Time for another tune up on the old '96 XJ 4.0 and I'm looking for advice on what plug wires to get. I have the usual local parts stores to choose from...

auto zone
advance
koi
o' reilly's
napa
car quest

Willing to spend a little more on quality but mostly just want to avoid any brands that are known junk. Any advice on reasonably good plug wires at these stores? Thanks.

 

Go to Napa. Get their Premium line as far as wires, cap and rotor. NGK plugs.

 

Can't go wrong with this advice.

 

That's just the standard advice.

The Gold Standard.

 

I recommend the Accel tune up kit from summit racing. Everything you need for about 70 bucks, and it's quality stuff.

 

If you can wait.. rock auto has great prices! might want to check there as well..

 

Accel does have good prices.. And if I remember correctly, were popular for a long time, but here lately I have just seen a lot of bad posts and comments on forums about their quality... Especially on the coils... Just FYI

It always worried me at my store, for instance with ford COP's, that the ACCEL were only 2 dollars more than my cheapest stuff... and cheaper than my BWD line..

 

Went to NAPA and the guy said their premium wires were listed as 'low resistance' which I've been warned against as good wires need resistance built into them to help keep the spark plug chatter away from stuff like the computer and whatever etc.

I've seen lots of advice for the NGK plugs. Which ones specifically should I get for my 4.0?

 

The NAPA Belden premium wires will have the correct (OEM) resistance for the application.

 

Whatever the book lists as their standard Copper plug. 7252?

 

I have a guy really pushing the advice to look into these higher end Autolite plugs. His advice...

'Three great spark plugs for your '96 XJ 4.0 include the platinum tipped Autolite AP985 or Champion 3034. Both will perform well for 100k miles. Or if you want them to last 200k miles, pay a little more for the iridium tipped Autolite XP985.'

Later in the same thread when I asked about one of the Champion plugs (not the 3034s he mentioned), he responded...

'Why go for those when for an extra buck or so per plug you can have plugs that will outperform the conventional plugs, fire more reliably in difficult situations, and perform well for 100k miles, 3X as long. Champion 3034 or Autolite AP985. Your XJ engine will run superbly on either.'

I'm leaning toward the copper NGKs people have mentioned. So I'm wondering, what's the case for the high end Autolites he's talking about vs. the copper NGKs?

 

Forget the fancy, get the copper.

 

did that guy own an xj? i doubt it from the way he was talking. our jeeps run best on the el chepo copper champions. no platinum, no iridium........ no split tipped stuff, just plain old copper champion plugs, most that get the fancy stuff end up going back to coppers after they dropped the money for the "premium" plugs.

 

BINGO. We have a winner!!!!!

 

why would you want your plugs going "200k" miles... then you don't get to wrench on your jeep as much..

plus.. removing and inspecting plugs can give you a good indication on the "health" of that particular cylinder