mjustdie

Well, I finally gave in to see if these spark plugs were worth buying. They became useless after 50 miles and had me pondering all kinds of things as to why my car didn't want to run right. Within the first few days, the car ran great, then as soon as it would warm up, hesitation left and right. After everything was checked these were the only thing left. I replaced them with my usual +2 plugs and now the car runs sweet again. STAY AWAY FROM THESE PLUGS!

Orr89RocZ

iTrader: (20)

hmm interesting. i'm running the bosch platinum plus 2 plugs and have no problems

Tobias05

good old AC delco for me!

Zeikjds

Got to have AC Delco!!! Bosch in general sucks,sorry to have to say it!

xpndbl3

iTrader: (5)

.89 delco plugs run the best in these cars, those tiny electrodes on the bosch definately foul out quickly and they're done.

izcain

bosch is junk.

Tobias05

uh oh, looks like I started a rebellion, haha...

ResurrectingZ

Bosch is only good for those who dont like to replace them all often. A/C Delco is as good as any others for me.

Then again, I'm not paying enough attention to look at the date on the thread LOL.

espirocz

iTrader: (2)

I installed the +4s in my car due to limited access due to SLP headers I have had no problems with spark plugs.

NOTE: I am running a Crane HI-6 CD ignition though.

B Rhodes

we use all types of Bosch plugs in our shop everyday with no problems. I think maybe you had 1 defective plug in the batch and ran rough, I have had this happen a couple times with different brands and replaced the one plug deemed bad by the pull the wires one by one test and they ran fine afterwards.

prostar

I put bosch platinum in my Saturn (1998) and it ran like crap. The idle was all over the place, and the power was crap. I didn't put 2 and 2 together for about a month. As soon as I put some cheap champions in, it's been golden.

My friend has the same story with his dodge dakota V8. MSD ignition. It went on for about a year of replacing this and that. Once he figured the plugs were old enough, he swapped them out for some regular NGK and he was smooth and powerfull again.

Bosch platinums are the S#@TS!!

(I run AC in the IROC)

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

In addition to the wacky electrode layout, bosch also uses those crappy screw on terminals. They cause all sorts of problems in engines that need the terminals.

formula350sd

iTrader: (2)

NGK plugs Rule

Doom86

i've been running the +4 bosch plugs in my 305 for atleast 2 years now and havent had a problem with them yet. I actually swapped them out for AC delco's once because i thought i was having an ignition problem, but that wasnt the case. I even put the old plugs in the 305 i just built a few months ago and they still work fine.

the only problem i've found with them is that they cost so damned much. they are deffinately not a "good value buy", champ's or delco's will be just as good at 1/4th the cost.

OutLaw305

Just to throw it out there:


I hope you all know that if you are running a multi-spark ignition system (such as MSD), you souldnt run anything more than a single prong.

89Nighthawk

I have run Bosch +4's since they came out. I've always found them to be exceptional plugs and had no problems whatsoever. I run a Crane HI-6S igntion and matching coil.

I am curious why Outlaw 305 says you shouldn't run a plug with multiple ground straps with a Multiple Discharge Ignition. The engineering and theory says they will work as well or better with a standard or MSD type ignition. Thanks in advance!

mjustdie

I've been running the +2's since they came out and have never had a problem with them. I spoke with several people and friends who said and described the same exact problem I had with the +4's. My friend was having problems with his thunderchicken a few weeks ago and he had these damn things in. I told him to replace them and he argued that they only had 1500 miles on them. He changed them and instant gratification. The car found idle, ran smoother, and found it's power again. I have quite a few friends who work in parts stores and garages who have had numerous complaints with these plugs.

navy02ws6

Bosch plugs suck PERIOD unless you drive something that originally came with them from the factory. That narrows it down to BMW and Mercedes. I work at a parts counter and try to tell people this.

formula350sd

iTrader: (2)

You shouldent run precious metal plugs with any msd or equivalent ignition cause it will burn out the plugs abnormaly fast at least thats what ive been told

On a side note I have had bad problems with champion plugs with msds burns em out in like a week autolights delcos and ngks seem to work fine however

IROCJoyce

iTrader: (4)

My friend used the bosch platnium +4 and they made his motor over heat. I on the other hand just put in some E3 spark plugs and I can feel more acceleration and my mpg has gone up slightly. I think there the best for the $.

espirocz

iTrader: (2)

I have been running +4's with a Crane Hi-6 box & coil, Accel 8.8 race wires for at least 8000 miles over the course of 4 years with no problems.

