What Is Platinum?

[sparkplugs.com]

Platinum is a precious metal used by nearly all spark plug manufacturers on their long life and/or performance spark plugs. This is because of platinums high melting point which makes it useful in two ways.

#1 - On long life spark plugs, a thin wafer of platinum is bonded at the firing point to the center electrode (and possibly ground electrode) solely so they dont wear as fast as a traditional plug. (see image one)

#2 - On a fine wire performance plug, the very tip of the center electrode is made of platinum so that the fine wire tip will last longer. (see image two)

Do not be fooled, all platinum plugs are not created equal, Platinum is a very expensive precious metal, a $2 platinum spark plug will not have much platinum in it, and therefore will not last as long as a $12 platinum spark plug. Some platinum plugs have only the center electrode tipped with platinum, while others have both the center and ground electrodes platinum tipped.


(By the way, it is still not suggested that platinum plugs be used on vehicles with nitrous injection. Thus far, there has been no problems reported regarding using iridium plugs with nitrous.)