Multiple Electrode Spark Plugs - Improved Engine Performance ?
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- Опубліковано 7 гру 2023
- Do multi-electrode spark plugs improve the performance of an engine ?. It is claimed that multi-electrode spark plugs can reduce carbon fouling and are more durable but may have possible performance disadvantages. This video tests spark plugs with a standard single electrode and then double, triple and quadruple electrode spark plugs. This demonstration just shows the sparking of each plug working on a tester but does not demonstrate each plug’s performance in an engine that is running continuously under load over an extended period of time. A research was carried out on the ‘Impact of spark plug number of ground electrodes on engine stability’ which tested the performance of multi-electrode spark plugs in detail. This is a link to the research article: www.sciencedirect.com/science...
Have you tried multi-electrode spark plugs in your vehicle ?. If so, how did they perform in your engine and how would you compare them with the standard single electrode plugs in regards to engine performance and fuel economy etc. ?. Give your thoughts in the comment section below.
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I've used Iridium plugs in every gasser I've owned and a performance increase was definitely noticed. Quicker starts, smoother idle, smoother running, better fuel economy. Highly recommend.
My 2000 GMC 3/4 ton I bought used has about 180K miles on it and it was running perfectly, but since I didn't know when the plugs had been changed, I decided to change them. I was amazed that they were the original plugs. I had never seen plugs so utterly worn out, but the engine ran perfectly with them. I replaced the old plugs with iridium plugs. About the same time I changed my motorcycle's multi electrode plugs for iridium plugs since they were due for a change. In neither my truck or my motorcycle did I notice even the slightest change in mileage, the truck ran exactly the same with the new plugs, but my motorcycle seemed to start easier and run a bit smoother in its mid range. Single electrode Iridium plugs make all the other types superfluous in terms of their long, long, long service life with no change in performance, so why even consider multi electrode plugs with their fake promises?
I’ve tried single and triple electrode plugs in my motorcycles. Never noticed a difference.
Maybe inline 4
Thats because its a gimmick, electricity will always follow the path of least resistance. That means it will only spark across one gap, that had least resistance. Maybe just .0005 closer than other .
You only need one spark eh?
A cheap copper plug with single electrode. 350 vortec runs perfectly also with lpg
Zero electrodes. We had an old machine that burned a little oil in one cylinder. The mechanics cut off the side electrode and called it an oil plug. Never had a problem with misses, using a conventional coil and distributor.
The Mercury 6 cylinder 2 stroke outboard motors we used to race in the seventies had plugs without a side electrode. They were of the "surface gap" type, where the spark jumps from the centre electrode directly across to the body of the plug, effectively using the whole circumference as an electrode.
The good old "Tower of Power"
Yes, but the spark kernel is not consistently placed in the optimum position in the chamber.. if ever
I race 2 stroke drag boats and we still use the center electrode plugs....the last forever, don't foul and there is no worry of dropping the ground strap and wiping out the cylinder. Down side is we can't read them for tuning and use standard plugs for that.
The spark will preferentially jump the shortest gap anyway
That's true
I bought a three electrode for my motorbike(2016) It didn't show much difference so I bought a supercap to go with my battery. That made things feel a bit smoother and better start. I lent my bike to a friend and started it for him. He didn't notice and pressed the starter multiple time. That blew the stator and I got that changed to a more up-to-date one. Then I noticed a big difference and I got a few more mpg. I put a triple for my wife's scooter(2019) and she noticed a difference straight away. Her mpg went from 72 to 80. I bought a dual for my RTR 200(2019) and it runs smoother but my mpg has gone down. 82 to 79mpg.
Absolutely maintenance is the key
These days, unless you have a modified engine or a problem with your engine such as too much fuel injected or oil fouling, the OEM spark plugs should last at least 100,000 miles unless you do a lot of hard towing or similar duty. Over the years I have learned that if the spark plug produces a spark in the cylinder for 99.9% of it's events that's all you can ask for. All of the other specifications like heat range has to do with other things but if the spark happens the fuel will ignite if all else is correct. Stick with OEM plugs because there are no miracle spark plugs. Just like no engine rebuild in a can or that natural cure in a pill form sold on the radio and late night TV.
