The DanSmith
03-05-2006, 10:59 AM
Well, Since I'm kinda bored, I'm gonna post some random Ignition Facts.
1: Platinum vs. Copper spark Plugs: A common decision that is made in choosing spark plugs is Copper vs. Platinum. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages as listed below:
Copper Plug advantages: Copper Plugs are almost always gappable, provide a generally stronger spark than other plugs, they are cheap, and some have non-eroding electrodes.
Copper Plug Disadvantages: The copper plugs dont ladt more than a couple of years, when the spark weakens, or the plug erodes, the arcing voltage increases, requiring a larger spark voltage, and as this happens, gas mileage goes down the tube.
Platinum Plug Advantages The Platinum plug lasts longer, requires less voltage to spark, and the electrode itself is more durable
Platinum plug disadvantages The Platinum Plugs are expensive, sometimes over 8 dollars for 1 plug, some arent gappable like the Bosch Platinum +4, and the platinums don't provide any performance increase on a car with a decent ignition.
2: Ignition Coil
The ignition coil should be matched to the type of ignition that you are using. If Too much voltage/amps are flowing through the spark, the plug might not ignite the fuel due to cavitation. Cavitation is when the spark is so powerful that it actually repels the fuel instead of igniting it. A High voltage coil may allow you to increase plug gaps, but if ther isn't enough amperage in that spark to ignite the fuel, which isn't good. This is so, because that high voltage coil loses some amperage. If a coil has a 100:1 coil wind ratio, the input voltage will be raised by 100x, while the inverse happens to the current.
3: Spark Plug Wires: There are many spark Plug wires on the market today. From OEM to full race wires, they can be found just about everywhere. Your typical OEM plug wire ranges anywhere from 3000-15000 ohms per foot. The Ohm is the amount of resistance to current the wire has. Usually, the lower the resistance in the plug, the better the energy transfer. But there is another factor in the plug wire that can make or break you: RFI radio supression. This supression is critical to sensitive electronic equipment, and also your car stereo. It can do anything from making you able to hear your engine through your radio at low RPM's, to altering signals to and from your EEC/PCM. Usually, the highter the RFI suppression, the better.
If any of the info I have posted is contestable/incorrect, feel free to correct me or add to the original post.
1: Platinum vs. Copper spark Plugs: A common decision that is made in choosing spark plugs is Copper vs. Platinum. Both types have their advantages and disadvantages as listed below:
Copper Plug advantages: Copper Plugs are almost always gappable, provide a generally stronger spark than other plugs, they are cheap, and some have non-eroding electrodes.
Copper Plug Disadvantages: The copper plugs dont ladt more than a couple of years, when the spark weakens, or the plug erodes, the arcing voltage increases, requiring a larger spark voltage, and as this happens, gas mileage goes down the tube.
Platinum Plug Advantages The Platinum plug lasts longer, requires less voltage to spark, and the electrode itself is more durable
Platinum plug disadvantages The Platinum Plugs are expensive, sometimes over 8 dollars for 1 plug, some arent gappable like the Bosch Platinum +4, and the platinums don't provide any performance increase on a car with a decent ignition.
2: Ignition Coil
The ignition coil should be matched to the type of ignition that you are using. If Too much voltage/amps are flowing through the spark, the plug might not ignite the fuel due to cavitation. Cavitation is when the spark is so powerful that it actually repels the fuel instead of igniting it. A High voltage coil may allow you to increase plug gaps, but if ther isn't enough amperage in that spark to ignite the fuel, which isn't good. This is so, because that high voltage coil loses some amperage. If a coil has a 100:1 coil wind ratio, the input voltage will be raised by 100x, while the inverse happens to the current.
3: Spark Plug Wires: There are many spark Plug wires on the market today. From OEM to full race wires, they can be found just about everywhere. Your typical OEM plug wire ranges anywhere from 3000-15000 ohms per foot. The Ohm is the amount of resistance to current the wire has. Usually, the lower the resistance in the plug, the better the energy transfer. But there is another factor in the plug wire that can make or break you: RFI radio supression. This supression is critical to sensitive electronic equipment, and also your car stereo. It can do anything from making you able to hear your engine through your radio at low RPM's, to altering signals to and from your EEC/PCM. Usually, the highter the RFI suppression, the better.
If any of the info I have posted is contestable/incorrect, feel free to correct me or add to the original post.