The Denso catalog lists a #3395 Iridium plug for a 2000 Vitara (2.0 L), but it lists a #3435 Iridium for a 2000 Tracker (2.0 L) (which is what I own). The only difference I can find in the specs for these two plugs is the gap... the #3395 (Vitara) has a .044 gap and the #3435 (Tracker) has a .032 gap. I had a shop replace the plugs on my Tracker and they used the #3395. So I'm confused. Why are there two different plug recommendations for what I thought were identical engines? And most importantly, is there any problem with using the Vitara recommended plugs in my Tracker? I called the shop and the guy looked it all up again using my VIN and using a cross-reference guide and still came up with the Vitara recommended #3395. Confused... anyone have any info about this? Thanks!
Vitara vs Tracker - different Denso spark plug recs... why?
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Good point, thanks for raising it. My Tracker has COP, not sure about the Vitara. Oh and I forgot to mention it's not just the Denso website but also Rock Auto that recommends different plugs for the Vitara vs Tracker (same recs as Denso for their Iridium Long Life line). It seems to run just fine with the Vitara plugs... just don't understand why the difference and if it makes a difference in my case...
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Do not gap the platinum or iridium cause it destroys the coating on the tips leading to misfire!
The plot thickens: I looked under the hood at the spec sticker, and it says that the spark plug gap should be ".039 min". So that would suggest that the Denso 3435, which Denso specs for the Tracker, is not correct, because it has an .032 gap, and this does not conform to the sticker spec of ".039 min. And this suggests that the Denso 3395, which Denso specs for the Vitara, is correct because it has an 0.44 gap, which seems to conform to the ".039 min" spec. Sheesh. This means that the Denso catalog is incorrect (and Rock Auto too, who probably base theirs on the Denso catalog). I don't know which catalog the shop that replaced the plugs used, but it seems they got it right in using the larger gap Denso 3395. Still interested in any other info anyone may have about this. And feel bad for anyone who used the Denso 3435 based on their catalog. Maybe I'll contact Denso and alert them. I wonder if any of this has to do with the CA/Federal emissions spec? My vehicle (which I bought new in WA state in 2000) says it meets "CA and Federal" emissions (so I assume it gets parts labelled for CA emissions). But the Denso catalog does not differentiate between CA and Federal emissions in their spark plug spec for either the Tracker or the Vitara. Again, thanks for your responses and any help in clarifying.
This is interesting. I have a 2001 Tracker with the 2.5L engine. My Suzuki under-hood sticker also says "spark plug gap 0.039" (min)." It does not provide a maximum gap. When I replaced my plugs I wanted to use the same type that came from the factory.
These are the plugs I purchased from RockAuto.
RockAuto plug (left). Factory plug removed from my Tracker (right). To the best of my recollection the two plugs were identical.
I did not regap the RockAuto plugs but I did compare the gap between the old and new plugs and -- again to the best of my recollection -- they were the same. At the time I was surprised that there was essentially no electrode wear on plugs that had 150,000 miles on them. My car is also California compliant. I don't know what I was expecting. The car started and ran great with the original plugs and I have been unable to detect any change in performance with the new plugs.
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