Way back, I tried Golden Lodge (3 ground electrodes) in my old Mk2 Jaguar. The advantage was they didn't foul and lasted longer than any other type.
It's doesn't improve performance. The only it will do is probably last longer. Also depends on the material of the electrode.
Single electrode plugs are the best. I'm using the Bosch Super 4 currently and found that my car's fuel consumption increases compared to ordinary single electrode plugs used before. I'm planning on going back to single electrode plugs after this
My Honda Civic 1.5L came with single ground electrode spark plugs. I routinely get 50mpg in the summer months. At 100k miles I switched to triple electrodes, and my mpg went down 1-2mpg. I put the old spark plugs back into the engine, and my mpg has returned. The results don't lie.
Mercedes uses two plugs per cylinder and the spark from each plug is staged to ignite sequentially so you get more complete burn of the mixture. Each plug connects to one coil pack that has two separate windings. The staged burn is controlled by the ECM.
I believe Hyundai recently patented a double center electrode spark plug which would be similar to concept of two separate plugs in that each electrode would be ignited sequentially from its own coil pack.
The biggest difference should probably be that the spark gap is horizontal or vertical should affect how the fuel mixture is ignited.
Wow wonderful experiment i ever seen on Spark plugs, great. in my experience i used single and double electrode spark plugs for my motorcycle, i found no difference yet, both are same power. Single elect ahows a little extra mileage too. Its our myth that that more electrodes can offer more power.
Early Alfa Romeos from the 1950's through the 1970's came with Lodge multi point spark plugs from the factory.
Golden Lodge on my Alfa Romeo 75
Multi electrode plugs tend to be favoured by manufacturers where a twin cam engine has a high rpm frequency vibration issue, as a single long electrode can fracture and break off. Also, as you mention multi electrode plugs can "quench" the spark with increased metal area and then engines are more likely to fail the idle emissions tests by not running as smoothly.
No sense in such test. Spark will be different under 10bar pressure.
Thank you for video
Whether or not the spark will jump the gap in
various conditions is dependent on the energy
put out by the ignition system and the size of
the gap, not the plug or number electrodes.
Also, the point of this demonstration is the fact
multiple electrodes serve no purpose, because the
spark will always jump the short gap and there
will Always be a short gap.
Multi electrodes is a scam and Always has been.
Toyota's A series and S series engines, which were launched in the 80s with distributor were upgraded in the 90s to twin coil pack system. This meant one coil firing 2 cylinders, so even the cylinders that are not in the ignition cycle were ignited, in other words spark plugs were firing twice the number of times compared to the distributor system. So Toyota did specify twin electrode plugs on these engines to prolong the life.
I had those engines converted to run on LPG. I tried putting platinum plugs to see and it did misfired from time to time. When twin or triple electrode spark plugs were used, never misfired. This is to do with LPG being difficult fuel to ignite in contrary to popular beliefs. Somehow the very thin platinum plugs' firing tip didn't quite cope well with those engines.
That said, years later running a much modern Mazda L series engine which has one coil per cylinder as with most modern cars, this engine runs well platinum plugs even running on LPG.
So the bottom line is, multiple electrode plugs do not necessarily give performance but do give reliable sparks and durability. However these factors are not much of an issue as platinum and more lately, the iridium plugs have covered these areas which conventional plugs struggled in the past.
As a regular user i notice no difference between these types, not even in performance or petrol consumption. Replacement time might have an influence.
I used Bosch twin ground electrode plugs in my Mk4 Astra several years ago as that was what Vauxhall recommended. They worked fine with no issues.
Personally I don't see a need for multi ground electrode plugs - their claim of a more reliable/stronger spark is negligible (at best)
Iridium or Platinum single ground electrode plugs are ideal.
I have used e3 and Bosh spark plugs with multiple grounds. The vehicle seemed to run and idle smoother.
I half gap conventional plugs and get a noticeable gain. Its all about unshrouding the spark and eliminating indexing. (Look up side gapping)
Years ago I compared brand new factory type plugs in my turbo 2.3 then Splitfires and there was a noticeable difference.
The last 25 years I half gap and easily get 25k+ service with these '90s high energy ignitions.
