My 60 HP 2 stroke Merc requires an odd plug, NGK BPZ8H-N-10. I usually have to order it, no big deal. But why is this plug $8 each and most other plugs are around $3? What are the requirements/tolerances for swapping out plugs? I think someone (not a GDOTSWE) told me it was for extremely high temps? And yes, embarrassingly so, I do use it in saltwater

That's the same as the recommended plug for Mercury 280's. I've always replaced with Champion QL77CC's.

I'd drill it out and hammer some autolite's in there.

It is hard to find anything these days that calls for a $3 spark plug. Most are way more $8 too.

Stick to the NGK , champions are not exactly the premium of the spark plug world. If the manufacturers recommend this plug
They have a reason for it. Even though it may be on a crossover chart, it may not perform like the suggested plug.

The Champions perform better in the 280's. Believe me, I don't mind paying for the performance.

Ngks are made in Japan's why.

Well damn. I was going to ask you the exact same thing.

I didn't realize that, but I'm not worried about the $5 difference, I only have to buy 3 twice a year. But it's a pain in the butt when no one has them in stock and I get motivated to service the motor. I just ordered a dozen, so if I can remember where I keep them or to grab them before I head to the marina I should be good for two years.

Here are some alternative plugs - don't know what they cost or how they perform though....


https://www.sparkplug-crossreference.com/convert/NGK_PN/BPZ8H-N-10

That Z in that plug means it is an inductive resistive plug. It’ll have to have this plug in order to run without a miss. Do not run champions in that motor, and do not run autolite plugs either. Neither will work in this application.
Its designed to run those plugs to suppress RF interference.
Running that application with the wrong plug could potentially damage the switchbox

Thank you! I'm just going to order a health supply of them and put them up.

You will still have to order some next time you need to change them or spend all day looking for where you put your extras. I know because I had to run to the store yesterday in the middle of cutting grass to get a 20 amp fuse i had blown when I know I have at least 2 boxes of them around here somewhere, just didn't have all day to look for them.

Why wouldn't you keep them in the boat?

I've been running NGK's for years.

Don’t bring logic into this conversation

Because I already do that with everything else and about once every two months I fill the back of my truck up with stuff to bring back to the house. Plus, it's a 15' Whaler with almost zero storage. So I've put half in my truck tool box (which is about the same routine with emptying my boat) and half in my closet. I may just bury them in a jar at the marina but I'd probably forget I did that too.

I'll say this, when I take the ones out and inspect them, they don't look any different than the new ones going back in, look brand new with less than 100 hrs on them, probably why. But, if I'm going to spend a couple hours changing the gear oil, filters and the impeller, might as well do that too. They seem to be good plugs.