Ron Ananian, The Car Doctor discuss the evolution of spark plugs, particularly focusing on advancements in spark plug technology, such as iridium spark plugs. They invite Matt Eaton from Denso to explain the changes in spark plug materials and design over the years.
Matt explains that spark plugs used to be made of copper or nickel but have evolved to use platinum and iridium, with iridium offering longer life and better performance. Modern iridium plugs can last over 100,000 miles, which is a significant improvement over older plugs, which needed replacement every 10,000 to 30,000 miles. He also highlights Denso's new Iridium TT plug, designed to improve ignition performance, fuel economy, and lower emissions, featuring a "twin tip" design for more efficient combustion.
Ron & Matt discuss the importance of maintaining spark plugs and the risks of neglecting them, including issues like rough idling, misfires, and reduced fuel economy. They also talk about the dangers of changing the gap on iridium plugs, as they are fragile and can be damaged easily.
The conversation wraps up with a humorous anecdote about a vehicle breakdown due to a snapped serpentine belt, emphasizing the importance of regular maintenance and replacing belts and hoses before they fail. They recommend that drivers replace belts and hoses every 5 years or 100,000 miles to avoid inconvenient and costly problems.
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