sticking with NGK plugs. But hay that's just me I guess.
 
Every Mopar I've ever owned got Autolites to replace Champions.

Instant cure for plug fouling if that was an issue.


They used to make a small sand blaster, specifically for cleaning fouled plugs.

That's what I'd do, if I had access to a sand blaster.

Be sure they're clean before reinstalling, though.
 
How does an average guy test spark plugs?

just hold one in your hand and see how far up your arm tingles.

all kidding aside, i like this one:

Messages Image(984649615).png


here's the link


besides visual confirmation (big bright blue snapping spark) it also allows for testing the strength by opening the gap.
 
I got mine for less than 10 bucks at Harbor Freight.

I also got a tester that clamps on to a ground area with an adjustable gap, that checks the rest of the coil/wire/cap/wire circuit besides the plug, like the other one shown above.

Both are cheap, and handy to have in the box.
 
This one tests the ignition system, does it also test plugs?
if you want to actually test a plug, you'll need to pull it.

the tester that YY1 is good if you don't want to pull them.

the old: laying it up on ground will tell you if it's firing, but it won't tell you if it's firing under compression. (as mopar leo outlined above)
 
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