Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #5 - What type of Spark Plugs do you need? Hot or Cold?

As you may know now, Spark plugs do come in hotter or colder variants. So which setup is more suitable to your car? In this article, we...


As you may know now, Spark plugs do come in hotter or colder variants. So which setup is more suitable to your car? In this article, we are going to discuss about this. 

Spark plugs have 2 jobs. The first is obvious, to create the spark necessary to ignite the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder. The 2nd, and less obvious job, is to pull heat from the cylinder and transfer it into the head where it can be cooled down by the cooling system.

The term colder plug and hotter plug refers to how fast or slow the plugs transfers the heat from the tip. A colder plug transfers heat faster while a hotter plug is slower.  The goal is to keep the cylinder temperature between 550 and 800 degree celcius. This temperature range is cool enough to prevent knock and not melt the plug tip, but still hot enough to burn off the carbon and prevent fouling.

For a stock car or even a car with full bolt-ons, running a colder plug isn’t going to benefit you much if at all. In fact, you’ll probably end up with more problems because the plugs will foul and cause mis-fires. You will see people reporting smoother revs or better idle after switching plugs, but this is most likely due to just being fresh plugs with correct plug gap and/or plug design differences and not so much from the heat range. These perceived benefits will soon fade.


The biggest problem is that running a colder plug when it isn’t needed, is that it will foul up quickly. This happens because the plug tip doesn’t stay hot enough to burn off the carbon deposits, and so a build up occurs. Another common problem is that colder plugs can make the car harder to start when it’s cold outside.

So in general, you should stick to your manufacturer’s recommended heat range until you actually need to run a colder plug. But when would that be? There seems to be a rule of thumb that states you should go 1 range colder for every 75-100hp additional you make over stock.  

The suggestion is that anytime you make a change that will increase cylinder temperatures, you evaluate your need for a colder plug. Adding a turbo or super charger to a naturally aspirated setup, increasing compression ratio, making big changes to timing, changing fuel types and adding nitrous are a few examples of modifications that can increase cylinder temperatures. For a stock car, or even a full bolt-on, you’re not going to see any benefits, so don’t waste your time or money.

Now, if you do need to get a colder or even a hotter plug, keep in mind that there is no universal heat range system. Each plug manufacturer will have their own heat range system.

For example, NGK uses a system that ranks colder plugs with a higher number and hotter plugs with a lower number, while Bosch does the opposite. If you’re switching plug brands, you will need to do some research on the equivalent heat range for the new brand.




Continue Reading:

Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #1 - What is Spark Plugs? How is Spark Plugs works?
Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #2 - Symptoms of Bad or Failing Spark Plugs
Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #3 - How to "Read/Understand" a Spark Plug
Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #4 - Spark Plugs Characteristic
Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #5 - What type of Spark Plugs do you need? Hot or Cold?






