Bluemouse II
Member
Hello,
I know this is and always will be a personal choice but why does everyone seem to always recommend copper top spark plugs as a standard replacement. I recently purchased a 2010 Challenger 210SE with a pair of standard 155's (I hate premium gas prices) both having about 222hrs on each one. When I went to check out the boat the first time the owner started the engines for me. It seem to take 8 to 10 seconds for each engine to startup, which frankly bothered me. I mean there's only 3 pistons per engine, right? It's not that they were slow to turn over (weak battery or starter going bad) just seem too long to me but once started ran fine, no smoke of any color.
I purchased the boat but only after having it surveyed first as this was my first boat and not knowing what to look for as way of fiberglass. When I got it home, I looked through his service records, which he gave me, all being done as per the owners manual stated, except for oil and spark plugs which were done every 50hrs. That got me to thinking and quick glance to the NGK website. Copper tops were 4339 (DCPR8E) gap .028 and Iridium 6546 (DCPR8EIX) gap .028. Accordingly the owners manual says change plugs at 200hrs or 2 years. Well the previous owner did it every 50hrs, standard copper tops and recommended oil, oh well his money.
Long story short, I put the Iridium's in (the label next to the engine cover said spark plug gap .030) so I set them all to that, connected a garden hose, Cranked the starboard engine, fired up in less than 2 seconds, put the water to it, ran smoothly for 30 seconds, shut water off, then engine. Port engine started the same way. Took it out for the first time the following weekend in the St John's river, both engines fired up in less than 2 seconds each, very smooth. Water was almost like glass smooth, had three other people with me and got into the channel, pushed both engines to the firewall. It settled at 48 on the speedo and verified on the gps (iPhone and boat) as the same. Ran around at 30 to 35 mph for five hours and only used half a tank. I don't know if that's good or bad being my first time out but what a blast it was, sorry I waited so long to get one, thank you Sea Doo!!
Through all my years of working on all my vehicles, including a couple of motorcycles and now a boat and researching the benefits of using Platinum or Iridium spark plugs both for performance and fuel economy, I honestly don't understand why copper top plugs are still available, again just my choice!!
I know this is and always will be a personal choice but why does everyone seem to always recommend copper top spark plugs as a standard replacement. I recently purchased a 2010 Challenger 210SE with a pair of standard 155's (I hate premium gas prices) both having about 222hrs on each one. When I went to check out the boat the first time the owner started the engines for me. It seem to take 8 to 10 seconds for each engine to startup, which frankly bothered me. I mean there's only 3 pistons per engine, right? It's not that they were slow to turn over (weak battery or starter going bad) just seem too long to me but once started ran fine, no smoke of any color.
I purchased the boat but only after having it surveyed first as this was my first boat and not knowing what to look for as way of fiberglass. When I got it home, I looked through his service records, which he gave me, all being done as per the owners manual stated, except for oil and spark plugs which were done every 50hrs. That got me to thinking and quick glance to the NGK website. Copper tops were 4339 (DCPR8E) gap .028 and Iridium 6546 (DCPR8EIX) gap .028. Accordingly the owners manual says change plugs at 200hrs or 2 years. Well the previous owner did it every 50hrs, standard copper tops and recommended oil, oh well his money.
Long story short, I put the Iridium's in (the label next to the engine cover said spark plug gap .030) so I set them all to that, connected a garden hose, Cranked the starboard engine, fired up in less than 2 seconds, put the water to it, ran smoothly for 30 seconds, shut water off, then engine. Port engine started the same way. Took it out for the first time the following weekend in the St John's river, both engines fired up in less than 2 seconds each, very smooth. Water was almost like glass smooth, had three other people with me and got into the channel, pushed both engines to the firewall. It settled at 48 on the speedo and verified on the gps (iPhone and boat) as the same. Ran around at 30 to 35 mph for five hours and only used half a tank. I don't know if that's good or bad being my first time out but what a blast it was, sorry I waited so long to get one, thank you Sea Doo!!
Through all my years of working on all my vehicles, including a couple of motorcycles and now a boat and researching the benefits of using Platinum or Iridium spark plugs both for performance and fuel economy, I honestly don't understand why copper top plugs are still available, again just my choice!!
