[GertFrobe]

I downloaded the maintenance manual for my card today and it says you’re supposed to change the spark plugs every 30,000 miles. That sounds ridiculous to me. I really supposed to change them that often. If so would buying better plugs extend the amount of times I have to change them. Also what kind of plugs are best

The copper core plugs it is referencing are supposed to be replaced every 30K miles, yes.

However, they can be replaced with the iridium version which now come standard in the latest models. In fact, the 100K mile iridium plugs are the recommended replacements for the older models with the copper core 30K mile plugs.

Now, that doesn't mean you will get any extra performance out of the iridiums over the copper core (if comparing during useful lives), but it does mean you won't have the expense of 16 new spark plugs to deal with so often.

Personally, I still run the copper cores just because of the initial cost of $8-9 x 16 for the iridiums. Maybe later on down the road I will switch back to those, but not any time soon.

 

[GertFrobe]

The copper core plugs it is referencing are supposed to be replaced every 30K miles, yes.

However, they can be replaced with the iridium version which now come standard in the latest models. In fact, the 100K mile iridium plugs are the recommended replacements for the older models with the copper core 30K mile plugs.

Now, that doesn't mean you will get any extra performance out of the iridiums over the copper core (if comparing during useful lives), but it does mean you won't have the expense of 16 new spark plugs to deal with so often.

Personally, I still run the copper cores just because of the initial cost of $8-9 x 16 for the iridiums. Maybe later on down the road I will switch back to those, but not any time soon.

(Never let it be said that I am too stubborn to admit when I was wrong...although, in my defense, I didn't know I was wrong. I thought I was right, but it turns out I was right only back to 2009.)

So after further digging, Dodge's retroactive spark plug recommendation that I referenced above which specifies iridium tipped NGKs over the copper core version for 5.7L Hemi engines is only applicable for model years 2009 and newer. The copper core Champion plugs remain the spec'ed plug for model years 2008 and older 5.7L Hemi engines.

I do not know why they limited the new spec like that, unless there is some difference between the 2008 and 2009 Hemi engines, but they did (is that the dividing line for Gen II versus Gen III?).

So for the OP, this means that you will need to stick with the 30K mile copper core plugs (Champion 570) if you want to stay within Dodge's recommendation for the part (assuming this is for the 2006 in your signature).

My apologies for disseminating incorrect information to begin with,
Gert

 

[GertFrobe]

I wouldn't lose a lot of sleep over it. The copper plugs are dirt cheap (less than 2 bucks each) and they're not difficult to change.

Best,

Changing them isn’t too bad, but when all 16 need to be re-gapped before installation, it can add some time to the whole task start to finish. And that can be aggravating when you live somewhere that gets hot enough to ensure your garage stays above 90F for 12 our of 24 hours of a typical summer day.

Luckily it will take me 8.5 months to rack up 30K miles, so my next plug change will be done in a garage that should be around 60F for most of the day. I can’t wait!

 

[GertFrobe]

It might have been a mid 14 change. I have the fancy ones in my 14.

Yeah they started using the 100K mile NGKs in the 5.7Ls from the factory in ‘14, but Dodge also retroactively made those same plugs the recommended spark plug for the pre-2014 5.7L Hemi (thru 2009).

It looks like they limited this new spec to Gen III Hemi 5.7L only, the Gen II remain with the copper core plugs.