Other installations using MSD boxes are amazing.
Helpful information so thanks for posting☝️
You're welcome !
Lets dope all those plugs in radium and repeat the tests 😺👍
Yes I've used multi electrode plugs. Seemingly no difference in performance but I believe them to be longer lasting and it must prevent fouling as it ages at least somewhat.
I'll switch to just twin electrodes after seeing this however. Thanks for the showing.
Side note, most aircraft piston engine spark plugs use multiple ground electrodes like this. It could be similar to why most aircraft systems are redundant, have backups. Av gas still has lead in it, but they are currently working on developing and changing to unleaded Av gas, so multiple ground electrodes might help keep the plugs firing as they get built up with lead deposits. IDK for sure here, I'm speculating on that...
I was going to post the same thing, but of course spark plugs in the aviation industry are called igniters. Plus aircraft engines have 2 plugs per cylinder.
Precision gapping is tedious and limited. Spark will jump the closest gap, and as it wears it will seak the closest gap.
AP,AI, engineer here.
Very interesting. Thanks!
Thanks for watching !
Very informative video
Thanks for watching !
I’ve used multi electrode spark plugs for years. I’ve never had any problems with them
I used them on a few different cars over the years and didn't really find much of a difference in performance.
Have two ground Bosch platinum,can't tell any difference in engine operation but have not had any problem with either these or the original plugs (coil on plug 4.7)
I am currently using NGK triple electrode, and i am very satisfied. They were roughly 6€ a piece. Car is gasoline Lancia Kappa 2.0 5 cylinder VIS engine 114kw.
That's a good price for them !
In my 1972 Mercedes 250CE it eas smell from exhoust of unburned fuel so i got 4 electrode Bosch spark plugs snd thsy done job. No more smell of unburned fuel from exhoust. Thay did job right.
Whatever fun you might have:
Volvo 5 and 6 cylinder turbo engines only works with original Volvo spark plugs.
Unless you want to change plugs every 20.000 miles.. :-)
I have owned a number of the 2.5T2's and tried to use other brands, but they just did not keep up to the 100.000 mile /160.000 km requirements,
Multi prong plugs maybe good for preventing fouling. But a hotter plug or finding the cause of the fouling is the best. I tried platium and didn't like them at all. Loss of power. Iridium is the way to go. If you only want to change the plugs once. I put copper plugs in my hemi and took out the iridium plugs. After 30k miles when I have to change them again I am putting the old plugs back in. And never have to mess with them again.
Ano ba maganda gamitin sa mga spurplug...tanong kulang po.
I've got my Dad's old AC aircraft sparkplug cleaner tester that uses compressed air from your air compressor to clean plugs with blasting media and to test sparkplugs under pressure, to somewhat simulate firing under compression. I haven't used it to clean plugs much because I don't have much of and don't know exactly what kind of media it's supposed to use. That and with unleaded fuels nowadays our ground vehicles don't get the lead buildup anymore the machine was designed to clean. It works alright for testing though, as I've found many bad & fouled sparkplugs with it. Anyway I've tested some E3 plugs with it and they test similarly to what we've seen here. I'd say multiple ground electrode plugs may be alright in that they may last a bit longer because when one electrode wears back the spark would then jump to a different one and so on as they wear back and keep the gap more consistent. Otherwise I don't see a significant advantage with them. IMHO
I had e3 plugs cause a misfire in a low mileage engine. I wouldn't recommend them to anyone.
Far as I'm concerned e3 plugs are a joke I can make more power and better mpg out of the cheapest autolite plugs, autolite has never failed me yet
Single i use instead of 3 electrode denso original plug bur snall missing was in engine but it gone with single electrode ngk.
I used bosch platinum plus 4 in a 92 honda civic . It felt like it added 30 horsepower. At least the car was much faster then factory. It got great gas mileage. And much quicker performance.
You must be totally delusional!
Isn’t the effect they are going for with side electrodes is to give the spark unobstructed pathway to the gas? An old trick drag racers used back in the day was to trim the ground strap back to expose the hot electrode spark without the ground strap blocking it. Multiple grounds would help with the wear caused by the spark hitting the edge of the electrode and burning it down faster, multiple grounds would spread that faster wear around the whole perimeter of the electrode
A faísca vai promover a ignição, então use uma vela de ignição adequada e boa para o seu projeto.
