Post by DeadlyPeace on Jan 18, 2004 3:56:18 GMT -5
Just found this while looking through the good old archives and thought it would be a good thing to add.
Originally posted on 6-19-2003 by: madscientist
I just recently signed on to this site, and I see a bunch of you people have fallen for all the hype about multiple tip spark plugs. These are nothing but a gimmick, and a stock Delco plug actually works better with less turbulence than a Splitfire. What you want out of a spark plug are a low (relative) firing kv (kilovolt), a steady burn time, and little turbulence. These plugs do not fire more, the ignition system tells them how many kvs they can have, so upgrade to a better coil or a more acurate ignition system, or spend the money on a MSD (multiple spark discharge)type system. These plugs only fire once if the ignition system only fires them once. They do not create more spark, just more places for it to occur, which means LESS control over the burn process. They cannot be indexed. Also, since they can fire in different places in the combustion chamber (as many as 4 different places) they can possibly even cause the piston to "wobble" on the wrist pin, and thats if they arent starting the burn process in a spot where they may cause the piston to "wobble" against the wrist pin causing increased wear, more friction (i.e. more internal work for the engine, or less power output) or possibly even to the extreme of wrist pin failure. I did try the splitfires once when they first came out, and saw NO improvement at all, whether for milage or HP.I also have known other people that have used them. As a professional mechanic, I have met several people who installed these in thier own vehicles, then later brought it in for drivabilty concerns, telling me the whole time that they just did a tune up, so the plugs cant be the problem, but it almost always is. If you people could just once hook up a lab scobe to these things, you would see my point! Please, save yourself alot of grief, either install the plugs recomended by the manufacturer, or use a good platinum plug (they do last longer). Take a look at a basic Bosch platinum sometime, and you will see what I mean about consistancy. The electrodes are both very small, so the spark is always in the exact same spot.
The only thing I would like to add is that SpitFire actully mentions that their plugs are not intended to be used for import engines.
Originally posted on 6-19-2003 by: madscientist
I just recently signed on to this site, and I see a bunch of you people have fallen for all the hype about multiple tip spark plugs. These are nothing but a gimmick, and a stock Delco plug actually works better with less turbulence than a Splitfire. What you want out of a spark plug are a low (relative) firing kv (kilovolt), a steady burn time, and little turbulence. These plugs do not fire more, the ignition system tells them how many kvs they can have, so upgrade to a better coil or a more acurate ignition system, or spend the money on a MSD (multiple spark discharge)type system. These plugs only fire once if the ignition system only fires them once. They do not create more spark, just more places for it to occur, which means LESS control over the burn process. They cannot be indexed. Also, since they can fire in different places in the combustion chamber (as many as 4 different places) they can possibly even cause the piston to "wobble" on the wrist pin, and thats if they arent starting the burn process in a spot where they may cause the piston to "wobble" against the wrist pin causing increased wear, more friction (i.e. more internal work for the engine, or less power output) or possibly even to the extreme of wrist pin failure. I did try the splitfires once when they first came out, and saw NO improvement at all, whether for milage or HP.I also have known other people that have used them. As a professional mechanic, I have met several people who installed these in thier own vehicles, then later brought it in for drivabilty concerns, telling me the whole time that they just did a tune up, so the plugs cant be the problem, but it almost always is. If you people could just once hook up a lab scobe to these things, you would see my point! Please, save yourself alot of grief, either install the plugs recomended by the manufacturer, or use a good platinum plug (they do last longer). Take a look at a basic Bosch platinum sometime, and you will see what I mean about consistancy. The electrodes are both very small, so the spark is always in the exact same spot.
The only thing I would like to add is that SpitFire actully mentions that their plugs are not intended to be used for import engines.
[/glow]
Later...
