Post by khantyranitar on Feb 14, 2012 2:24:03 GMT -5
We run ngk in all our race car stuff... I'd bet a couple boxes of spark plugs there's more ngk and auto lite spark plugs in high horse power cars than any other plug on the market.
We prefer ngks because they are a little more forgiving than the thick ground strap of an autolite
Just my .02
how many 2.3 turbos do you race?
everyone and their mother may be running NGKs for all i care, however it is WELL documented on numerous boards and among any one who has owned a ford 2.3 powered vehicle that it is best to stick to motorcraft brand ignition stuff. And if that bet pertains to 2.3 turbos ( we are on a 2.3 turbo board after all) I will take you up on it.
I have to disagree with that assessment, as that sounds a little more like fear than logic. It is the general consensus that you can't go wrong with Motorcraft parts, this is true. And many who have used plugs other than Motorcraft have had issues. However, the reason is not that simple.
There are many factors that can make a spark plug suitable or not suitable for a vehicle. These factors include, heat range, gap, displacement, presentation, reach, etc. If you get some of these factors wrong, then you can meet with less than satisfactory results with even the finest product.
Lets start with the facts
Fact #1: Motorcraft does not make spark plugs. Motorcraft is a brand name created by Ford as a purchasing, quality control company. Most of the stuff sold under the Motorcraft name is either parts made by Ford, or parts made by a third party to Ford specifications. This brand was created so that a consumer can buy a Motorcraft part and know that it meets Fords design specifications for their vehicle.
Fact#2: The original Motorcraft plugs used in North American fords of that vintage are made by Autolite. While Autolite has changed hands numbers times, and some will argue that they have had quality issues with Autolites, I have never had anything but good luck with them, on the condition that the right ones are used. Autolite does in fact sell the same plug they make for Motorcraft to the public under a different part number.
Fact #3: There are other brand plugs that also meet Ford specifications, even though they are not used by Motorcraft. This is an area that can get a little touchy, but with a little homework, you can sort things out. NGK is a Japanese auto parts manufacturer. Even though they did not make the original plugs for our vehicles, NGK does in fact make some plugs for Ford currently, particularly through Fords partnership with Mazda. NGK because of this partnership, does in fact make some plugs, that though of a different design, that are equivalent to the Autolites used in our Fords.
Fact #4: Autolite and NGK are the most widely used spark plugs in performance applications. Both brands are well suited to the strict requirements of the OEM ignition system, both brands have excellent spark presentation, both have consistent heat ranges, both produce an excellent spark, both have excellent product consistency, both have about the same displacement, and both are used as OEM by Ford.
Fact #5: The use of proper materials can make a difference, regardless of the part brand. I learned this from fellow forum members here. I had always assumed, incorrectly, that a platinum plug was equivalent to a copper plug in most way except that it was more durable and longer lasting. The truth is that even if the heat range is the same, under the high heat and pressure of a turbocharged engine's combustion chamber, platinum plugs will develop hot spot and are easier to quench than a standard copper plug. This means that under boost, the spark can be extinguished, or can be suppressed until it fires too late. So misfires under high RPM and higher boost can kill performance. But even if these misfires can be controlled, the hot platinum tip can cause pinging and detonation, which can at the least also hurt performance, and at the worst can cause serious engine damage. For these reasons, use either a good copper plug, and just accept that you will had ego recap or replace the plugs more often, or you can run iridium plugs, which do have minor benefits over copper in performance, and can have major advantages in longevity. I currently am running copper plugs in my TC.
Fact #6: Many people will develop a positive or negative opinion on a brand without installing it properly. I always check the gap on new spark plugs, instead of assuming they come gapped properly, but many people just install them however they come in the box, and it may not be right for their engine. If one were to install an out of the box plug and have bad results with it an share that opinion, well thats not really factual is it.
I have used both Autolites and NGKs in several of my Fords, with excellent results with both. I have used Bosch and Standard with terrible results. The standards are just plain cheap and incorrectly speced. They might be a good plug in the right application. I have also used Champion, but not in a Ford, Champions were OE in a Dodge. I used Autolites in the same Dodge with better results. So what makes these different brands work or not work? I have already explained the Autolite and NGK. Bosch has incorrect heat range (the posted heat range and actual heat range can be different), incorrect displacement (the insulator takes up more space in the chamber, enough to possibly alter the compression ratio slightly), and poor presentation (what good is a spark if the mixture is not fully exposed to it, Bosch often shrouds the tip in porcelain). In addition, the exotic plugs, like twin electrode or quad electrode designs, only further shroud the spark, and can further alter the displacement. this is much of why Bosch plugs are not recommended in Fords. The Standards and Champions are not made to Ford specs. Denso might work, but I have not seen too many reviews praising them or recommending them on Fords. ACDelco or Delphi are made to GM specs, not Ford specs. They might be a quality product, they just aren't right for our Fords. Autolite made the original Ford parts, and NGK is equivalent, maybe even better. Stick with the trusted ones.
Back onto other forums saying that non-Oe plugs are just bad, you have to remember, these are forums, and like any forum, you will find lots of opinions, and often little fact. Even if someone is right or wrong, they may not be able to tell you why. It is true that going with OE parts is usually a safe bet. But in some situations, they can be better parts than OE, especially if you alter the vehicle to operate outside the factory parameters, like increased boost.
It was asked why use a colder plug? Colder plugs as the name implies, run colder. the colder plug is less prone to create hot spots, which could possibly pre ignite the mixture and cause pinging or detonation. If you increase boost, you can run a colder plug. It may or may not be needed. So why not always run a cold plug? Too cold a plug and it can develop deposits too easily and the plug can foul out. You need it to run hot enough to keep itself clean.
Spark blow out is usually related to how strong the coil is and the spark gap versus the compression. Air is an insulator. It does not like to allow electrical current through it. In fact a total vacuum will allow electricity to jump a gap through it a little more easily that dry air will. So as you compress more air into the cylinder, it takes more energy to jump the gap. So if your gap is too large, the spark will blow out, or in other words, it either won't jump the gap, or it won't be a strong spark. To avoid plug blow out, you can either run a higher voltage coil, or you can reduce the gap. Material conductivity can affect his as well. Copper and iridium are both excellent conductors, so plugs made from those materials can just the gap a little easier than plugs that are made from platinum.
If I have made any mistakes, incorrect wording, or false statements, let me know, we are all in this to learn and share what we learn, and I want to learn more about such things whenever I can, and if I am still making incorrect assumptions, I would rather be corrected than to continue making those assumptions.