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Evan
Dodge Dakota
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7/01/2002
19:24:54
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 Subject: Dealer says no...
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I had a problem with stalling in my 3.9L, so I took it to the dealer. 800 dollars later and a new cap, coil, wires, and plugs it is normal.
I had the Autolites in there for about 2-3000 miles, they worked great IMO, smoothed out idle, ran great.
The dealer switched them back to factory and said using Autolites in a Chrysler engine is like mixing oil and water? Why, well he says they don't burn hot enough.
So, it is back to the rough idle, but I don't want stalling, so I will stay with them for now....
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DakotaCC
Dodge Dakota
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7/02/2002
02:13:40
|  RE: Dealer says no...
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Dealers are trained to make their living selling you what they have in stock-- like Mopar spark plugs. ANY good sparkplug that is the correct reach, heat range, and tip design will work correctly in your engine. However, having said that it should be noted that there can be significant differences in the way that manufacturers design and build (quality) their plugs. Years ago when I was young and foolish and still messing with race cars I discovered that a certain manufacturer's spark plugs, while pretty in their red/white/black packaging, just did not last nor run as well as the autolite product. Plug fouling was an ongoing problem prior to trying the Autolites. (This was in the 70's, with a LS-7 454 Chevrolet-- 650 dyno HP in a 3000lb car sporting 12" wide rubber... ahhh, the memory....) Anyway, it is interesting to note that the 3923 Autolite just happens to be the perfect reach, tip design, and heat range for my current favorite vehicle, a BMW R1100 motorcycle. The stock dual-electrode plugs (Bosch, @ $5.00 each) don't work as well as the $0.99 Autolite--proven over the 95000 miles I've put on the machine. Have tried the platinum plugs in this machine, all they do is dip deeper into your wallet with NO discernible gains in performance or mileage. Bottom line is just make sure you have the right heat range, reach, and tip and install those Autolites!
PS: I have no relationship with Autolite or Harlow Wilcox, just a satisfied customer!
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patt
Dodge Dakota
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7/15/2002
16:48:37
|  RE: Dealer says no...
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i dont understand why, but for some reason i have seen autolight plugs run badly in the magnum engines. i worked at a dodge dealership as a tech for 2 years. and i dont any more, so im not just trying to sell one certain brand of parts or anything like that. in my experience i have seen many many times people putting autolights in there magnums and they came into our shop because of it. ive seen them throw countless check engine lights for misfires. and ive also noticed many times the new plugs simply made the engine run rough.if you arent having any problems like these thats great. im just letting you know my experience over the last 2 years.
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Wesley
Dodge Dakota
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7/15/2002
17:56:59
|  RE: Dealer says no...
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I have a 2001 R/T and have tried a few different plugs too. The stock Champions were OK and that is what I based my comparison on. First, I changed the plugs out to the Autolite 3923's that everybody recommends. The idle was noticeably rougher and the mileage stayed about the same. The next plug was Autolite 3922's (I run N20) and the same thing as the 3923's. The current plug that I have now is the best one so far, NGK 6097's (2 steps colder than stock). Hard as hell to find but worth it in my opionion. The engine idles much smoother than the Champions or the Autolites and I'm getting about 1mpg better according to the overhead console. I recommend NGK plugs because that is what worked best for me.
Wesley
'01 Silver R/T
13.217 @ 103.97
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Jon
Dodge Dakota
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7/15/2002
19:38:00
| RE: Dealer says no...
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I work at a dealership (not a dodge dealership). We are encouraged to sell oem replacement parts even if aftermarket parts are just as good. I haven't run the autolites in my truck long enough to say how they work from experiance, however, the Autolites are $1.50 for 2 of them compared to probably $10 a piece for dodge plugs, so if you have to change them once a month to keep the truck running smooth, your not doing too bad.
If you are running nitrous you can't run platinum plugs anyways, so i guess what it comes down to is if you serious about performance you have to expect to put a lot of time and money into the truck to keep it running.
-Jon
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Brad
Dodge Dakota
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7/16/2002
08:20:21
| RE: Dealer says no...
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The dealership put champion truck plugs in mine a while back. Kept them in there for about 5000 miles and they started to misfire. Have had the 3923's ever since. Much better idle and they last more than 5000 miles. My personal opinion is that champion spark plugs are good for a lawnmower but that's about it!
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Demon Dakota
DakotaEnthusiast
7/16/2002
17:18:18
| RE: Dealer says no...
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I also have had great success with the Autolites 3923's. No problems, better idle, and none of this stalling stuff you guys mention. And of course, I get better mileage. My mileage went from 15.5 city to 17.xx, and highway went all the way up to 22.02 MPG my last road trip. The change was well worth it in my opinion.
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HIDAKDUR
Dodge Dakota
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7/16/2002
19:27:06
| RE: Dealer says no...
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I am a former drag racer also and I had a similar experience with spark plugs. I ran 2 different cars the first a 70 Z-28 camaro (sorry) with a destroked 400 CI small block (383) yatta yatta ran mid 11:00's, other car was a 70 Challenger 440 six pak tamer engine ran mid 12:00's. Anyway, in the endless search for power I tried every plug there was champion, autolite, accell, NGK... Champion were very average, as was NGK, Accell was complete crap (had some actually explode on the camaro, don't know if it was due to voltage or combustion pressure), the autolites were the best by far. They lasted longer, resisted fouling better and seemed to make the engines fire more crisply. Dealers like to sell what's on their shelves, and hate to vary from what's in their book. There are very few dealership mechanics who could build a decent hotrod today because everything is told to them by the book. Anything outside the book is completely foreign to them...
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Glenn
Dodge Dakota
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7/16/2002
20:37:02
|  RE: Dealer says no...
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I just pulled my plugs when I did the HO Cam install and after 10K miles they are as clean as can be and no sign of wear whatsoever. Gap was still at .40 as well. Truck idles as smooth as can be with no idle problem whatsoever.
Glenn
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