For some there seems to be a lack of understanding on how plugs work and what the platnum does vs the copper plugs

Platinum retains heat longer, this is to help keep all of the particals that build up on plugs burned off so they can run for longer peroids of time with out changing them , This makes them not as good a choise for performance application

Copper conducts heat out of the plug faster. But they dont last as long the good side is you can get these from hot to stone cold in heat range

A quick way to tell a plugs heat range is to look at the porcelain the more shallow the porcelain the cooler the plugs heat range , the part im talking about is inside the threaded end under the wire

This was a quote from a well known Focus tuner about Plat/copper plugs and why i posted this so there wouldnt be more misinformation out there

QUOTE "Copper is a good choice versus platinum because in just about any case it will act like a fuse that will burn out if there is a serious problem. Platinum will be more like sticking a piece of metal in the fuse box because you didn't have a fuse - not the greatest idea and it won't burn out, it will allow other bad things to happen."

Id like to know where the part is that burns out if there is a serious problem , People please if there is a serious problem there is no type of plug that will help and there isnt anything in a plug that will help one plug to another WONT be what causes the problem

Heat in the Cyl will be the problem , If heat in the Cyl gets high enough it will burn ANY plug first at the wire then down to it fractures the porcelain there is NOTHING that acts like a fuse or that burns out to save other things from happening and if a plug is way to hot it will stay heated and glowing to a point where it can act like an igniter and cause detonation but any plug will do this even a copper plug

Choose your tuner wisely

Tom

good information to know thanks Tom

I think the author of that quote was just trying to provide a paradigm that if you have a SERIOUS problem, a copper plug electrode is more likely to melt and defuse itself from causing any further damage or before damage occurs when compared to a platinum plug.

But I guess if your plugs are reaching around 2000 °F, you've got some serious issues.

Platinum's melting point is about 3221.6 °F where as copper will melt around 1981.4 °F.
That's a whole 1000+ °F difference in electrode melting point.


Anyway.......

Here are some good reads and resource for spark plugs.

Click Here (http://www.babcox.com/editorial/ic/ic120214.htm), HERE (http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinfo/spark_plugs/techtips.asp?nav=31000&country=US) and HERE (http://www.spark-plugs.co.uk/pages/technical/iridium_spark_plugs.htm)

seems to me, the material used to conduct the spark is just the carrier. Point is, the spark is the issue. Platnum lasts longer and that is why it is used in new cars, so they can claim 100,000 mile tune up intervals. That is good enough for me. ( I still will never wait that long to change them!!). Copper is a better conductor, but with the voltage and amps to the plug, that becomes irrelivent. The platnum will not errode as fast, therefore hold the gap longer. If conditions get so bad that the ground or electrode of a plug are melting, it is about time for a rebuild and GOOD tune no matter what material is used.

If conditions reach a point where it will melt the wire of a copper plug it will also melt the platnum at the same point

There is no fuse or safety factor in the type of plug that will or wont help if things are not tuned properly

Tom