Best Performace SparkPlugs

Some truth to this comparing a much fatter electrode to a needle point, fatter one is much superior.



But the rest comparing two practically identical electrode configurations, one with jigger the other with a solid spark is BS, most important factor is the excitation voltage. In this respect the old fashion ignition point with the parallel condenser, actually a capacitor is far superior than any solid state ignition system.

When the points opened, voltage change is instantaneous, any transistor as a finite fall time that consumes quite a bit of the limited number of joules available. But most important is that transistors are unidirectional and only get one very short spark.

With points, a complete open circuit and the capacitor is in series with the primary of the coil producing a series resonate circuit producing a much longer spark line, in effect, an AC voltage. So getting a buzz across those electrodes, instead of a one short spark. The only plus factor with solid state, more reliable, points wear out.

Another factor with points, were designed as cheap as possible, simple beryllium spring with an insulator rubbing and wearing on a cam, stupid. Piston designs were proposed, but blame the bean counters again. Coil itself made as cheap as possible, far better ferrites, and layer wound coils with adequate heat sink fins. Ever see a can of tomatoes, this is how coil were made.

Can't say much about this much thinner glass like shell, glass breaks much easier the thinner it is.



Brain was distorted when really easier to install, can you pass these plugs through an AC compressor? Or removing ton of stuff to even get at them?

Materials used in the electrodes is key to long life, the edges of these have to be sharp to reduce the ionization voltage. But the worse possible thing is carbon build up on that center electrode, is conductive and shunts that spark right back to ground.

Did I read these plugs increase compression and displacement?

Another view, is the best spark plug is no spark plug at all, in a turbine engine, hit with a high AC voltage on for starting this engine, combustion is self sustaining so no longer needed. Or a diesel, uses the heat of compression to ignite the fuel.

Ha, passed a gas station last night, regular was $1.99, diesel $2.78 or about 40% more expensive, but is your fuel economy increasing by this same factor? This the way life is, get you one way or the other.

Only solution I found with plugs, have to be cleaned or replaced about every 15K miles, namely because of carbon build up. One thing I love about the Cruze, very easy and even fun.

Here's a list that other vehicles use the same spark plug as the Cruze 1.4 L Turbine engine.



Some fairly impressive vehicles here.

Ha, really don't feel there is a dime's worth of difference when they are all brand new, clean and properly gaped. Question is, how long will they stay this way. Platinum seems to be the best material.

Platinum versus iridium is always a debate, both very hard materials, but would definitely prefer a plug with a large blob of platinum on the center and ground electrodes as opposed to a tiny pin point of iridium. Also considerate the plating on the threads so you can remove the plugs without part of the head coming out with it.

Some brag about copper being a better conductor, but with around 40,000 volts and only a spark current of around 0.006 amperes, really doesn't make much difference. And then with EMI interfering with the ECU and other stuff,have to install an 8,000 ohm resistor in series with the center electrode.

Been reasonably happy with my APP3923 double platinum plugs, but not too happy with that dull finish on the center electrode insulator. If a glazed ceramic were uses, the carbon would not stick to it was well. So they have to cleaned with a ground walnut shell blaster. You want the spark to go between the center electrode and ground and not anywhere else.

Really, spark plug design has not changed that much in the last hundred years, but the BS sure has increased. Carbon has been the problem since the beginning of spark plugs.