Recommendations for replacement? - Still afraid! Yeh, I have some Kroil I was gonna use if necessary. Thanks for easing my mind (what's left of it) a bit. I actually ...

Still afraid! Yeh, I have some Kroil I was gonna use if necessary. Thanks for easing my mind (what's left of it) a bit. I actually just bought a 2010 Silverado, but still wanted to use my old truck for certain things and places. My kids will get some use from it too. I would never let them drive it before. Take care.

i like the Bosch Platinum+4 in my 99Z71

I try to stay as close to the original equipment plug as I can. A LOT of Engineering went into the proper plug used on your vehicle as original equipment. Especially on the V8 engines used on vehicles represented on this site. I know it because I LIVED it! GM really did bust their behind to get the proper plug!!!
Lots of vodoo BS in the aftermarket Spark Plug world. Word of advice. Always keep one of your original plugs for reference. Take that plug and your replacement plug and lay them on a table, side by side. Line up the seat and note things like where the firing location is (the area from the center electrode to the ground electrode). If your new plug firing location is not the same as OE, find another brand. If your vehicle came with platinum plugs from the factory (most from 96 forward do) replace them with the same. I hope this helps.

So, it sounds like we just want to pull the exact OEM part for our truck when it comes to spark plugs. How about the gauge of the spark plug wire? Would this improve or matter? Thoughts?

Glenn

My thoughts are no. Stick with the original size.

I know from my aircraft mechanic days that plugs come out easier when the engine is hot. But that was on engines with air-cooled aluminum cylinder jugs. They were also easier to get at without getting burned.

Couple follow ups:
Someone mentioned E3 plugs. I have heard the opposite...very bad, fouled, poor performance.
I prefer the AC Delco irridiums. On the last truck I noticed that they really smoothed out the idle, and seemed to give better throttle response.
One note about irridiums -- they come pre-gapped. Do not try to change them, as it is very easy to break off the little shank.

Agent Fawk wrote:So, it sounds like we just want to pull the exact OEM part for our truck when it comes to spark plugs. How about the gauge of the spark plug wire? Would this improve or matter? Thoughts?

Glenn

Bigger wire means the possibility of more electricity flow = hotter spark. But unless you upgrade your ignition system/coils, there wont be much of a difference. Same with the plug. You can get the multiple electrode plugs that claim to increase spark, but they can't increase spark if you dont increase the amount of electricity going to them. Then again, I'm not one that believes in the bolt on hype (i.e. CAI, under drive pulleys, tb spacers ect...) Irridium and platinum plugs do operate more efficiently, making better use of the power you already have.

Moral of the story - OEM gets the job done.

I totally agree about OEM. The investment of Engineering has aready been done to be sure that part lasts 100,000 miles.

I will second the comment about the E3 being bad, just bought 2002 silverado 5.3 at dealer, told me it had just had a tune up new wires , plugs, and belt. Ran real rough, was told it was aintake manifold gasket, replaced gasket, still rough idle and poor accelation, changed plugs to ac delco performance iradiums and the truck runs like new.