It’s easy to think of spark plugs the way we do, say, razor blades; every now and then we hear of a new “breakthrough” design, which we usually assume is another sales gimmick. Is there really a difference between spark plug brands and how they work? As long as it isn’t fouled, worn, or broken, and there’s a spark, then the plug is doing its job, right? Well, we can’t speak for razor blades, but over the past decade there have been substantial improvements in spark-plug technology, resulting in longer service life and more-efficient combustion (and, consequently, improved performance and economy, as well as lower emissions).
Platinum-or gold-palladium-tipped plugs, for instance, last dramatically longer than conventional plugs and have allowed engine designers to produce the current crop of “100,000-mile tuneup”…
