Denso Spark plug question

[jasguild]

I have a 97 LE 4cyl Camry

My manual recommends denso PK20TR11

I came across AUTOpartswarehouse.com and for that car they have a NPK20TR11 (with an N in the front)

I called them and they said its the exact same plug but there is a big difference in price

here is a link to it


http://www.AUTOpartswarehouse.com/sku/Denso/Spark_Plug/NPK20TR11.html?tlc=Engine+%26+Drivetrain

what are your thoughs??

[hill8570]

The cheaper plug is a Denso "standard" plug -- inferior to what was installed in the engine to begin with. The more expensive plug is equivalent to what was installed at the factory. Given how critical plugs are for performance (and the OE-equivalents are good for roughly 60K miles), this seems to be a bad place to cut corners.

Just look up the price of the equivalent Iridium plugs for your rig, and tell yourself how much money you're saving by not buying Iridium plugs

[Retrospekt]

Go to www.rockauto.com and look at spark plugs for your car. Get the Iridium Denso's or the Iridium NGK's. They cost about 8 bucks a piece and well worth it. Both can last up to 120k miles. Denso or NGK ONLY, nothing else in a 5SFE.

[uibalnme]

Originally Posted by Retrospekt

Denso or NGK ONLY, nothing else in a 5SFE.

Nothing else in a Toyota.

[fenixus]

+1 on OEM Denso or NGK plugs ONLY! take only Laser Platinum or Iridium, all others are bullshit (especially Standard ones).

as the matter of fact NGK Laser Platinum (including Platinum Ground electrode) plugs are superior to Denso Platinum (with Nickel Ground electrode).

[jasguild]

Interestingly enough here is the description of the cheap denso plug in question. It does seem to suggest that it is also Platinum. I have seen too many instances where manafucaturers sell the same thing with a different label and attempt to sell one at a premium. I have a gut feeling this may be one of those instances

DENSO REGULAR CLASS MULTI-GROUND SPARK PLUG, SOLD INDIVIDUALLY -- 14 mm thread, 19 mm reach, 5/8 in. hex size, gasket seat, resistor type, solid terminal, dual ground electrodes, 0.044 in. gap; Designed with heavy duty insulator that provides unparalleled dielectric strength and thermal conductivity under extreme temperatures; Five-rib design prevents flashover while decreasing voltage loss; Copper glass seal bonds the center electrode and insulator together for a gas-tight seal; Platinum center electrode utilizes platinum to shrink the surface area of the center electrode tip for maximum firing performance and minimum voltage requirements; Platinum ground electrode resists gas and electrical erosion and corrosion extending service intervals to 60,000 miles.

[fenixus]

My bad, I meant Bosch Platinum+2 plugs to have nickel ground pad electrode. Both Denso and NGK have it platinum.

NGK info on their spark plugs:
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/product...r_platinum.asp

Laser Platinum series is an replacement OEM part (some dealer Toyotas may come equipped with them instead of Denso).

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/part_fi...uv/results.asp

"Laser Series” Platinum center electrode, and Platinum pad ground electrode
Original Equipment Manufacturer, and/or Original Equipment Service Part