spark plugs

[vangogh]

Hello again

It seems that my 3x plugs are not as reliable as I had hoped.
So, what type of solid plugs can I get at a local auto store?
Any ideas?

Paul

[Bob-A]

I run W18 Champion plugs. Supposedly the modern replacement Champion for the original 3X plug. You should be able to get them at any NAPA, but they may need to order them. Its been a while, they were around 6 bucks a piece when I got some.


Bob-A

[Y-Blockhead]

Last set of plugs I bought, Champion W18 (518) I bought at O'Reilly Auto parts. Ordered on line, picked up next morning.

But I am curious. What happened to your 3X's?

[JayJay]

I used to use Motorcraft TT10, which are getting harder to find. I recently switched to Autolite 3076, which are easier to find (and less expensive) and I understand a bit cooler, which is good as most of my miles are road speed. They seem to work great.

[Joop]

Paul maybe you can let us know what the problem is with the 3X plugs.

[vangogh]

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Hi guys,
To respond to the question about the 3x plugs, I fouled them too much and it was suggested to me that I get a better plug.

[Y-Blockhead]

Originally Posted by vangogh

Hi guys,
To respond to the question about the 3x plugs, I fouled them too much and it was suggested to me that I get a better plug.

I don't think you should be fouling the 3X plugs. The W18 I use are in the same heat range as the 3X .

Maybe investigate why you are fouling your plugs, too rich, GAV adjustment, etc. Oil fouled?

[J Franklin]

Ditto on finding the cause of the fouling as the plug is not the villain.

[P.S.]

3X spark plugs are more difficult to foul than a more modern plug like the W18's. They were designed to be reliable even with 1920's grade fuels and lubricants, all of which were worse than anything available today. If your 3X plugs are fouling, you should find out why.

[Synchro909]

Originally Posted by JayJay

I used to use Motorcraft TT10, which are getting harder to find. I recently switched to Autolite 3076, which are easier to find (and less expensive) and I understand a bit cooler, which is good as most of my miles are road speed. They seem to work great.

I have used TT10s for many years and I'm a bit pissed that they seem to be disappearing. All of the others are way too expensive over here for my pocket so my solution has been to make a set of adaptors and run modern plugs. I now have a set of NGK BP5E plugs in there but even they are being superseded but there is a comparable substitute still made by NGK.

[Banditorama]

Autolite 3076 is available in O'Reilly's Auto Parts near me. Bring one of yours in wherever you do go. I went to Autozone and they gave me a plug that supposedly "cross-referenced" to the autolites and it was wrong

[JayJay]

I ordered mine from Amazon - $2.59 each! I have plenty of horror stories of the "helpful" folks from O'Reilly/Autozone/Pep Boys etc. and their cross-references.

Funny story - yesterday I was looking for gear mesh indicating pigment to check mesh of my ring and pinion. I went into an O'Reilly's not expecting much. Counter guy asked what I wanted and I said I needed gear mesh indicating pigment - white lead, Prussian Blue, yellow, whatever they had. Got the fish face. He goes up to his computer and the first thing he says is "what car is this for?". I gave up. Went down the street to another, old-time independent, they immediately knew exactly what I was looking for and had a box of several tubes of Prussian Blue on the shelf.

[rotorwrench]

I use AC-Delco 10-5055 gear marking compound. I found it wipes & transfers better than prussion blue.

Now days it seems you have to write down stuff for spark plugs like thread type, reach, and heat range if you can find it. They change part numbers for every new gimmick and electrode change or drop of the hat if you will.

[jrelliott]

Got my W18's from Arizona A's. Could not believe the difference in performance. When I have an A question, give him a call as he knows the answer and has the part I need on hand. Usually ships out that day. Bert's in Colorado is very good.

[JayJay]

Originally Posted by rotorwrench

I use AC-Delco 10-5055 gear marking compound. I found it wipes & transfers better than prussion blue.

Rotor - I have used the GM 10-5055, and it’s very nice. Would have been a multi-day turnaround for me, and I wanted to do the work today. The Prussian Blue worked OK - fortunately, backlash and mesh were right where they needed to be so no futzing around with shims needed.

[Kurt in NJ]

I got 2 sets of 3X plugs from people that say they get fouled and don’t run right, after 20 minutes of driving in my car they are clean, I used to try different spark plugs “ saving the 3X for show, left them in after a show and other than swapping in the free “bad” 3X to clean them it has been 40 years on the same plugs, still get over 20 mpg I
I would say it’s the car not the plugs

[Bob Bidonde]

I find that 3X Plugs are fragile, so the fouling might be do to internal malfunction.

[katy]

Originally Posted by Bob Bidonde

I find that 3X Plugs are fragile, so the fouling might be do to internal malfunction.

Internal malfunction, I don't believe I've ever heard of spark plugs doing that.

[Kurt in NJ]

they haven’t been fragile for me, but I don’t play with them, only took them out to clean some other plugs, the ones in my car are old

[Chuck Sea/Tac]

Originally Posted by JayJay

I ordered mine from Amazon - $2.59 each! I have plenty of horror stories of the "helpful" folks from O'Reilly/Autozone/Pep Boys etc. and their cross-references.

Funny story - yesterday I was looking for gear mesh indicating pigment to check mesh of my ring and pinion. I went into an O'Reilly's not expecting much. Counter guy asked what I wanted and I said I needed gear mesh indicating pigment - white lead, Prussian Blue, yellow, whatever they had. Got the fish face. He goes up to his computer and the first thing he says is "what car is this for?". I gave up. Went down the street to another, old-time independent, they immediately knew exactly what I was looking for and had a box of several tubes of Prussian Blue on the shelf.

I had the same thing happen but after explaining they found some. Several months ago I had to explain to Advance Auto what plastigage was. And they had some in the back.