Spark plug modifications

[DamirGTI]

Hi Guy !

I wish your comments about this job , i do this every time when i buy new spark plugs but onley if they are projecting nose or conventional gap type plugs .
I've heard that this modification reduces voltage requirement to fire the plug and giving faster combustion because there is less earth electrode in the way , is this true ?

Thanks !
Damir

pics:

[Guy Croft]

I have no idea of the effect of doing that!

The earth electrode might snap off inside the engine with all that bending!

Not something I'd want to do...

GC

[Lowtechguy]

They call that a V groove, not better off buying it already done?

In the NGK range it is your part number, ending with an EZ I think...

e.g BKR6EZ

[Sandro]

Gents,

modifying spark plugs does not generally give any measurable perfomance gain, and like Guy says could end up causing part(s) of the plug to fail.

It is better to purchase a spark plug correct for the application in the first place.

The best designs to fit are fine wire (center electrode tip) usually iridium designs or platinum with a single ground electrode, with gaps around 1mm no more as the ignition coild an deliver the output but your ignition leads / boots may suffer.

The NGK design actually reduces the voltage demand when new due to the sharp edges but oce these have worn away the demand voltage is the similar as other designs. The claim with NGK V groove is that when the fuel ignites it can grow more uniformly (in a ball shape) due to the groove but I really doubt you would be able to tell driving a car. We have to test the engines at very lean mixtures or advanced timing to tell them apart.

Mixture preparation is far more important and significant gains can be measured this way than changing a spark plug.

Changing spark position, i.e. further projected into the chamber can give benefits but usually the manufacturer has already found the best position. On modded engines you should try to avoid projecting the spark further into the chamber as the increased ground electrode length may fatigue and fracture. Multi ground electrode designs can help here but you are effectively putting more material mass around the spark plug tip that absorbs energy from the start of ignition hence affecting ignitability when compared to single ground electrode designs.

hope this helps

sandro

[DamirGTI]

Hi !

Yes i know that this is not the type of modification after one you can feel that car goes faster or something like that but maybe it can improve something inside ?! i've notice that factory Bosch spark plugs sometimes have earth electrode modified like this .

Thanks
Damir

pics :

[Sandro]

Hi,

I cannot actually see any pictures on the website, is it my PC or do I need to enable something to view them?

regards

sandro

PS sorry to be so PC illiterate!!!!!

[DamirGTI]

Hi Sandro !

Well i think that you have to log in , then you'l be able to see the pictures .

Damir