About 2 years ago I watched the TV show Horsepower TV on the benefits of the e3 Plugs, they showed on the Dyno a slight improvement in Power and Economy, so I said "What the heck, let me try a set!". As I check different forums from time to time I noticed that e3 plugs seem to fail more than other plugs - so add me to that list. Just off a highway drive and on to 35 MPH city street and the Jeep started 'bucking' then the engine check light popped on and the "you're screwed" ding was heard, as I was close to home I drove there and checked the DTC code with my Superchips and it was a cylinder #5 missfire (DUH ya think?). The next morn on a cool engine I swapped out the e3's with Champion Platinum and now it not only does not missfire, but runs much better - Oh and yes 5 e3's were nice and grey and the #5 was black and I think was going out for awhile as my gas mileage has been decreasing the last couple of months - just thought I would give you guys a FYI.

 

You experience with E3 plugs is typical. Don't know why they fail in the 3.8, though.

 

Did you try a set of e3's or you just know from others? If you tried a set I was wondering if it was same cylinder or not?

 

Going by the many negative E3 plug posts.

 

I tried E3's and within 1000 miles they looked like crap and one of them was misfiring. That was 2 years ago. I am running some Autolite Platinums for the last 20K and I recently got a cylinder 5 misfire also.

Trying a new plug this weekend. Recommendations?


Thanks,

RT

 

I ran E3 plugs in my wife's 4.0 Explorer. Pretty much the same result there. Misfires, rough idle, crappy mileage. Took them out (2 of 6 were broken) and replaced with Champion. No issues since. I will not be putting E3's in my JK.

 

I put ngk iridiums in at 17k. Now over 56k and never one issue.

I've heard nothing but bad things with E3s

 

Horsepower TV and all of the "automotive" shows on Spike are just advertisements with a little information thrown in to keep you interested. Any "information" that they give about a product has been paid for by the manufacturer. Keep in mind dyno numbers can be manipulated....

 

With the Superchips or any other programmer it's important that plugs are a known quantity. Heat range is important and there can be enough of a difference from manufacturer to manufacturer to cause issues. SC recommends running the stock plugs on all their applications, although certainly many of us have and do run others. I too am running the NGK Iridium plugs, but did so when I was trying to resolve some lean issues with my former programmer. Never had to look back, but always something to be conscious of.

Also, the E3s are just the latest round of gimmick plugs that have caused issues and there was a similar plug design back in the 80s that pretty much ended with the same results.

 

A friend and private shop tech that works on almost any make, model etc. when I asked for a recommendation he said "Chrysler product, go with Champion" so I installed Platinum Champion plugs and much smoother with better pick up, will take a tank or so to check mileage tho.