Who swears by splitfire's?

[XJ Saga]

It seems that the negativity of splitfire's has turned for the better recently. I know the FTC was after them for awhile and grouped them in the same boat as Slick 50 and Duralube etc. Who has noticed better starting/idling/driveability since install? Nice to have another Jeep speed forum!

[XJguy]

I dont know a soul that likes those plugs and rightfully so, they have been dyno proven to be crap. Not to mention they rust up so bad you might have to chisel them off your engine.

XJguy

[Glenn B]

NGK here. Spit Fire plugs.... waste of money IMHO. I may be old school, but last I heard, that electricity stuff takes the path of least resistance. No matter how many electrodes ya have sticking out of a piece or porcalin....you will still get just 1 spark.
Glenn

[REDXJ4FUN]

I never liked them but i do run Bosch plus 4s and realy like them. I tried them when they came out just for the heck of it and replace a set of autolite platinum that only had 20k on them and i honestlt knoeticed a difrenc in bottom end power. but i also have realy good wires on the jeep as well. On a my paarents ZJ i didn't see much of a diffrence but we didn't change wires yet.

[Scott Mac.]

The only thing they are good for is two-cycle motors.

[Dr. Dyno]

Originally posted by XJguy
I dont know a soul that likes those plugs and rightfully so, they have been dyno proven to be crap. Not to mention they rust up so bad you might have to chisel them off your engine.

XJguy

I've been running splitfire Triple-platinums for 65k miles and they're doing fine. i recently removed them for inspection with no problems at all. I've also had the SPLITFIRE plug wires for the last 7 years and 110+k miles. They still perform flawlessly.

[Sarge]

Not only was the FTC after them, they got them. Turned out their advertising claims were total crap.

Sarge

[HossHoffer]

Do a search for dyno testing on different plugs. The conclusion is usually that specialty plugs will aid in a tired ignition system but you can get the same hp benefits by regapping your oem plugs. Use what you have confidence in.

[dmillion]

Hoss is exactly right. The only time the "magic plugs" like Splitfires help at all are when there are other problems in the ignition system. Fix the problem and Splitfires are just a waste of money.

[XJ Saga]

I love my NGK v-power's. I was testing the waters to see if anyone actually had good experiences with em.

[draxxus]

so are bosch platinum 2's the same way as the splitfires? i just changed the plugs in my 98 XJ yesterday and i havent noticed a difference, of course i have only driven it like 2 miles since then, but no difference none-the-less... yet...

[indulf]

i use champions in both of my XJs, and the 350z gets NGK plugs that are "colder" than stock.

if you're going to make power, NGK is where its at. otherwise any decent brand will do (hence the champions in my cherokees).

any multi-electrode plugs are a waste of $$$

[91xj1]

In adition to the bosh + 4's Accell makes a cut to fit wire set it works wonders for my rokee and ther wires I think are 7 or 8mm. PLus I have the stage 3 performance chip and boy did that make a huge difference!!

[johnnyc]

I ran Splitfires for 3 years. Had no problem with them. Nothing bad and nothing good to say about 'em.

Just recently switched to plain ol' Autolites.

[Sarge]

Originally posted by indulf
any multi-electrode plugs are a waste of $$$

Very true. Electricity takes the easiest path, not every path available.

Sarge

[Eagle]

Originally posted by Glenn Baker
NGK here. Spit Fire plugs.... waste of money IMHO. I may be old school, but last I heard, that electricity stuff takes the path of least resistance. No matter how many electrodes ya have sticking out of a piece or porcalin....you will still get just 1 spark.
Glenn

Ditto. NGK runs best in my XJ, and just the conventional ones, no fancy platinums or any of that nonesense. Shitfires are junk, Bosch were slightly better but not much. If I can't get NGKs, I'll run Champion truck plugs.

[HossHoffer]

Shitfires? I'm sittin here grinning like a fool now. Couldn't have said it better myself.