Technorati Tags: ,,,,,,,,

COMMENTS

Name

20 valves,1,20V,1,2ZZGE,19,360,1,4AGE,25,4D58,8,4D65,8,4D65T,8,4G13,16,4G15,15,4G16,8,4G37,8,4G61,8,4G61T,1,4G63,8,4G63T,15,4G64,10,4G91,2,4G92,20,4G93,13,4G93T,36,4G94,9,6A12,4,ABT,2,Acura,1,Acura NSX Type R,1,Adjustable Cam Pulley,6,Adjustable Suspension,6,All,443,ANCAP,1,Apexi,1,Arospeed,1,Audi,4,Audi R8,2,Audi R8 GTR,1,Audi RS6,1,Audi TT,1,BBS,1,Bentley,1,Bentley Continental GT BR-10,1,Benz,1,Bike Modification,1,BMW,4,BMW 1 Series,1,BMW 5.0L V10,1,BMW M3 GTS,1,BMW M6,1,Bolt on Turbo,2,Boost Controller,1,Boost Meter,1,Brake,1,Brake caliper,1,Bugatti,1,Bugatti Veyron,1,Cafe Racer,1,Campro Engine,12,Capristo,1,Car,1,Car Accident,1,Car Alarm,1,Car Detailing,2,Car Info,29,Car Modification,92,Car Repair,2,Car Shots,2,Car Stolen,1,Car Stuffs,32,Carbon Fiber,1,Celica Veilside 2ZZGE,29,Chevrolet,1,Concept Car,2,Crank Shaft,1,CRV L15B7,1,D.I.Y,23,Daihasu,8,Daihatsu,9,Daihatsu Ayla,1,Daihatsu Mira,19,Daihatsu Move,2,Daytime Running Light,1,DMC Tuning,1,DRL,1,Duratech,1,EDFC,2,EFJL,1,Electric cars,1,Engine bay,2,Engine valve cover,3,Enkei,1,Enkei RP01,1,Exhaust,2,Extreme Bodykit,1,Ferrari,8,Ferrari 360,1,Ferrari 360 Challenge,1,Ferrari 458 Italia,2,Ferrari Enzo,1,Ferrari F12 Berlinetta,1,Ferrari F430,1,Ferrari F70,1,Flywheel,1,Ford Mustang,2,Formula Atlantic,1,Formula One,2,Fox Marketing,1,Fuel Pressure Regulator,2,Gallery,6,Gearbox,11,Gemballa,1,Goodwoord,1,GSR,22,Hella Flush,1,Hennessey Performance,1,Hennessey Venom GT Spyder,1,High CamShaft,3,HKS,1,Honda,25,Honda Beat,1,Honda Bike,2,Honda CB350,1,Honda Civic,10,Honda Civic EK,4,Honda Civic Si,1,Honda Civic Type R,7,Honda CRV,1,Honda CRX,1,Honda EX-5,1,Honda Integra DC2,1,Honda Integra DC5,1,Honda Jazz,1,Honda S660,1,HondaEF8,1,HWL,4,Hybrid cars,2,Hydrogen EV,1,Hyundai,1,Hyundai i-oniq,1,Indy Car,2,Inifinity,1,Inifinity Emerg-E,1,IPIN Auto,1,J's Racing,1,J32,1,Japanese,2,JBJL,3,JDM,2,K&N,1,K20A,2,Kancil L2s/L5,49,Kawashima Celica,1,KC Persona,11,Kegani Autotech,1,KemKita,1,KemKitaProton,2,Ken Block,1,Kia,1,Koenigsegg,1,Koenigsegg CCXR,1,L15B7,1,L200,4,L200s,8,L2s,8,L5,1,L502s,3,L700,2,L900,2,Lamborghini,8,Lamborghini Aventador,3,Lamborghini Cabrera,1,Lamborghini Gallardo,3,Lamborghini Urus,1,Lamborghini Veneno,1,Lexus,2,Lexus LF-LC,1,Lexus LFA,1,Lightened Crank Pulley,1,Limousine Toyota Prius,1,Lotus,4,Lotus Elise,2,Lotus Evora,1,Lotus Exige,1,LS4,1,Lumma Design,1,Lumma Design CLR 6M,1,Maintenance,6,Mazda,7,Mazda Lantis,1,Mazda MX-5,1,Mazda MX-5 GT,1,Mazda RX-7,2,Mazda RX-8,1,Mazda RX-8 SPIRIT,1,Mazda Spaceship,1,McLaren,1,McLaren P1,1,Mercedes,1,Mercedes C63 AMG Black Series,1,Mirage,2,Mirage Cyborg,5,Mitsubishi,38,Mitsubishi Colt,3,Mitsubishi FTO,1,Mitsubishi i-MiEV,1,Mitsubishi Lancer,1,Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution,8,Mitsubishi Lancer GSR,1,Mitsubishi Mirage,4,Mitsubishi Mirage Asti,1,MIVEC,11,Monkey Wrench Racing,1,Mugen,2,My Project Celica,9,My Project CRV,1,My Project Kancil,5,My Project Satria,23,News,75,NISMO,2,Nissan,14,Nissan GTR30,1,Nissan GTR35,4,Nissan Juke R,1,Nissan Latio,1,Nissan Skyline GT-R (KGC10),1,Nissan Skyline GT-R (KPGC110),1,nissan skyline GT-R 33,1,Nissan Skyline GTR-34,3,Oil Leak,1,Old School Car Retro,1,Others,1,Performance Parts,1,Perodua,20,Perodua Alza,3,Perodua Axia,1,Perodua Kancil,16,Perodua Kelisa,1,Perodua Kenari,1,Perodua Myvi,5,Perodua Viva,1,Pimp