We all speculate on how good a product is, many times without any real evidence. If I use a motor oil, spark plug, filter, etc. and it doesnt cause any noticeable harm, then we generally call it a good product and we often repeat purchase. I can testify to the fact that just because a product like a motor oil doesnt cause any noticeable harm doesnt mean its doing what its supposed to. I cant tell you the number of times Ive been told "Well my dad used X motor oil in his car and got 200k out of it". Well thats all well and good but it still doesnt mean its the best nor does it mean it offered the best protection.
The same goes with spark plugs among other products. If I put one in and it works until its time to put a new set in, most will say its a good plug. But by what standards of evaluation are you using? We also are subjected to the wild claims and supposed data that backs it up from the manufactures. But how much of that can be related to the everyday motorist? How do we substantiate their claims on a repeatable basis?
So my challenge to you is to discuss how you would compare one plug to another so that we first come up with the standards by which every tested plug will be judged. Then discuss how we can implement those tests in a safe and repeatable fashion.
I have seen other sites do a large product comparison. I think this would be good to do with plugs. Have a Spark Plug Shootout if you will. We dont even have to have a large scale test all at once either. If we can come up with a set of fair and reliable standards then maybe everyone, at the time they change their plugs can fill out the data and we can come up with an overall database that gives us a fair picture of how each plug compares.
Im not after conclusive evidence, Im more after application specific, real world experience. Let everyone else do what they will with the information.
So what say all of you? Sound like something we could work together on as a community?
