Which Are Better Iridium vs Platinum Spark Plugs?

This article is designed to explain the differences between iridium spark plugs and platinum spark plugs to give you an idea of which ones you should use for your vehicle.  Spark plug technology has been continuously improving since they were invented back in 1860 to the technology that we have today.  So then what type of spark plug is better iridium vs platinum spark plugs?

What Are the Differences Between Iridium and Platinum Spark Plugs?

Iridium spark plugs and Platinum spark plugs are pretty similar in their overall design but they have one key difference which is the material the tip is made of.   Iridium is up to six times harder than platinum so Iridium should hold up longer when used on your spark plugs.

When spark plugs were first invented they used copper on the tips of the spark plugs. Over time they realized that platinum is a harder metal than copper so they started making spark plugs with platinum.  They then realized the benefits of iridium tipped spark plugs which are the best spark plug technology that we have today.

Iridium Vs Platinum Spark Plugs – What Type Should You Go With?

Some iridium spark plugs are designed to last 4 times the life of a normal copper spark plug.  Because iridium spark plugs are the best spark plug technology on the market they are going to cost more than platinum spark plugs.

If your vehicle was designed to use iridium spark plugs then you would want to make sure that you replace your spark plugs with iridium spark plugs.  If your vehicle was designed to be used with platinum spark plugs then you can replace your spark plugs with either type.

What is the Purpose of Spark Plugs?

Spark plugs ignite the fuel that is injected into the cylinder walls of your engine.  When the spark plugs ignite the fuel it causes combustion in the cylinder which then turns the pistons of your engine to create the power that is eventually transferred to the ground.  Each cylinder will have at least one spark plug inside of it, while some higher-end cars like some Mercedes will have two spark plugs per cylinder.

Why Should You Replace Your Spark Plugs?

When your spark plugs create a spark to burn the air-fuel mixture in your engine cylinder some of that fuel remains unburnt which will eventually start to buildup on your spark plugs.  If you never replace your spark plugs eventually they would not work as well which could cause issues with how well your car runs or if it can even start at all.

Spark plugs are designed to have a certain life expectancy based on what materials they are made of.  Most spark plugs are going to have a life expectancy of somewhere around 50,000 miles, while others have an extended life expectancy of 100,000 miles.  

If you have never replaced the spark plugs on your vehicle or recently purchased a vehicle that you are not sure the last time it has had its spark plugs replaced it would be a good idea to go ahead and do that just so that you have the peace of mind that it has been done.

Below are some common signs that your spark plugs need to be replaced.  

• Rough Idle –  If your car’s engine is not running as smoothly as it has in the past this could be a sign that your spark plugs may need to be replaced.  If you replace your spark plugs and this still doesn’t fix the issue you would want to look at other causes or take your car to a mechanic to have them look it over.
• High Fuel Consumption – If your car is starting to burn more fuel than it has in the past worn spark plugs may be the cause.  If the spark plugs are not able to fully burn the air-fuel mixture in your engine cylinder this will cause weak combustion which can then use more fuel to get full combustion in the cylinder using more fuel.
• Engine Misfires – If your car’s engine is making weird noises or misfiring worn spark plugs may be to blame.  If your engine is misfiring and replacing the spark plugs do not help the issue you may want to take your vehicle to a mechanic to have them take a look at what else may be causing the issue.
• Won’t Start – If your car’s engine won’t consistently start in the morning or when you head out for work for the day then the spark plugs may be to blame.  If your spark plugs can’t deliver the needed spark to the cylinder to turn over the engine then it won’t be able to start. If your vehicle takes multiple tries to start up dirty spark plugs may be the culprit.

How to Pick What Spark Plugs are Compatible for Your Vehicle

The easiest way to find out which spark plugs are designed for your vehicle is to search online.  You can go to your local auto parts website or Amazon and put in your vehicle’s info into their website.  They will then pull up all of the compatible spark plugs for your vehicle which you can then take your pick from.  

 You may want to look up your specific manufacturers’ recommended spark plug brand to see which brand they prefer. With my Acura TSX, they recommend going with NGK spark plugs which is what I decided to replace my old spark plugs with.

Depending on how many cylinders your vehicle’s engine has you would want to get an equal amount of spark plugs for your vehicle.  If you have a 4 cylinder engine you would want to get 4 spark plugs, if you have an 8 cylinder engine you would want to get 8 spark plugs.  

You should always replace your spark plugs all at once and never one at a time or in pairs. They aren’t that expensive and should last you a long time so it’s a good idea to replace them all at once when you are in there.

Related Questions

What are the best spark plugs for horsepower? The answer is the spark plugs that feature the newest spark plug technology which at this time is iridium spark plugs.  The bottom line is if you are using the best spark plug technology then you will be able to produce the highest horsepower numbers.

Iridium spark plug life span?  Iridium spark plugs are designed to last over 100,000 miles which are longer than most people keep their cars.  If you decide to replace your spark plugs I’d go with iridium spark plugs so that you likely won’t have to worry about replacing them again, at least in that car.

How long do platinum spark plugs last?  Platinum spark plugs are just a step below iridium spark plugs and are designed to last around 100,000 miles.

Are double iridium spark plugs worth the money?  Yes, I think so.  If your spark plugs cost less than 10 dollars to replace per each spark plug and you only have to replace your spark plugs every 100,000 miles then it makes sense to buy the best spark plugs that you can at that time.

Who makes the best iridium spark plugs?  I like Bosch spark plugs because of their advanced iridium technology.  Many people will recommend NGK spark plugs for vehicles that are made in Japan.

Iridium Vs Platinum Spark Plugs – In Conclusion

Hopefully, this article was able to give you a better understanding of what’s better iridium or platinum spark plugs.  Iridium spark plugs are the better spark plug options of the two. If you are interested in getting the most horsepower out of your engine you may want to check out my other article about the best spark plugs for horsepower.

If you have the option I would go with iridium spark plugs over platinum spark plugs because iridium spark plugs are the newer technology and are designed to last longer than platinum spark plugs.