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Iridium vs Platinum plugs in '01 Sierra 5.3L

notbob

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notbob Enthusiast

notbob

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Will I lose performance going with the platinum vs. iridium? At double the price I don't remember buying the iridium shortly after I bought the truck but may have. I get good gas mileage on hwy. Auto store said I would sacrifice performance using platinum. I don't remember iridium being OEM....?

 

320K, 2001 Sierra SL 5.3L 8' bed.

 

Trying to save a buck, but not at the cost of having my truck run less good than it does now... I love this engine!

 

Thanks.

txab Senior Enthusiast

txab

Posted
Posted

Won't lose any performance, imo. A 320k engine doesn't need a 100k plug installed

notbob Enthusiast

notbob

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Thanks, txab. That's exactly what I was thinking. Young girl at the auto store was freaking out. I don't think I used Iridium before and what I have in there have over 100k on them. Good power, mpg, and overall behavior now.

 

I always understood the differences only affect life of the plug mostly. The price is double+ for the iridium.

 

I been living in the Permian Basin last 4 years... you?

intheburbs Enthusiast

intheburbs

Posted
Posted

Platinum was the OEM plug. Iridium came later. I don't think there's any supposed performance gain - the iridium plugs are just supposed to be harder and longer-lasting.

 

My original platinum plugs in my '01 5.3 Burb were changed out at 100k. The engine was running fine, but the manual said replace the plugs, so I did. They looked pretty good - a little electrode wear, but that's about it. I put in iridium plugs because they were "new and cool."

 

Well, come about 185k miles, the engine really started running like crap. Hard to start, rough idle, etc. I pulled the allegedly harder and longer-lasting iridium plugs, and they were toast - severe electrode erosion. I was amazed the engine was still running at all. Should've taken a few pics. I put platinums back in the truck.

 

No more iridium plugs in my trucks.

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