Iridium Vs Platinum Spark Plugs

Whether they are mechanics or not, many people already know something about what a spark plug is. A spark plug is an important component in a vehicle, whether it is a car, truck, or really any other equipment which contains an internal combustion engine.

A spark plug is what allows the engine to ignite electrically, or without the use of a pull start or some other kind of manual engine igniter. Having an engine that starts up reliably and powerfully is important to have when you are depending on your vehicle to transport you to work or some other important destination. Among the best ways to achieve that is by having spark plugs which are up to date in terms of their technological design, as well has being durable and not worn out.

Every so often, a spark plug will need to be changed and this is not usually a difficult or terribly expensive process. It does, however, carry with it some different choices about what kinds of spark plug will be used in a given engine. The reality about today’s modern spark plug designs is that there are many different versions and materials with which spark plugs can be made out of. In order to further inform readers about these different types of spark plugs, some additional points on this subject will be included here.

Types of Spark Plugs
Different types of spark plugs are typically differentiated by the type of material they are constructed with. The purpose of the specific metal being used in a spark plug is important because the metal is what will be channelling the electrical power into the engine block. In this way, it is possible to use any conductive metal as a spark plug, however it is not recommended to use a metal that will get too hot. That is the essential difference with spark plug metal compositions; how hot they get is important for spark plugs because it is not good if they overheat.

Iridium Versus Platinum Spark Plugs
In terms of choosing between iridium or platinum spark plugs, it should first be understood what the benefits of these materials is over another material like copper. Platinum and iridium spark plugs perform at a much higher temperature than copper, which is not necessarily desired, but they also last much longer than copper spark plugs which is a plus for automotive owners who do not want to be changing spark plugs very often.

Iridium is probably going to be the most desirable material for a spark plug, and this has to do with the fact that the longevity is high with these plugs, and performance is too. This is accounted for by the generally higher cost of the iridium spark plugs. If it is possible to spend the extra money, iridium spark plugs are probably going to offer the best bang for the buck. Platinum and iridium spark plugs are actually capable of lasting for up to 50,000 miles! This is impressive when one considers that the life-span for a copper spark plug is usually only around 20,000 miles.