A vela de ignição não vai promover mais força, isso você vai conseguir ajustando o ponto de ignição...
best alloy durability iridium-platinum or iridium-iridium at cathode and anode. fine tip for strong spark power.
Found a small difference from single point spark plugs when changed over to iridium plugs
This test does nothing but show the coil producing the spark can jump the plug gap in atmospheric pressure. It doesn't show if different styles of spark plugs make a difference in engine performance. In order to see if different style spark plugs make a difference in engine performance is to put those plugs in a cylinder that's under pressure and air/fuel mixture.
Whether or not the spark will jump the gap in
various conditions is dependent on the energy
put out by the ignition system and the size of
the gap, not the plug or number electrodes.
Also, the point of this demonstration is the fact
multiple electrodes serve no purpose, because the
spark will always jump the short gap and there
will Always be a short gap.
Multi electrodes is a scam and Always has been.
Would also need a way to visualize the flame kernel propagation over time from spark with the different spark plugs under compression pressure
I've got my Dad's old AC aircraft sparkplug cleaner tester that uses compressed air from your air compressor to clean plugs with blasting media and to test sparkplugs under pressure, to somewhat simulate firing under compression. I haven't used it to clean plugs much because I don't have much of and don't know exactly what kind of media it's supposed to use. That and with unleaded fuels nowadays our ground vehicles don't get the lead buildup anymore the machine was designed to clean. It works alright for testing though, as I've found many bad & fouled sparkplugs with it. Anyway I've tested some E3 plugs with it and they test similarly to what we've seen here. I'd say multiple ground electrode plugs may be alright in that they may last a bit longer because when one electrode wears back the spark would then jump to a different one and so on as they wear back and keep the gap more consistent. Otherwise I don't see a significant advantage with them. IMHO
Massive electrode spark plugs are more reliable - that’s why aircraft use them.
I use the manufacturer recommended type. They have 2 grounds.
It looks like with more than one troad is fighting each other for the power
Used diamond plugs in 350 Chevy very. Pleased
You forgot to mention that the multi electrode plugs can't be gapped. Might be ok on newer engines, but it is critical on older ignotion systems for the longevity of the coil, points, and condenser. Too much gap will cause shorter part life because of the extra energy needed to jump a longer gap.
How do you even gap those multiples? If an ignition only throws one spark per revolution per cylinder, that's all you get. Something like an MSD box will give you multiples.
Yes, the MSD will give multiple sparks and the multiple sparks
will jump the shortest gap. So, even then, the multiple electrodes
are doing nothing for you. There is no distribution system in the plug.
Electric sparks erode metal. It evens out.
What good plug for honda civic ek3 1999
Ngk iridium
Except for engines designed for "surface electrode plugs" (like my old 1800cc Alfa-Romeo Spyder and a few Benz's), the short answer is NO! Today's swill fuels have been "compensated for" by electronic ignitions. A can of Berryman B-12 or Seafoam every 20,000 miles in the tank does MUCH more good FAR cheaper than fancy plugs. A few odd-engine are designed for "multiple electrode plugs" so you should replace with the RECOMMENDED plug. My 1995 VW EuroVan has the I-5 (gas) with auto tranny and requires a twin electrode BERU-ONLY plug.
Pay more for more prongs and electricity will always go to the most direct flow! Just use single prong best plug to get! I've tried multi prongs in my supercharged engine and they make the engine misfire everytime! Have never had any good results from, them and will always use single prong plugs.
i had splitfire spark plugs on pontaic 1990 grand prix. it burns clean and abit faster likeadd 10-15 horsepower.
The simple and proven answer is :NO!
For a car that is doodoo - for an airplane yes I can see the extra cost, but a car, standard plugs are fine.
How many Sparks Per Second Does the Average Vehicle make?
