Dear Tom and Ray:

I would like to install platinum tipped spark plugs in my 1987 Chevrolet Celebrity, but have been told that they will not work in a car that has a fuel injection system. I contacted General Motors in Detroit, and they said they only recommend their own spark plugs. Can I use the platinum tipped plugs? Harold

Tom: Sure you can, Harold. GM didn't say the platinum tipped plugs would do any harm, they just said that they only recommend their own brand. And of course they only recommend their own brand. They make money when you buy their brand. If they could get away with it, they'd sell you "genuine" GM water for your cooling system and "genuine" GM air for your tires.

Ray: And GM is not alone. Most manufacturers tell you not to use anything but "genuine" or "original" (fill-in-the-blank) parts and fluids. And in general, this is bull-feathers. As long as the parts and fluids you use "meet or exceed OEM (original equipment manufacturer) specifications" for your car, they should be fine. And the packaging on the product should tell you whether that's the case.

Tom: The platinum tipped plugs simply last a lot longer than conventional plugs. And a lot of new cars--all of which are fuel injected--are using them these days. In fact, if you put platinum tipped spark plugs into an '87 Celebrity, I'll bet you 20 bucks the plugs outlast the car by at least 50,000 miles! 1150

Changing your oil is the cheapest insurance you can buy for your car, but how often should you change it? Find out by ordering Tom and Ray's pamphlet Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It! To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1995 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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