Stihl NGK spark plugs vs. any ol NGK spark plug?

[earlthegoat2]

This little blurb of an older UK based blog post got me wondering if there is any truth here.

Using The Right Spark Plug For Your STIHL Tools | STIHL Blog

NGK spark plugs sold by STIHL are tuned specifically for STIHL tools so always use a genuine STIHL spark plug for maximum performance in your machine.

blog.stihl.co.uk

I don’t know why a company would put the same identifier numbers on two different items that each give different outcomes.

Add to the fact that I think many of us have had great results using normal off the shelf NGK plugs for a long time.

My BS meter is jumping around.

 

[Joe Kidd]

Maybe tuning means setting the .020" gap? Bovine excrement may be the case.
Never have I used a Stihl NGK.

 

[WI_Hedgehog]

Thread 'Stihl brand NGK spark plug'

Mar 7, 2021

Is there any truth to this or is it just BS? https://blog.stihl.co.uk/using-right-spark-plug-stihl-tools/

• John7478
• sparkplug cross reference
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Technical Area

 

[Squareground3691]

DENSO Plugs , the NGK plugs of today aren’t like the old stuff , quality has gone down and counterfeits are going around,

 

[Sloughfoot]

Here's a cross reference for NGK equivalent DENSOs. There's a lot of them.

Search by spark plug manufacturer | Cross Reference | SPARK PLUG | Automotive Service Parts and Accessories | DENSO Global Website

You can search for a DENSO spark plug based on the spark plug you are currently using.

www.denso.com

 

[emanuel]

This little blurb of an older UK based blog post got me wondering if there is any truth here.

Using The Right Spark Plug For Your STIHL Tools | STIHL Blog

NGK spark plugs sold by STIHL are tuned specifically for STIHL tools so always use a genuine STIHL spark plug for maximum performance in your machine.

blog.stihl.co.uk

I don’t know why a company would put the same identifier numbers on two different items that each give different outcomes.

Add to the fact that I think many of us have had great results using normal off the shelf NGK plugs for a long time.

My BS meter is jumping around.

Its the same number because the numbering has a very specific meaning in regards to sizing of the sparkplug, heat characteristic and its electrical properties. The changes done for Stihl are minimal and unrelated to their standard. I always used regular NKG plugs. My 881 came with a regular bosch plug from the factory lol. I never had any issues. Could the machine be better off with those plugs? Maybe. But I’m sure cleaning my air filter more often has a bigger impact on the life of my machine than the end of the SP being one piece instead of a screw-on.

 

[Woodpecker]

DENSO Plugs , the NGK plugs of today aren’t like the old stuff , quality has gone down and counterfeits are going around,

I’ll second that! I’ve been real happy with the Denso plugs I’ve gotten from @cuinrearview NGKs quality has gone in the toilet the last several years.

 

[bwalker]

Sparkplug are one of those things that guys obsess over and worry about e endlessly.
I just haven't seen any differences in any of them performance wise.
I like NGK solid terminal plugs. In the past used Denso, Bosch and Champion.

 

[SCHallenger]

I have a 241 & a 462 which have both received the "XS treatment". One day when the 241 had only used a few tanks (maybe 5 or 6), it wouldn't fire, & it was not because I wasn't giving it a good spin! I called Kevin & reported to him & said I was going to replace the plug "just because". Probably made him grow a few extra gray hairs! After the new plug was installed, it fired right up on the first pull. Both plugs were NGK. I let Kevin know that everything was OK, & I could hear a sigh of relief at the other end of the line. A couple of years ago the 462 was becoming hard for me to start, & when I did get fired up it had a bad habit of stalling when the throttle was blipped to set the control to the run position. Though I was thinking we had a carb, coil, or solenoid problem, I once again replaced the plug "just because". The saw has been perfect since then. Both plugs were NGK. Several years ago I had a J'red 2135 with a weird problem & took it to a strictly J'red dealer in a northern Detroit suburb. They went through the saw, solved the problem & replaced the original plug with a Denso & told me that it was the best plug made. I think the original was a Bosch or Champion.

 

[qurotro]

Not all the NGK plugs are Made in Japan. There’s some interesting stuff about the plugs from Stihl and husky. The brand new out of the box Stihl saw have BPMR7A plugs that the steel head only stamped JAPAN on it. Husky’s have both NGK and JAPAN on it. And I have noticed such thing for some time. And I once bought a few NGK that have different stamping on the head and the box said made in Mexico. I would only use green letter Bosch cuz they are German or Brazil made but some are from India. Blue letter Bosch plugs always stamped China. New Champion? Meh. Old Champion stamped USA? Hell yeah.

 

[bwalker]

Not all the NGK plugs are Made in Japan. There’s some interesting stuff about the plugs from Stihl and husky. The brand new out of the box Stihl saw have BPMR7A plugs that the steel head only stamped JAPAN on it. Husky’s have both NGK and JAPAN on it. And I have noticed such thing for some time. And I once bought a few NGK that have different stamping on the head and the box said made in Mexico. I would only use green letter Bosch cuz they are German or Brazil made but some are from India. Blue letter Bosch plugs always stamped China. New Champion? Meh. Old Champion stamped USA? Hell yeah.

You can buy the solid terminal ngk plugs at Napa.

 

[bwalker]

I don't recall the last time I fouled a plug or had one go bad.

 

[Wilhelm]

Is this the new oil thread?

Asking for a friend!

 

[lehman live edge slab]

Stihl branded plug made in cz was in a newer ms 162. 10mm like a cmr6h ngk

 

[EFSM]

I’ll second that! I’ve been real happy with the Denso plugs I’ve gotten from @cuinrearview NGKs quality has gone in the toilet the last several years.

We have sold and installed many thousands of NGK plugs over the last 10+ years and have never had a problem that I can remember with them. however, we are getting them wholesale and so there’s no chance of us getting counterfeits. I’ve said this before, but I think most of the problems people are having with NGK are with NGK counterfeits. However, I have heard complaints about dirt bike NGK plugs breaking. I’m not sure if those were counterfeit too or if they do have some QC problems, they are making some in Brazil now.