![]() ![]() Some provide better fouling resistance than others, and some are not recommended for use in turbocharged or supercharged engines. There are differences in electrode configurations, design and durability. ![]() One important point to keep in mind about platinum plugs is that all platinum plugs are not the same. ![]() Though long-life platinum and iridium spark plugs cost more than standard spark plugs, OEMs use them because they reduce the risk of misfire (which helps protect the catalytic converter) and they reduce the need for maintenance, which allows them to offer 100,000-mile “tuneup” intervals. Most aftermarket spark plug suppliers do not make specific mileage claims for their platinum or iridium spark plugs, but say to follow the OEM replacement intervals which, in most cases, is 100,000 miles. Platinum and iridium are both expensive metals, but they can double or even triple a spark plug’s normal service life, from 30,000 to 45,000 miles for a standard plug, up to 100,000 miles or more. Using platinum or iridium almost eliminates electrode wear. On OBD II-equipped vehicles, too many misfires will cause the Check Engine light to come on. Eventually, the plugs may need more volts to fire than the coil(s) can produce, resulting in ignition misfire. On standard plugs with conventional electrodes, the firing voltage requirements typically creep up about 500 V for every 10,000 to 15,000 miles of driving. And the wider the gap, the greater the voltage needed to jump the gap. The gap on a standard spark plug grows about 0.00063 to 0.000126 inch for every 1,000 miles of normal driving. The center electrode typically suffers the most wear because it runs hotter than the side electrode.Īs the electrodes wear, the air gap across which the spark must jump becomes wider and wider. Every time a plug fires, a tiny amount of metal is vaporized and erodes from the surface of both electrodes. Platinum and iridium are used because they minimize electrode wear. Some even use an alloy of platinum and iridium in the center electrode. Some plugs have a solid platinum or iridium center electrode, while others have a small button of platinum welded onto the tip of center electrode or both electrodes (single platinum vs. That is why platinum and iridium are used on the electrodes of many spark plugs today. Both metals also have the ability to resist chemical corrosion and electrical erosion. Platinum and iridium have become a buzzword for ignition durability – as good conductors of heat and electricity. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Details
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |