Best Spark Plug Review Guide For 2023-2024

February 12, 2023

Best Spark Plug Review Guide For 2023-2024 – Shopping for spark plugs can be almost painful. Not only are there a variety of different brands to consider, but there are also a number of options that have to be thought about as well. Some of these decisions include whether to buy fixed or adjustable gap plugs, whether a particular model will work with your vehicle and whether you need single or double platinum plugs. All of these are things that have to be thought about before you buy plugs for your car. It isn’t a problem, however, if you are willing to take a few minutes and go over your options. In order to help out, we’ve looked over a wide range of different plugs and chose the ones we felt were the best spark plug models currently available. After looking through all the major brands, including AC Delco, Champion, Motorcraft, Denso, Bosch, and NGK, we’ve found the ones that perform the best and offer the best reliability and listed them in our Best Spark Plug Review Guide For 2023-2024.

Best Spark Plug Buyers Guide For 2023-2024

Benefits of Spark Plugs:

Increase fuel efficiency. If your engine is powered by worn-out spark plugs, it will not run as efficiently as intended. When you replace these faulty plugs with a set of fresh plugs, your engine will run smoothly and require less effort to keep the combustion process going. This will translate into increased fuel efficiency over the long run.

Improve acceleration and engine response. If you notice that your ride isn’t as peppy as it usually is when you step on the gas pedal, you may need to replace your spark plugs. Healthy spark plugs maximize the combustion process in your engine, giving you smooth, responsive acceleration.
Smoother engine idle. Fully functioning spark plugs provide sufficient ignition to spur the combustion process in your motor. When spark plugs become faulty, they cause your engine to run rougher than usual, which results in symptoms such as a rough idle. Replacing tired plugs with a set of new plugs will smooth out your idle.

Reduce the risk of damage to your engine and other components. Faulty spark plugs can cause misfires, poor fuel economy, lackluster acceleration, and other issues with your ignition system. Left unaddressed, malfunctioning plugs can also cause damage to other components such as your catalytic converter, so it’s vital that you immediately replace bad plugs.

Enhanced reliability. If you’re experiencing difficulties starting your car, truck, or SUV, your spark plugs may need to be replaced. Spark plugs are a crucial electrical component necessary to start your vehicle, so inspect your plugs if you’re having trouble getting your ride running.

Types of Spark Plugs:

COPPER:

Copper core spark plugs are the most basic and affordable type of spark plug that you can buy. These used to be the most common plug type on the market, but have recently been replaced by platinum and iridium spark plugs due to their superior performance, efficiency, and lifespan. While many modern engines simply cannot run copper spark plugs, there are a number of older engines that run better using copper plugs.

PLATINUM:

Platinum plugs deliver enhanced performance and fuel efficiency compared to copper plugs, but for a considerably cheaper price than iridium spark plugs. Much like iridium plugs, platinum spark plugs operate at a lower temperature than copper spark plugs. They can also last up to twice as long as basic copper plugs.

DOUBLE-PLATINUM:

Double-platinum spark plugs provide even more performance, efficiency, and longevity than single-plated platinum plugs. What’s more, double-platinum plugs are still typically cheaper than iridium spark plugs. For an affordable upgrade from single platinum, just look for spark plugs that use platinum in both the electrode and cap.

IRIDIUM:

The best spark plugs on the market boast an iridium construction. Iridium spark plugs give you even better gas mileage, performance, reliability, and longevity than double-platinum plugs. Due to the advanced material and innovative technology integrated into iridium spark plugs, these plugs are priced higher than copper and platinum options. Iridium spark plugs are perfect to use on high-performance engines.

Top Brands:

ACDELCO:

Founded in 1916, ACDelco is a Grand Blanc, Michigan-based automotive parts brand owned by General Motors. Offering everything from air conditioning components to batteries, ACDelco is perhaps best known for its line of spark plugs. One of its top products is the ACDelco 41-993 Professional Iridium Spark Plug.

BOSCH:

Established in 1886, Robert Bosch GmbH, or simply Bosch, is a massive multinational engineering and electronics company with its headquarters near Stuttgart, Germany. Bosch manufactures a vast diversity of goods, from home appliances to auto parts. One of its best-selling products is the Bosch 6702 Platinum Spark Plug.

NGK:

Operating from Nagoya, Japan, NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd. is a public company tracing its roots back to 1936. NGK is best known for its range of spark plugs, though it also manufactures fine ceramics, cutting tools, and more. One of this brand’s popular products is its 6619 Iridium IX Spark Plug.

Spark Plug Pricing:

Under $3: There are several spark plugs available in this value-priced range. Buyers must do their homework before purchasing cheaper spark plugs due to the vastly varying degree of quality.
$3-$9: The majority of spark plugs fall into this pricing segment. Most shoppers choose a spark plug priced in this range because they tend to offer an ideal blend of efficiency, longevity, performance, and value.
Over $9: Spark plugs priced in this range tend to feature a durable construction using premium materials, advanced electrode designs, and unparalleled performance, efficiency, and longevity.

Key Features:

MATERIAL:

When you’re shopping for spark plugs, it’s important to consider which material best suits your needs. Copper is ideal for older model vehicles that feature a low-voltage distributor-based ignition. Platinum and iridium are best suited for modern engines without distributors. Platinum delivers a great mix of economy, performance, and longevity. Iridium offers an even better mix but at a higher cost. In the end, always use the plug specified by your vehicle’s manufacturer.

SIZE:

One important way that spark plugs are specified is by the size of the thread or nut. In the United States, typical thread and nut sizes are as follows: 10 millimeters (nut: 16 millimeters), 12 millimeters (nut: 14 millimeters, 16 millimeters, or 17.5 millimeters), 14 millimeters (nut: 16 millimeters or 20.63 millimeters), and 18 millimeters (nut: 20.63 millimeters).

HEAT RANGE:

A spark plug is specified as “hot” if it’s a better heat insulator, and it’s classified as “cold” if it can conduct more heat out of the tip and lower its temperature. Generally, manufacturers denote the heat range of a spark plug with a number, with some brands using ascending numbers for hotter plugs and others doing the opposite for colder spark plugs.

GAP STYLE:

Spark plugs are usually engineered to have a spark gap which can be adjusted using a spark plug gapper tool. A single plug may be designed for several different engines, necessitating a different gap for each. Spark plugs for cars typically gap between 0.6 and 1.8 millimeters (0.024 and 0.071 inches). Use a gap gauge to measure the plug’s gap to ensure that it’s within the specified range.

Other Considerations:

User-Friendliness:

Some spark plugs come “pre-gapped” right out of the box and does not require adjustment. These pre-gapped spark plugs are convenient and ideal for consumers looking for a plug-and-play style plug that doesn’t require fussing with a gap gauge and tool during installation. If you have some experience turning a wrench, this may not be a huge deal though.

NGK 5019 G-Power Plugs

Click On Picture For Pricing

These spark plugs are designed with numerous performance enhancing features. It’s manufactured with trivalent metal plating that not only prevents the plugs from seizing up but also helps prevent them from corroding. It’s also manufactured with corrugated plugs which help eliminate flashover, a copper core that helps it from overheating, a triple seal that prevents leakage and a trapezoid cut ground electrode for reduced quenching. The biggest performance-enhancing feature which can be found on this plug is its fine wire platinum-tipped electrode. This electrode reduces the voltage required to spark the plug and results in better fuel economy and better acceleration.

Product Details:

G Power
1 order = 4 Pieces

Pros:

Eliminates Flashover
Doesn’t Seize
Reduced Quenching
Corrosion Resistant

Cons:

Doesn’t Have Preset Gap

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Genuine Motorcraft Spark Plug SP-493

Designed as a direct OEM replacement for many Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicle models, these spark plugs provide the reliability and the performance that vehicle owners want in a platinum plug. They’re designed to give up to 100,000 miles of performance and deliver not only quick starts and increased fuel economy but also smooth acceleration, too. They have a nickel-plated outer shell that reduces corrosion and improves reliability, and a copper-glass seal that assures full-voltage and protects against misfires. Anyone with a vehicle that’s compatible with these spark plugs may want to take a closer look at them. After all, if they’re good enough to be factory-installed by Ford, then they may be good enough to replace a Ford plug.

