SparkPlugs

[Rushin]

When replacing sparkplugs, should I purchase the ones specified in the motor manual? I have a Mercury 150 XR6. The manual says NGK BPZ8HS-10<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: SparkPlugs

Yes, use what's specified in your Manual. If you are concerned about it, you may want to call your dealer and ask them if there were any recommended changes since you purchased the Motor. Sometimes a Manufactuer will change the heat range recommendation for one reason or another through the years.

 

[RJS]

Re: SparkPlugs

Hey Rushin,<br />My Merc 200 takes the same plugs. I found them a little hard to find at the store. You may want to consider this if you need them in the not too distant future

 

[Trent]

Re: SparkPlugs

web page

 

[RJS]

Re: SparkPlugs

Thanks Trent,<br /><br />That's exactly what I ended up doing, ordering them online thanks to the useful help of people like you and others on the board.

 

[janichol]

Re: SparkPlugs

Rick,<br />Are you saying that if Merc. says use NGK, you have to use NGKs? What if Champion make a replacement spark plug with the same specifications as the NGK? I don't believe Merc can tell you to use ONLY NGK. That may be their recommendation, but shouldn't void the warranty if you use an acceptable replacement. Same with the 2 cycle oil. If you use the acceptable spec oil, they can't dictate the brand. Unless they want to supply you with that brand!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: SparkPlugs

Scudrunner,<br />Where did that come from? All I said was to use what the owners/service manual says to use and that sometimes the Manufactuer will change the original recommended plug due to something they may have learned over time about a particular engine. Never said anything about Warranty concerns or ONLY using NGK brand plugs. Of course you can use Champion or any other brand you want, as long as it is the proper heat range for your motor. If the question was "Can I use a spark plug brand other than NGK in my Mercury 150 XR6", then my answer would have been completely different.

 

[ob]

Re: SparkPlugs

Always good to use the same plug that your motor was engineered and tuned to use . While other manufacturers make cross reference plugs for the application there can be "discrete" differences in the lenghth of elctrodes and ground straps that position the replacement plug deeper or shallower in combustion chamber.I've ran into this first hand with a 95 70 hp evinrude ironically with NGK plugs.Mine came stock of course with champions.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: SparkPlugs

Hey OB, I was gonna throw that in too, but did'nt want to fuel the fire too much. I use only Champions in my Rude and they run better than NGK's. Mercs. seem to run better with NGK's. Must be something to the manufactuer's recommendations!

 

[ob]

Re: SparkPlugs

There was in my case.Ran like crap on the NGK equivelants.Plus on a side by side comparison there were suttle differences in lenghth of elctrodes.Same thing in some applications could be true of Champions equivelant to NGK's.<br /> Nah,Anything John? Rude uses is simply better

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: SparkPlugs

The truth hurts!!!!

 

[BassMan283]

Re: SparkPlugs

Back when I was mechanicing, we stayed with the simple rule of Champions in Chrysler, Autolites in Ford and AC's in GM. All three made x-reffed plugs for every existing motor, but experience showed that you ignored the above rules at your peril, especially sticking Champs in a Ford. Better be wearing comfortable shoes.

 

[janichol]

Re: SparkPlugs

Sorry guys, been away since Friday. My message was that if the specifications for a plug were met by another manufacturer, it would be ok to use them. By specs, I mean heat range, electrode depth etc. Obviously, if the electrode goes deeper into the cylinder, the spark/ignition pattern isn't going to be right. Some plugs are harder to find than others, rather than not have a motor, I'd go with an acceptable alternate. <br />Champion plugs have run in every engine I've had in the past 30 some years except Fords. But I did have a Ford that wouldn't run with Autolites. Go figure!<br />My latest addition, a 99 30hp Johnson has NGKs in it from the previos owner. It didn't run very well... but then he had them gapped at 20 thou. instead of 30. Oh, yeah... I'm going to pick up some Champions, as the manufacturer recommends.

 

[DJ]

Re: SparkPlugs

Ditto the others on running what the engine originally (or updated) called for. The engine was engineered with those and that is what works best. Copies are just that, copies.<br /><br />Oil is a completely different story.

 

[SJ Striper]

Re: SparkPlugs

My yamaha 130 manual shows ngk as the recommended plug, but also lists the champion equivilent as an option. SJ.

 

[janichol]

Re: SparkPlugs

Sorry Djohns19, I have to disagree slightly. The engine was designed to have a spark at a certain temperature, duration and distance from the fuel, delivered at a certain time. It just so happens that OMC/Rude/Johnson determined that Champion would deliver that specification. That doesn't necessarily mean that another brand won't do it, just means that there was a handshake there. Why is it that EVERY Rude/Johnny specifies Champion? Not because the engine had to be designed that way, it's a mutual agreement. <br />Oil is pretty much the same thing.... engines require a certain specification. The cheap stuff at Walmart meets the same specification as the most expensive oil in the market. Does it work better? Maybe, probably not.