my ride,1,Police Car,1,Polo Sedan PQ25,6,Porsche,9,Porsche 911,2,Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0,2,Porsche Cayenne 958,1,Porsche Cayman,2,Porsche Gemballa Mirage,1,Prior Design,1,Project car,1,Project Cars,128,Proton,86,Proton Artiga,2,Proton Coupe Evolution 16v,1,Proton Exora,5,Proton Exora Bold,1,Proton Exora Prime,1,Proton Exora Turbo,3,Proton Gen2,2,Proton Inspira,2,Proton Iswara,2,Proton P3-21A,7,Proton Persona,13,Proton Persona R,1,Proton Preve,4,Proton Preve Hatchback,1,Proton Preve Sapphire,1,Proton Putra,2,Proton Saga,6,Proton Saga BLM,3,Proton Saga BLM FLX,1,Proton Saga BLM FLX 1.6,2,Proton Satria,37,Proton Satria Cabriolet,1,Proton Satria GTi,4,Proton Satria GTi R3,1,Proton Satria Neo,6,Proton Satria RWD,1,Proton Wira,2,Proton Wira Edition,1,R3,1,Renault,2,Renault Alpine,1,Renault Clio 4,1,Rocket Bunny,1,Rotary,2,RWB,1,S4PE,1,S4PH,1,Satria GSR,37,Scion,1,Scion FR-S,1,Sepang International Circuit,1,Shoft Shifter,1,Shoshinsha,1,Silvertop,1,Spark Plugs,5,Speed Cut,1,SpeedArt,2,Sport Rim,1,Spy Shot,3,SR Auto Group,1,Subaru,2,Super Strut,2,Supercharged,2,Team Orange,1,TEIN,3,TEQ,1,Throttle Body,2,Torque Converter,1,Toyoda,1,Toyota,59,Toyota Agya,1,Toyota Agya TRD,1,Toyota Avanza,1,Toyota Camry,1,Toyota Celica,25,Toyota Corolla,4,Toyota Corolla BZR Levin,2,Toyota FT-86,1,Toyota LFA Special,1,Toyota MR2,2,Toyota MRS,1,Toyota Prius,1,Toyota Supra,2,Toyota TE27,1,Toyota VIOS,3,Transparent Cam Pulley,2,TRD,1,TRD. Stance,1,twin pot,1,Type R,1,Underground Racing,1,Varis,1,Video,12,Volkswagen,4,Volkswagen Golf,1,Volkswagen Golf R,1,Volkswagen Jetta,1,Volkswagen Polo,1,Volvo,1,Vorsteiner,1,VR-4,1,VVTL-i,2,Wakaba,1,Works,1,Works Engineering,2,XXX-Performance,1,Yamaha Ami,1,ZZT231,7,
ltr
item
BEN9166: Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #5 - What type of Spark Plugs do you need? Hot or Cold?
Car Knowledge: Spark Plugs Part #5 - What type of Spark Plugs do you need? Hot or Cold?
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ok_wBQVhj1w/XpKe5tmDEyI/AAAAAAAAMAE/4XL8JF6h8N4y3EJoVIObi_BdrfPyefjSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/1280px-Spark_plug_heat.svg.png
https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ok_wBQVhj1w/XpKe5tmDEyI/AAAAAAAAMAE/4XL8JF6h8N4y3EJoVIObi_BdrfPyefjSwCLcBGAsYHQ/s72-c/1280px-Spark_plug_heat.svg.png
BEN9166
https://www.ben9166.com/2020/04/car-knowledge-spark-plugs-part-5-what.html
https://www.ben9166.com/
https://www.ben9166.com/
https://www.ben9166.com/2020/04/car-knowledge-spark-plugs-part-5-what.html
true
3838972938447187754
UTF-8
Loaded All Posts Not found any posts VIEW ALL Readmore Reply Cancel reply Delete By Home PAGES POSTS View All RECOMMENDED FOR YOU LABEL ARCHIVE SEARCH ALL POSTS Not found any post match with your request Back Home Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat January February March April May June July August September October November December Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec just now 1 minute ago $$1$$ minutes ago 1 hour ago $$1$$ hours ago Yesterday $$1$$ days ago $$1$$ weeks ago more than 5 weeks ago Followers Follow THIS PREMIUM CONTENT IS LOCKED STEP 1: Share. STEP 2: Click the link you shared to unlock Copy All Code Select All Code All codes were copied to your clipboard Can not copy the codes / texts, please press [CTRL]+[C] (or CMD+C with Mac) to copy