Product Details:

Brand New in the Box
Platinum Spark Plug
Genuine Motorcraft

Pros:

Ford Oem-Replacement
60,000 to 100,000 Miles of Performance
Corrosion-Resistant
Resistant to Misfiring
Inexpensive

Cons:

None

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NGK ZFR5FIX-11 Iridium Plugs

NGK ZFR5FIX-11 Iridium spark plugs are designed for individuals who are trying to squeeze every single ounce of performance out of their vehicle. It’s designed with a 0.6mm laser welded tip that has an extremely high melting point, minimizes electrical quenching and delivers a stable spark every single moment of every single day. This plug is made with an insulator nose that’s longer than conventional plugs and has corrugated ribs on its insulators. These two features, along with a triple gasket seal, allow this plug to resist fouling and all but eliminate combustion gas leakage. And because it’s made with trivalent metal plating, it’s less likely to corrode or seize-up.

Product Details:

Designed specifically for the performance enthusiast, Iridium IX offers extreme ignitability, improved throttle response and superior anti-fouling
The 0.6 millimeter laser welded fine Iridium tip ensures high durability and a consistently stable spark and the tapered ground electrode minimizes electrical quenching effect
Longer insulator nose prevents fouling, the corrugated ribs on insulator prevents flashover, and a triple gasket seal eliminates combustion gas leakage
Iridium alloy has extremely high melting point, giving it high durability to heat and electrical wear, perfect for today’s high performance engines
Trivalent Metal Plating provides superior anti-corrosion and anti-seizing properties; Part number of spark plug inside the box: ZFR5FIX-11
fit type: Vehicle Specific

Pros:

Less Likely to Seize
Stable Spark Production

Cons:

None

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AC Delco Professional Iridium Plugs

Anyone who not only wants increased performance but actually needs it may want to examine these professional-quality spark plugs. They are designed to provide improved idle stability, increased performance, better accelerating, and better fuel efficiency. They use a fine-wire electrode that’s tipped with iridium and a one-piece suppressor seal that blocks radio frequencies that can interfere with a vehicle’s electronic systems. It also has a suppressor seal that seals against combustion leakage and has an advanced electrode design that allows for improved cold-starting. Another feature to like about this product is that it’s a true GM Oem certified product that’s designed to work with GM vehicles. And it’s available at a price that is comparable with many platinum spark models.

Product Details:

Iridium offers better engine idle stability and smoother performance
Iridium allows for smaller, more efficient electrode designs for improved cold starting and quicker acceleration
Iridium fine-wire electrode helps improve ignition of the fuel and burns away carbon deposits on the tip of the plug as they form, to help improve fuel economy
One piece suppressor seal blocks radio frequencies that can affect vehicle electronics
Suppressor seal meters spark energy for longer electrode life and seals against combustion leakage

Pros:

GM Oem-Certified Product
Doesn’t Interfere With Sensitive Electronics
Improves Performance
Improves Cold-Starts
Preset Gap

Cons:

None

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NGK Laser Platinum 3199 Plugs

These spark plugs have limited use and are designed specifically for some BMW models. As such, they are manufactured in a way that ensures they provide BMW owners with the performance they need and expect out of a spark plug for their vehicle. Although they’re specifically made for BMW vehicles, they can also be used for a few other vehicle models including some Audi, Bentley, Cadillac, Porsche, Rolls-Royce and Volvo models as well. They have a hex size of 16mm, a thread size of 14mm, have a preset gap, and a laser-welded electrode tip. All of these features come together to make these economically priced plugs ones that should provide many miles of performance.