[Dr. Dyno]

I keep hearing a lot of people bashing the "Shitfires" but I wonder if any of these people have actually used them, or are these opinions just based on heresay?
As someone who's actually used them (and still am), I think I'm more qualified to speak about them than those who blindly bash them.
My first set of regular Splitfires lasted 40k miles and were still working fine when I replaced them. The gap between the electrodes had increased to over 0.080" and they were still firing. How many ordinary plugs can maintain that sort of performance after 40k miles?
I'm now 67k miles into my current set of triple-platinum plugs and they're still performing flawlessly, as are my 107k mile old Splitfire dual-core plug wires.
Shitfire? I don't think so. Forget about dyno tests. Longevity is the name of the game as far as Splitfires go. If anybody has to chisel the plugs out of the head, it's probably because they've not needed to inspect them for a few years because they haven't caused any problem. You might even find cobwebs growing on them by the time you need to change them.

[Joe in PA]

My first set of regular Splitfires lasted 40k miles and were still working fine when I replaced them. The NGK plugs in my 93 are quickly closing in on 75k miles and show no signs of needing replaced. Not too shabby for a set of plugs that cost less than $12.

[Dr. Dyno]

Less than $12 for a set of NGK's?
Christ, the stealership over here charges $14 for a set of stock Champion copper core plugs! They make the Splitfire triple-platinums ($36 for six) look like a bargain when you consider that they last at least five times as long.

[Glenn B]

To answer your question....Yes, I have actually used them. Quite a bit actually, and always ended up being more satisied with NGKs.
I just do not think they are worth the money. Just my opinion.
I think Champions are worse though... other than the Truck plugs. I used to earn a living removing Champion Plugs from GM cars... they where a warranty issue, and was SOP at the GM dealership I worked at to remove them. I have worked most of my life professionaly as a Tech.... so I speak from my learnings, and not hearsay.
If you like em, and have good luck with them, thats great.
As to chiseling them out... yeah, somebody probably was not looking at them often enough.... peaking at the plugs every so often is a good thing. ;)
Glenn

Originally posted by Dr. Dyno
I keep hearing a lot of people bashing the "Shitfires" but I wonder if any of these people have actually used them, or are these opinions just based on heresay?
As someone who's actually used them (and still am), I think I'm more qualified to speak about them than those who blindly bash them.
My first set of regular Splitfires lasted 40k miles and were still working fine when I replaced them. The gap between the electrodes had increased to over 0.080" and they were still firing. How many ordinary plugs can maintain that sort of performance after 40k miles?
I'm now 67k miles into my current set of triple-platinum plugs and they're still performing flawlessly, as are my 107k mile old Splitfire dual-core plug wires.
Shitfire? I don't think so. Forget about dyno tests. Longevity is the name of the game as far as Splitfires go. If anybody has to chisel the plugs out of the head, it's probably because they've not needed to inspect them for a few years because they haven't caused any problem. You might even find cobwebs growing on them by the time you need to change them.

[Eagle]

Originally posted by Dr. Dyno
I keep hearing a lot of people bashing the "Shitfires" but I wonder if any of these people have actually used them, or are these opinions just based on heresay?

Yes, Dino, I did use them. Engine ran rougher, seat-of-pants performance took a dump, gas mileage went down compared to plain-vanilla NGKs.

It's a mistake I do not intend to repeat (plenty of new mistakes out there to make, no sense doing the old ones over again).

[Joe in PA]

Less than $12 for a set of NGK's?

