spark plugs

[msggunny]

See, this is what happens when you are confined to your home for 30 days on convalescent leave recovering from rotator cuff surgery. you come up with lots of time and questions to bother the good people at the RN Forum with.

Ok, special spark plugs: E3, split fire, etc. is anyone running them in their series rigs and if so what, if any, improvements have you seen? I have used them in my jeeps before and saw a good improvement but never in my landy.

Thanks
Richard

[yorker]

They probably are a waste of $. Splitfires used to erode quicker than other plugs. You are probably better off with a good set of Champions or ACs or Autolites.

[Jim-ME]

FWIW a good friend is the service manager at at large Chevrolet dealership. When I asked him about split-fire plugs specifically he told me that the majority of ignition problems that the shop runs into on Chevy engines are a result of people using "high performance plugs". He told me that when they pitch them and install the plugs recommended by the manufacturer the problems go away. As we all know Rover engines are not supposed to be high performance engines. His reply tells me that "high performance plugs"=junk.

[Jeff Aronson]

Spark Plugs

I have to admit I've never used anything more than the correct Bosch platinum plugs. They do seem to last a long time. New plugs have made the car run more smoothly, but never more powerfully. It's still a 1950's engine design, made for longevity and low end torque, nothing more.

Jeff

[dmurrell]

BP5ES

I have a Pertronix ignitor in a relatively new dizzy on my MOD engine. I have tested a good number of plugs, but have found that my truck prefers the NGK BP5ES to any other plug. YMMV

[jp-]

A plug thread, I can't resist.

Splitfires are crap. It is old tech that was tried in the 50's (or 60's) and didn't work then either.

Bosch platinums - crap also - sorry guys. Electrode contact point is too small. Can lead to fouling in some older engines. Only run these plugs in engines that were designed for them. (+2 and +4 designs are Ok, but Beru was first.)

Beru - Now this is a spark plug. Specifically the Ultra-X. The problem that most plugs have is that they shield the spark from the fuel mixture. This can be overcome with a well designed combustion chamber that has good swirl. However, most don't. The solution is a plug that puts the spark it direct contact with the mixture. This means that the plug should fire against the side of the electrode and not the top of it. Check these plugs out.

[jp-]

Plug Ranking

1. Beru
2. Denso
3. NGK
4. Bosch (+2 & +4)
5. Champion
6.
7.
8. Splitfire

Somewhere between the Beru's and Denso's are TorqueMaster plugs. But I have only run these in motorcycles. They are a side-fire variation.

[gudjeon]

sparky-sparky

I have settled on good old Champion RN11YC. They are working fine and even get me started at -20c. I make short trips and they haven't fouled up on me yet this winter. Worked well in the summer heat last year. Chep to replace on a regular basis too.

Jon M.

[poko]

Beru Spark Plugs

"Beru - Now this is a spark plug. Specifically the Ultra-X."

Where do you get them here in the USA? Which part no. fo the 2.25L? What's the average cost?
Thanks,
Chuck

[a109]

I have settled on good old Champion RN11YC. They are working fine and even get me started at -20c. I make short trips and they haven't fouled up on me yet this winter. Worked well in the summer heat last year. Chep to replace on a regular basis too.

Jon M.

Yes, I agree whole heartedly. Cheap low tech and ideal for the low tech point type ignition. Change them often and they'll be the best of any.

John

[jp-]

"Beru - Now this is a spark plug. Specifically the Ultra-X."

Where do you get them here in the USA? Which part no. fo the 2.25L? What's the average cost?
Thanks,
Chuck

I had mine shipped from a shop in California. I don't recall the name, but the price was no more than a +4 Bosch type. I saved the box with the part number, but I'll have to dig it up. I'll get back to you on that one.

Also, just because Champions are lower on my list, doesn't mean that they aren't good plugs. I just had a Champion self destruct once in a 78 SR500 Yamaha, that left a bad impression (considering I was out in the middle of nowhere).

[gudjeon]

sparky-sparky

Yes, I too had the sting of champions coming apart in the past. My experience has taught me to stick with Bosch/NGK using two stroke and 4-cycle motorbike/sleds/outboards. Champions used to chew up threads on my old Bombardier skidoo. I specifically use Champion RN11YC40 because they are pregapped at 040" for electronic ignition. Cheap and plentiful. I have just switched to pertronics and have a hotter coil. With this combo, engine fires on first comperession stroke when cold. Whilst I was still using points, I just gapped them to original specs.

It just comes down to what you feel comfortable with. There's no harm in trying out something new. After all, these are our toys we like to play with.

Jon M.

[jp-]

Poko,

The part number is UX 79.

http://www.supremepowerparts.com/applications/2005_Volkswagen_Jetta_V_2.0T.aspx/1/1696/Neuspeed_Beru_Ultra_X_Spark_Plug_Sold_each

[Luke]

I put Splitfires on my 2.6 thinking they would aid cold weather starting and have since had lots of problems with... cold weather starting.

Need to go back through the trash now to find the old NGKs....

Luke

[J!m]

I use "cheap and cheerful" Champions in my series, and have no problems.

I do have a jacobs ignition and Magnecor wires...