Thread: Spark plug Reviews

Originally Posted by IndeedSS

Missing from the picture are the about 3 other sets including the originals removed at 9k miles, another set of TR6IX and iirc a set of 104's. And then there are these. I put in a new set of TR6IX's today.

Man, and I thought I was bad about trying out plugs.

Originally Posted by s1795so2

Lee do you mail order the tr6ix ones? or do you pick them up somewhere local?

I get those from ZZP. I've looked for them on the Internet, but haven't found them any cheaper. One thing to note and I've mentioned it before. The stock replacement plugs TR55IX are gapped at the factory .059, but the TR6IX are .039. You are NOT supposed to gap iridium plugs, but of course .039 isn't going to get it. I gapped mine by using 2 separate flat metal feeler gauges NOT the wire type. I used the .035 from one gauge and the .020 from the other and staggered them. Like this -_ This way I could clear the center electrode tip first, without accidently nicking the iridium coating and then gently slide it the rest of the way in to check the gap. Obviously when adjusting the ground electrode you have to position the gap tool so that it will not tough the insulator or center electrode ever. (I used the gapper found on a wire type gauge, do NOT check gap or adjust the ground electrode with one of those modern day progressive disc gauges). I gapped to .055, installed the plugs to spec, put a thin layer of dielectric grease on each plug before connecting the wires, and fired it up. It definitely started a lot quicker than I've been used to lately. The idle still hops (XP cam), but it seems a little less erradic. I will need to drive a few more days to make any further determinations.

Originally Posted by SyntheticShield

Man, and I thought I was bad about trying out plugs.

OCD. It's a curse, but sometimes can be disguised as being very thorough.

I have used AL103, AL104, TR6 in the regal. I have used AL606 (came with the car) and TR55, once TR6 in my GP. I have used APP606 in my friends olds 88 L36, and APP605 twice in 2 different SS Monte Carlo L36's. TR55 for years in my old car 91 olds ciera, and my friend's 93 olds ciera both with 3300 engines.

here is what I have noticed:
on stock L36 engines putting the TR55 in messes up fuel trims making them around -7 at hot idle. Gas mileage seems unaffected from the stock heat range. And the TR6 on a close to stock L36 causes O2 sensor codes.

on my regal gs I didn't notice any difference from TR55 or TR6 vs. AL104 from a performance aspect. Starts runs as it should. With the AL103 I did have slight fouling occurring because it is my daily driver and I live 5 mins from work. What I mean by slight fouling is nothing noticeable driving the car, but from the tailpipe it would squirt a quick black puff on WOT and it would go away. I pulled them out after a 15 min drive and 2 hr cool down and the 103 had alittle carbon on the porcelain insulator but for the most part the plug was clean. I did the same with 104's and they were perfect so that tells me alittle too cold for my mods and driving habits. I also saw around 2-3mpg better on the 104's vs the 103's. This is all of course before purchasing a PT. I haven't put the 103's back in to tune fuel trims to see if this is what almost fouled them. I can say that with the 104s and my mods that I did have to lean cruise and idle trims to get them more acceptable -5 to 0.

mods on the regal are standard bolt ons. 3.4, PLOG, 3'' DP, stock cat, 3'' catback, wizairred.

conclusion, the 104's for the price and similar performance to the NGK's I will stick with them on the GS.

Good info ^^^ I believe the AL 103's are too cold for most of us. Although my AR103's were not fouled, due to having a really great wideband tune(thanks Trannyman), there is a huge difference in cold startup and excelleration between those and the TR6IX that went in oever the weekend. No more AR103's for me. I needed a couple of days on my normal route to make a final determination, but w/o a doubt my motor with my mods love the NGK.