I am not trying to say your wrong, but a plug is designed to spark. If your firing multiple sparks it may decrease the life of the plug but I have never heard of, nor read anything in the ignition instructions about plug selection (single prong vs. multiple prong).

I think the +4's give you the best of both worlds. Platinum for longevity. And the multiple prongs give you an indexed plug out of the box, because electricity will follow the path of least resistance. If the spark gets blown out off of one prong, it might not from one of the other prongs. At that point the spark should flow through one of the other prongs. This is just my theory, not scientific law but it makes sense to me.

espirocz

iTrader: (2)

It makes me wonder if those of you who have experienced problems with the Bosch +4 plugs had received a set that had been dropped on the ground. A plug will last for a long time in an engine, but drop it on the floor and it might be junk after that.

espirocz

iTrader: (2)

double post, blah!

89Nighthawk

Out of curiosity I've ordered a set of AC Delco Rapidfire plugs for my car (didn't have the heat range I wanted). So I'll put them in and see what happens. My current set of Bosch +4's has 6,000 miles on them, pulled out the driver side plugs and they showed a little fouling so, we'll see.

mjustdie

if i'm getting this straight.....1/2 of us have problems and the other 1/2 don't or haven't yet. so an overpriced plug that provides a 50% chance of working or not is a good plug? i've been a +2 supporter for years and seeing what i've been seeing, i'm done. next tune up to any of my vehicles will be NGK all the way. i have no time for poor quality control. and the excuse of maybe the plugs were dropped, please. i don't think that is a very valid excuse when all these people have or had similar or worse problems as myself.

IrocZ85

iTrader: (10)

I Love Champions actually and AC isnt bad but have had huge problems with all bosch plugs as one always seems to be bad and it gets old figuring out which one it is

MaNiAk86

iTrader: (2)

I've had the bosch platinum 2's for almost a year and i havent had any problems with them. infact when i pulled my plugs to do a compression test none of them looked to be in good shape and the passenger side bank plugs had carbon deposits or something in between the prongs and they were working fine. i did of course clean them before i reinstalled them and there was no change in how my car ran.

Bowtye101

Bosch plugs in general are for smaller engines most V8's don't perform very well as has been my consensus but when used in high revving 4 and 6 cyl. engines they perform exactly the way they are designed. Now rapidfires have always worked well for me but the best plug I have found if you use a high voltage ignition system are iridium plugs course you almost have to rob a bank to pay for them but wow what a difference they make and finally if you run nitrous try the zex plug they are perfect for those of you running laughing gas I have only found those online though at zex.com. Of course this is all my opinion and I'm sure there are those out there who will disagree with me but I sell a lot of plugs and listen to my customer's opinions on different parts and there performance qualities cause I want to help them not rip them off.

formula350sd

iTrader: (2)

Champions tend to burn themselves out in my experience

espirocz

iTrader: (2)

I am not by any means trying to make an excuse for Bosch.

I was just thinking out loud.

espirocz

iTrader: (2)

I wonder if it has to do with setup?

Are those of you that are having good results, running a completely factory setup?

My car has several mods, maybe the combustion chamber is hotter and the plugs get to a temp that allows them to stay clean.

Doom86

50% could also be having other problems that are fouling plugs early. You never know.

Although when i installed my +4's i did find 1 problem while inspecting them (you should be doing this anyway). 1 plug had 1 prong bent in way to far out of the box, it was nearly touching the electrode. That was an easy fix.

I'm still trying to justify why they cost so damn much. I have an Accel coil and +4's and delco's apear to spark just the same when you remove the plug and watch it spark. The only thing i can see you get with the extra cost is bragging right's that you spent 80$ more then you needed to on sparkplugs.

dimented24x7

iTrader: (2)

My beef was with the damn screw on terminals. They back off and allow an oxide layer to form on the threads, which blocks the spark, which then goes AROUND the terminal and carbon tracks the boots. After that, three of the spark plug wires turned into dust from all the internal arcing. Their good in theory but bad in design.

danziger

I've had both good and bad experiences with Bosch plugs. I switched over to NGK years ago and couldn't be happier.

