Iridium is said to be six times harder and eight times stronger than platinum with a 700° higher melting point. Iridium spark plugs have extremely fine electrodes while retaining excellent wear characteristics. Thanks to its strength, iridium spark plugs can last up to 25% longer than comparable platinum spark plugs.
Iridium is much harder than even platinum, so it resists wear for up to 25% more lifespan.
Iridium is even stronger than platinum. It shares the same benefits over copper as platinum, but it is said to be eight times stronger than platinum, and it has a higher melting point so it can handle the hottest, highest-performing engines.
Cons of Iridium Spark Plugs
The best models use two or three layers of iridium on the central electrode, whereas the cheapest models may use only one thin layer. These can be prone to cracks and impact damage, so for the best results, always invest in a double or triple coated spark plug.
Bosch Double Iridium Spark Plugs feature both an iridium firing pin and an iridium ground electrode inlay that offer higher performance and 4X longer life compared to standard copper spark plugs.
Double iridium spark plugs are a special type of spark plug equipped with iridium laser welded onto the centre and ground electrodes. They're used in industrial combustion engines to convert an electrical charge into an ignition spark, powering a cylinder and piston to create movement.
OE iridium spark plugs are usually recommended for specific engines and can last 80,000-120,000 miles. Popular ones include Bosch Double Iridium, AC Delco, Champion Iridium, NGK Laser Iridium, and Denso's Long Life spark plugs.
Efficiency and Performance
In terms of day-to-day performance, platinum and iridium spark plugs are similar, so it's perfectly acceptable to interchange spark plugs of the two metals, or to 'downgrade' to platinum spark plugs as a cost saving measure.
Copper spark plugs are also often used in older (pre-1980s) vehicles with a distributor-based ignition system. The nickel-alloy outer material used in the copper spark plug isn't as hard as other metals so it wears down more quickly with the high pressure and heat created in the cylinder of the engine.
The spark plug manufacturers are unanimous about the fact that iridium spark plugs can considerably improve the engine power. The advantage is crucial when you need to navigate through difficult driving situations or climb steep slopes.
Iridium (Ir): Sits at around $4,750 per troy ounce. Used in spark plugs and electronics, it's even rarer than platinum but slightly less valuable due to lower demand.
The spark plugs made of other metals can result in shuddering engine start whereas Iridium plugs make the ignition smoother. Platinum spark plugs are not that reliable compared to Iridium plugs. These result in a jerky engine start that affects the performance of the car for sure.
Additionally, iridium spark plugs provide better ignitability and more efficient combustion, resulting in improved fuel efficiency compared to copper spark plugs. The precise and consistent spark provided by iridium plugs contributes to better engine performance and can help optimize fuel consumption.
Platinum is really only good from a durability standpoint but iridium allows for a much finer electrode tip which gives a more consistent spark and creates a smaller "shadow" as the flame front propogates away from the spark.
Bosch Double Iridium includes places iridium in the ground electrode inlay as well. These OEM style plugs typically have special features designed for a specific engine and last 80-120k miles.
Bosch precious metal spark plugs are pre-gapped at the factory and do not require a gap adjustment. Adjusting the gap may damage the center and ground electrodes.
The advanced materials used in upgraded spark plugs, such as iridium or platinum, increase erosion and corrosion resistance. As a result, they have a longer lifespan than standard plugs, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
Briggs & Stratton Platinum Plug
The Long Life Platinum Spark Plug is better because it's specially designed for easy starts and long lasting performance in outdoor power equipment powered by today's 4-cycle engines.
Is IRIDIUM POWER suitable for older vehicles? Yes, it is. You will notice improved performance. In fact, improved performance is even more noticeable in older vehicles than in the latest models.
Platinum Spark Plugs: Platinum spark plugs have a longer lifespan and may last up to 60,000 miles or more before replacement is necessary. Iridium Spark Plugs: Iridium spark plugs are known for their durability and longevity, often lasting up to 100,000 miles or more.
Bad spark plugs undermine your engine's performance. Some of the best spark plug brands are NGK, Bosch, AC Delco, Denso, Champion, and GenuineXL. Factors you should consider when purchasing new spark plugs are the thread size, recommended use, and cost.
Not always. In the past, it was necessary to gap spark plugs, but today spark plugs are usually pre-gapped. It is advisable to double check that the gap is correctly set to the vehicle's recommended setting when installing spark plugs.
Bosch Double Iridium Spark Plugs are engineered to deliver both high performance and long life, representing advanced original equipment (OE) spark plug technology.
Bosch's iridium spark plug series brings OEM iridium long life plugs to the market, with an iridium fine wire center electrode and iridium/platinum alloy tipped ground electrode. Under normal operating conditions, expect a good 100k miles out of these plugs.