Bosch +4 question

[IAMCDN]

I see alot of you have the Bosch +4's. I have to change the plugs on my Ex. Just bought it 2 months ago, checked the plugs yesterday and it looks like they are the originals - 160000kms on it! (They are kinda rusted around the metal part quite badly - hope they are not too hard to get out)

Anyway, my point...I was looking at the Bosch+4's and I think the design is pretty dumb. They look like the 4 electrodes will "block" the spark. I would think you want the spark as open to the cylender/gas air mixture as possible, not enclosed in a wall of electrodes. It seems to me that this could be more of a gimmicky kind of contraption(and expensive one at that) than something that could increase performance and mileage like they claim.

I have talked to a couple wrenchheads and some agree with me. What do you guys think. I figure I may go with regular Bosch Platinums. I do not mean to slam anyone who has installed the +4's in their vehicle, but am just curious.

 

[rpenner54]

They work fine for me. Better then the stock stuff. Got rid of a slight hesitation that I had at idle.

 

[CHH777]

Blue,

Theoretically you are correct about the extra 3 electrodes blocking spark but only vs. a properly indexed single electrode plug. No one indexes spark plugs anymore.

 

[briantf]

+4's Don't Help if Nothing's Wrong

I put the +4's and a new set of premium Bosch plug wires on my Ranger recently (2 wkds ago, 47K miles).

I have a bad O2 sensor, (I'm trying to figure out how to get the codes pulled without buying the shop a reader - Pep Boys wanted $64.95(!!!)). I pulled the plug on the driver side (#6) to see what it was doing to the plugs. The little check engine light has been on for at least 10,000 miles, but when I saw the plug, I felt guilty.

The center post was worn almost to a point, and the electrode was eroded at the gap. The color was good, though, and there's been NOTHING I could point to to as being wrong with the truck.

Anyway, it really bothered me out to have 47K on the plugs, even though they're rated to 100K, so I got the new plugs. The passender side bank of plugs was so perfect I couldn't believe it. Looked like the plugs in my 67 Barracuda after I drove it ONCE around the block. Just freaky.

Glad I replaced the plug wires, they were OK, but routed really weird and would have been a hassle if they had gone south on the road/trail.

At any rate, there's no detectible difference in performance, and for $40 worth of plugs, you'd better believe I was looking. However, the cost of a $6 plug that lasts 60K or more is a heckuva lot less than a $.89 Champion ever 3000 miles (typical lifespan in my Barracuda).

For all that the electronics frustrate me (see above diagnostic fee), the ignition performance in modern vehicles is nothing short of amazing.

If I can ever figure out how to REACH the plugs on my wife's 98 SOHC, you'd better believe I'm replacing them with +4's.

 

[IAMCDN]

I would imagine your improved performance was just as likely to be the NEW plugs and had nothing to do with the 4 fancy shmancy electrodes. Could have gotten rid of the hesitation with regular Platinums worth half the price.

But, as the saying goes, perception is reality. If you think there is going to be a difference, there will be.

Thanks for the replies guys. And yes, my old man always taught me to index my plugs, so this is where I am getting my bias from.

 

[briantf]

Regular motorcraft platinums were $1.89

I couldn't believe how cheap they were, funny how things change.

 

[RytM1]

When I ordered my wires, the guy from the performance shop said that the +4's really don't do anything for you, and may be more of a problem than they are worth. The reason he gave was that the spark has 1 of 4 electrodes to direct itself to, but will probably also send spark to others, thus reducing the strength of the spark. He suggested single electrode platinum's, and gapping the plugs .10 over. I gapped them about .06-.07 over after talking to a few other mechanics about the idea.