Are NOS spark plugs any good?

Have an NOS set of Champion # 7 spark plugs (1920s new in box). Do plugs degrade from age despite non use? For older engines, do new plugs offer any advantages? Any comments appreciated, thanks.

 

As long as they didn't get wet and rot, there shouldn't be any problem with using them.

 

Why would they decay? If they are for something you own, put them in and use them! They are in good condition, right? Spark plugs don't suffer from "shelf rot" and have no explanation date.

 

if un used they should still be good, as long as the porcelain insulator isnt cracked or that they were fouled out at one time
even some used ones still will work, test em and see

 

Can you explain what an explanation date is?

 

I think he's referring to "expiration" date.

NOS condensors degrade over time even sitting on the shelf. Something about the internal paper (?) insulator.

 

i have an nos set of those pink firestone "radioactive pulonium" spark plugs for a banger.....wonder if they're still radioactive?

 

I know. See, that's being funny.

 

Ok, now what the hell is pulonium?

 

I remember being told that old sparkplugs used to separate and leak (with age and use) where the ceramic and the metal come together.

This is NOT from my own experience, but I can remember when old plugs used to look really bad when they were used up, now not so much.

I think the alloys are much better now.

Run the damn things and do a real world durability comparison, I would be interested in the results.

EDIT - - (after thinking about it for a few, I think I DO remember seeing some old plugs with the ceramic part loose from the base, but this was a damn long time ago)

 

I have some from the 1960's and use them with no problems .
As long as they are not rusted up badly and it's got no cracks or pieces missing , I would use them ! They really just don't go bad like gaskets would .

Retro Jim

 

Polonium (chemical symbol Po) is a radioactive metal. It was a marketing gimmick back in the old days that supposed to give better spark. It does not make a difference. The actual radioactivity level is quite low as the orig plug has only a small amount of polonium (rare and expensive metal). The longest half-life isotope is about 100 years. so the remaining radioactivity level is about half of what is was new. The much higher radioactive (short half-life) isotopes are like 3 years or 140 days. They are long gone by now.

Just don't keep them in your front pants pocket

Actually Po is what is called an alpha emitter, which means alpha radiation. Alpha is blocked by your skin, paper, even a couple feet of air. Just do not ingest it and you are fine.

 

There was a deal on radioactive plugs a few year back, it seems the material has a pretty short 1/2 life and brakes down in something like 100 or so days....