Can any one type of spark plug make more power than the next? What if you gap them bigger or smaller? Let’s find out on Engine Masters!
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Did any of these test results surprise you?
These days just knowing your getting genuine plugs and not Chinese fakes is half the challenge!
Here’s another thing to look for when shopping plugs that i just recently found out:
A local (but well known) volvo tuning company ran some tests with different iridium spark plugs, going from cheap ones, to ngk, denso and oem volvo (denso) plugs. The power didn’t really make a difference, but you could see a difference in carbon build up (relating to how ‘clean’ the combustion is). The result was pretty much how you’d expect. Off brand left more carbon, ngk next, denso non oem next and denso volvo oem performed the best. The price difference is ~10€ per set of 4 plugs for these particular plugs. The test was ran on a tuned VEA 2.0T engine (they offer a 225hp tune, so i’m assuming it made 225hp?)
Moral of the story, not only power or longevity come into play when looking for spark plugs, but also how well the spark ‘suits’ the engine/how clean your combustion is. I would like to add that i dont think the difference is that big on older, bigger and/or NA engines. European (downsized) engines can be mean to you when you just look at it wrong
The deal with multiple electrodes:
A coil only has so much energy to give. If it takes alot of that energy to start the spark, then the duration of the spark is shortened, thus flamefront can be slower.
Also, air/fuel mix in the cylinder is not the same at all points at all times. Fuel atoms make spark easier to jump the gap.
So combine those 2 principles and multiple electrodes give the spark more options to jump at the lowest resistance and maintain the spark longer.
Does it matter? There are combustion chamber/piston designs where it does help and others where it makes no difference.
I always just use the factory plugs. The longevity with plugs nowadays is amazing, but over time the gaps widen, and they should be changed for that reason.