Quote:
Originally Posted by zonker
The simplest way to upgrade your ignition system is to 1. increase spark plug gap, 2. use the thinnest wire electrode spark plug available. and 3. index your spark plugs if they are not centrally located in the cylinder.
IF your ignition cannot hold up to the increased demands now asked of it thru the increased gap, then look to fix the problem in the system that is breaking down first. Typically it's the spark plug wires first, the coil second, and the ignition design limitations third.
|
Not sure where I found this....
"Ignition systems that don't work well with platinums are most likely non-electronic. The finer electrode on the platinum(in Bosch and NGK's case anyways) has a lower firing voltage, you might not think it's very much but at work the difference between our standard Inconel electrode plug and our Iridium tipped plugs is easily 15k volts.
On some ignition systems, especially older ones, 15k volts can be a significant timing advancement (10-15 degrees) so a car that normally runs fine will knock and end up killing not only the plug but possibly itself because of the timing advancement. Newer vehicles the advancement usually only counts for ~5 degrees at the most and the computer can easily compensate for that if it causes knock.
One solution is to voltage match the plugs, that's what I did in my car after this last round of acetone testing. I took the standard copper plugs it came with and measured voltage at 180psi @ .039" gap (about 42kV) then opened up the gap on an Iridium until it matched, I had to get a .052" gap to match the voltage between them.
Let me tell you, that Iridium at .052 runs WAY better than a stock copper at .039 even though it's the same voltage."