Bigseth

iTrader: (11)

Ive worked in auto parts for 8 years now. And I can say that bosch plugs only seem to run good in german cars that came with them. This applies to the supers and regular platinums. But I can say that 8 out of 10 sets of +4s that I sold (for larger displacement engines) came back with problems. Almost eveyone that came in asking for them thought they fired on all 4 electrodes at the same time( I guess they wernt awake in science class). For instance a fellow came in with a 2001 mustang cobra (back in 2003) with about 32,000 miles on it. He was set on buying +4s and nothing else. I tried my best to tell him that his car came with double platinum plugs that would easily last him 80-100k miles and +4s probally wouuldnt even get him out of the parking lot in that car. Needless to say he bought the bosch +4s and changed them in the parking lot. As soon as he fired it up it started missing. I mean this thing sounded like a tractor. So he comes in and wants to know what is wrong with his car, I told him not to buy those damn +4s in the first place and that that was his problem. So I sold him a new set of autolite double platinums. He changed them out and the car ran great. He thanked me for my help and said he sould of listened to me in the first place. Anyway thats just my 2 cents worth.


Seth

cooltc2004

iTrader: (4)

Anyones have experience with Iridium?

Bigseth

iTrader: (11)

I have run them I alot of motorcycles, and sold tons of them for cars without any complaints. I use the NGKs in my bike. It has alot better throttle response and runs better at higher rpms. AC Delcos are really good too.

Burntz

I work at O' Reillys, and i'll never put a bosch in anything. The +4's dont do jack **** for ur car, because the spark is still going to just use 1 out of the 4 prongs, path with least resistance

They just last longer, because once a prong gets worn out and such, it will switch to the next prong w/ least resistance, thats IF they run ok.

Dont put anything besides a Delco in a GM unless you rebuilt it

gray89vert

iTrader: (3)

all i have read about from bosch in this thread is about the +2's and +4's. are the good ol' platinum ones any good? I have put these in at least 5 different vehicles and saw an improvement with all of them. I changed from platinums to +2's in my dad's truck and did not tell any difference at all. I have platinums in my car right now...should i switch to NGK or what?

mystikkal_69

iTrader: (2)

bosch platinums suck. although, i love the bosch super line. i have been using bosch supers for a few years now and not a problem. i'm an AC Delco person myself.

i use the supers since they are the cheapest and shortest plug you can buy. you guys with headers know what i'm talking about. the accels are over priced.

ResurrectingZ

Some caddys also came with them factory. 1996 Concours did come with the +2 plugs factory.

Toehead

I have used the +4's in 2 cars... My 94 s10 lasted about 1500 miles with the plugs before I couldnt drive it anymore (stalling on cold start, misfiring under load). Changed to delco plugs and havnt had any problems. That was three years ago, on the same set of plugs.

My carmaro went through pretty much the same thing. I just don't think our cars have enough voltage to run them with the stock ignition system. Did anybody else notice that everybody without problems has been using an aftermarket coil?

Swim500in5

another vote for delco, i run them in my car and my boat. in the boat they get so fouled up with oil they miss fire from long periods of low speed trolling, i take them out sand the top, clean them with a little kerosen and gap them. they run perfect every time. same goes for my car they seem to last for ever. bocsh and champ dont last as long

BulliTooth

ok so what plugs u guys using for headers? my car is running like crap since ive installed +4....i tried them cause there a shorter plug.

nelapse

iTrader: (17)

I wouldn't use them, I tried them on my eclipse... they throw my gas mileage out the window... and they are really hot (temp wise) plugs... for $10 bucks a plug they sure as hell aint worth it.

espirocz

iTrader: (2)

Is anyone running +4 plugs in a Camaro with a completly stock ignition, and not having any problems?

carguy502

iTrader: (2)

It never seemed like a good idea to shroud the center electrode with four straps. I think that stock ignition systems do not have enough power to make use of a plug like this.

Stevo

iTrader: (45)

regular ac delco plugs here...there is no point/need for anything fancy/more expensive on a mostly stock engine

mjustdie

I'm not stock and I started this thread advising of the problems I went through. There are many others using aftermarket ignitions and having problems. As for Iridiums, I've only heard one bad remark on them ever (nelapse) and it seems someone just got the wrong plugs. All plugs are made to burn differently. I'm gonna go ngk from now on. I haven't used them yet but I know quite a few friends have them and they have no problems.

Fullsizewagon

I also think four electrodes will shroud the spark more than neccessary.
15 years ago I tried Bosch (Platinum?) in a 1.4 litre Renault that usually runs on Champion plugs. The (equivalent) Bosch plugs didn't last long before they began causing misfires..