My cat says
In a conventional 4 stroke single cylinder engine a spark occurs every 2 revolutions of the crankshaft ..so 1000rpm means it sparks 500 times per minute, therefore we can meowsume :
Unit of Spark per second :
( 0.5 x engine rpm) ➗️ 60
So we can conclude for an engine revving 1000rpm the spark plug sparks 8.33 times per second
😺👍
Ok..Always consider Heat Range on the spark plug you choose to apply on your engine...If your application calls for a single or dual electrode from the factory..Just check the heat ranges for this application..Cold ranges can only gas fowl..Too Hot of a range will burn hole in piston from detonation..$$$$ Bosch platinum 4 electrodes spark plugs are the worst..Heat range will cause damage as explained..
of course in fuel air mixture that spark is different
I have used surface gap, gold, dual gap, platinum and clean used standard plugs in my motorcycles and find only a price difference.
I used brisk in a honda cr 250 , very good spark plugs !
I hade a Renault megane 1 whit 4 pin and that whas really good answer better on accelerate and even drunk less ye ofc not whit a heavy right foot haha
Logic would dictate that, shy of a high energy ignition source, dividing the spark between multiple electrodes would reduce performance.
Are you referring to the myth mentioned at 2:58 ? The spark is not splitting between multiple electrodes, it just has a number of electrodes to choose from when closing the circuit, that option provides a longer life for the spark plug. Only one electrode bridges the spark at each sparking cycle. Also 4 prong spark plugs usually come with enlarged gaps (such as 1.4mm or 1.6mm) which can provide a larger flame kernel when equipped with a high performance ignition system.
I have not. Anyways, very interesting video thanks a lot!!!
Thanks for watching!
They make no difference in gasoline mileage. My factory plugs lasted 140,000 miles came out clean but with a bit larger gap. Put the original Ford plugs from dealer again. This will be my last change I bet.
Multi electrode spark plugs have been around for a Very long time.
I believe, they began selling in the back ad pages of magazines like
Popular Mechanics and such. I've never used them. I just had a feeling
there was "something" hinky about them. Here, you have demonstrated the kink.
Even if you have a multi spark system, the multiple electrodes do nothing for
you and no matter to what tolerances they are made, one gap will Always
be shorter than the others. Modern ignition systems are giving you all the
spark you need. So, just stick with iridium or platinum plugs, for longer
life, of the plugs, and you will be fine. Multi electrode is just a scam. 😁✌🖖
👍
Thanks !
I put split fires in my nova. Ran like 💩
Will cost you money, thats all.
Is even worst then one elektrode.
This because it needs more energy to build 's spark.
Besides that, yoy will never see two elektrodes spark simultaniously.
What will improve ignition is a smaller area that needs to be charged. Next to that a more pointy elektrode will spark at a lower voltage already, therefore easier.
Next thing that helps is a thinner elektrode, because it will be less of an obstruction for the mixture to reach the spark.
So, in the end, only the iridium plug is the better one because of its way thinner electrode
I tried the e3 plugs in a Fiesta that only had about 20k miles on it. Within a few months my check engine light started blinking. I immediately changed back to the factory plugs and it went away. NEVER BUY e3. They are trash.
I found in some vehicles that have four valves per cylinder the Bosch four plugs will make more horsepower.
Daihatsu Terios 1.3 engine uses twin electrode spark plugs, my Audi quattro uses triple electrode spark plugs.
Works better if you put snake oil in your engine.
Best spark plugs are with 6 poles
Just stick with your models factory spark plugs.
You vehicle is designed for them
Don't waste your money on gimmicks
Multiple ground strap plugs are shown
Spark plugs burn fuel .I can't find reason 3or 4 .One spark is inaf
Its for wearing slower, double the material means double the life time
@@foxy126pl6: That is not how they are, or ever have been, marketed.
Well, actually spark plugs light the combustion mixture, in other words they start the combustion burn. But so in that way I suppose you could say they burn fuel yeah. Ha!
Thot they were only used to start a motor not keep it going
That's only in diesel engines.
@@stephenperrone8694in diesel they're glow plugs that pre-head the piston chamber air to ease the detonation, you can even start a diesel engine with all glow plugs broken during summer.
I have Bosch platinum 4 in my Porsche 928S V8 with close to 200K miles I replaced them in 2003 . No problem.