At the time, Summit Racing (www.summitracing.com) was selling the NGK plugs for $1.99 each. They are now $2.39 ea. When I ordered mine, it was with some other stuff, but I still ordered 12 to help offset the S$H charges. Six of those plugs are still sitting on the shelf in the original boxes.:D

[MassbayXJ]

I run NGK's in my race car. OK, my "race car" is a 86 corolla, but its still fast even with a bad head gasket. NGK's go in XJ tomorry. (not the ones in the corolla, new ones)

[6banger]

Hi guys
This is my first posting. I have a '96xj 4.0 auto 4x4. I have been trying to get more power from the engine. So far have msd 6a ignition and msd coil, throttle body spacer,k&n filter,dynomax muffler, ngk plugs.With the ngk v power plugs I modified the side ground post on the plug; cut off about 1-8" with a small file and made them into a side fire plug. This is not my idea, found the info. on the web search " side fire spark plug". In theory what the mod. does is uncover the center electrode and expose the spark to the incoming mixture.After cutting down the ground strap;bend it down with small pliers or gently hammer down.Re-gapping was not to hard.The motor felt stronger.You could try this with your older plugs.

[Dirt]

shitfire indeed. several others have mentioned. PATH OF LEAST RESISTANCE why would you want your plug fighting itself? 40K miles i can get that outta any single electrode plug EASY. and a platinum plug alot of companys dont even want you to mess with platinum plugs for 100K. ( i dont know about that though ) i Prefer regular maintenance no matter what you use. My .02

[JJacobs]

Hi guys
This is my first posting. I have a '96xj 4.0 auto 4x4. I have been trying to get more power from the engine. So far have msd 6a ignition and msd coil, throttle body spacer,k&n filter,dynomax muffler, ngk plugs.With the ngk v power plugs I modified the side ground post on the plug; cut off about 1-8" with a small file and made them into a side fire plug. This is not my idea, found the info. on the web search " side fire spark plug". In theory what the mod. does is uncover the center electrode and expose the spark to the incoming mixture.After cutting down the ground strap;bend it down with small pliers or gently hammer down.Re-gapping was not to hard.The motor felt stronger.You could try this with your older plugs.


Don't know why you'd want to do that. Sounds like you have weakened the electrode and increased the chances of it coming loose and tearing s#it up. As for the supposed power increase, ever heard of the placebo effect?

NGK's, screw them in and forget about 'em.

Oh, Dino, you've probably changed your tune by now about Splitfires (I hope) but OE plugs routinely go over 100K on the Fords that pay my bills.

[MudDawg]

Side gap plugs offer 2 advantages in RACE engines....IF there is no room for an extended tip plug due to piston dome configuration and/or a possibility of bridging (like in a 2 stroke motor). The best plug to run in a street engine (if compatible) is the extended tip type. On a street engine the side gap plugs will wear rapidly.

For optimal burn you need correct F/A mix...proper atomization...mixture turbulence (proper quench)....and a well performing properly timed ignition system in combination with a plug that isn't designed to shroud the spark more than needed. Single electrode.

I have seen quite a few comparison dyno pulls with various multi-electrode plugs installed....looking for that extra couple of hp....conventional design plugs won out every time....

[casm]

I have seen quite a few comparison dyno pulls with various multi-electrode plugs installed....looking for that extra couple of hp....conventional design plugs won out every time....

This is exactly the thing that's struck me as odd about multipath electrode plugs - the spark is only going to take one of two, four, or howevermany available paths between the core and electrode, so all the other electrodes are basically redundant.

I've run Bosch +4s in my cars before, and yeah, there's usually a noticeable difference between them and the plugs they replace. Then again, when you're replacing plugs that are worn out and well past their prime to begin with, pretty much anything's an improvement.

[Bobbo]

I guess I have never had a spark plug give me better performance at all. When I was a kid I used to think that they would so I would spring for the latest and greatest plug I could find, till one day during a check of my NGK v- power I dropped one and broke it. I was broke so all I could get was some cheap autolights. Low and behold NO differance! I have used every brand and style out there, and to be honest I have had no bad experiance with any brand plug out there. I have also profesionally installed numerous brands with zero troubles. Maybe a race engine that was tuned to perfection with could see a slight differance in the differant types of plugs, but to a regular engine that could use better tuning a plug is not going to give you much of a performance jump at all. The only time I would say that a plug will help is when they need to be changed so bad they are hurting performance, and a stock plug will do the same thing.
Sorry so long, but my experiance with a splitfire is they are a good plug, no better no worse than anything else.