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Author Topic: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?  (Read 4672 times)

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feeutfo

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #30 on: 07 May 2011, 14:08:50 »
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Also, whilst in there, there was a customer with a Merc V8, just been converted.  It seems they change the plugs at conversion as a matter of course?  He'd not long had it serviced by Merc, who had changed all the plugs, so he was having these newish ones that came out as spares...  ...all 16 of them :o  (2 plugs per cylinder)
Than sense money more.
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Lazydocker

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #31 on: 10 May 2011, 21:14:29 »
What was the decision? I'm putting a little shopping list together for andyc (although he doesn't know yet :-X ::)) and go and collect it all before the end of the month ::)
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TheBoy

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #32 on: 11 May 2011, 16:01:04 »
Bought twins
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Lazydocker

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #33 on: 11 May 2011, 18:05:15 »
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Bought twins

Hmm... I'm placing an order with andyc tomorrow. May as well go for twins too... It's got to be the best compromise and best way to reduce spark shielding :-/
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feeutfo

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #34 on: 11 May 2011, 18:07:21 »
Can someone explane the shielding thing please?
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kcl

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #35 on: 11 May 2011, 18:20:28 »
why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?
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Lazydocker

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #36 on: 11 May 2011, 18:24:25 »
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why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?

We're talking about an alternative fuel here ;) Both the cars in question have (or will have) LPG fitted which demands a stronger spark to ignite :y
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hotel21

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #37 on: 11 May 2011, 18:25:49 »
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Can someone explane the shielding thing please?

The available plug area is only so much.

If there are two electrodes versus four electrodes competing for the available area, the two additional electrodes impinge on the flame front of the other two, despite having a flame/spark of their own.

Thats how I understand it, anyroads....   :-[
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Lazydocker

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #38 on: 11 May 2011, 18:26:40 »
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Can someone explane the shielding thing please?

Basically the spark could potentially be completely inside the hollow of the end of the plug so twins have more open area than quads so less chance of the spark being "hidden" behind the electrodes.

Be interesting to stick quads in one and run a back to back comparison :-/
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aaronjb

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #39 on: 11 May 2011, 20:49:21 »
I think, personally, quads are fitted for longer life only - ISTR reading that the spark will only ever be between the centre electrode and one of the ground electrodes (at any given moment).. So with four grounds presumably you get longer life out of them as they're only hit a quarter of the time?

Then again I always thought it was the centre electrode that wore more (perhaps it wears more evenly)..

Still, I know plenty of cars that seem to hate quad electrode plugs - personally I've only ever fitted good quality copper electrode, single ground NGK plugs in anything I've had (and that includes the 75%-more-power-than-stock turbocharged MR2) and never had a problem.. Granted I haven't done the Omega yet!
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Lazydocker

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #40 on: 11 May 2011, 21:16:40 »
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I think, personally, quads are fitted for longer life only - ISTR reading that the spark will only ever be between the centre electrode and one of the ground electrodes (at any given moment).. So with four grounds presumably you get longer life out of them as they're only hit a quarter of the time?

Then again I always thought it was the centre electrode that wore more (perhaps it wears more evenly)..

Still, I know plenty of cars that seem to hate quad electrode plugs - personally I've only ever fitted good quality copper electrode, single ground NGK plugs in anything I've had (and that includes the 75%-more-power-than-stock turbocharged MR2) and never had a problem.. Granted I haven't done the Omega yet!

I stuck NGK single electrodes into the Omega (after LPGing it) once as a trial and there was no improvement over GM twins that were cheaper ;)

AFAIK you're right about quads being for life, but as I'll be changing them annually anyway I can get away with twins :y
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TheBoy

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #41 on: 11 May 2011, 21:28:21 »
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why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?
To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...
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feeutfo

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #42 on: 11 May 2011, 21:42:33 »
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Quote
why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?
To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...
So twins give 80k life? In theory?

I see the theory on doubling the number of electrodes to spread the wear over 4 instead of two. Got that, that's why i fit quads.

I have trouble understanding how a cylinder full of compressed fuel by a ratio of 11.1 or whatever it is will ignite worse with two extra electrodes.... ? the spark radiates around the four, facing the piston. I don't get it. The flame front starts with spark. Theres nothing between it and the piston crown.

Surely? What am I not seeing ?  :-/
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Lazydocker

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #43 on: 11 May 2011, 21:49:01 »
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Quote
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why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?
To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...
So twins give 80k life? In theory?

I see the theory on doubling the number of electrodes to spread the wear over 4 instead of two. Got that, that's why i fit quads.

I have trouble understanding how a cylinder full of compressed fuel by a ratio of 11.1 or whatever it is will ignite worse with two extra electrodes.... ? the spark radiates around the four, facing the piston. I don't get it. The flame front starts with spark. Theres nothing between it and the piston crown.

Surely? What am I not seeing ?  :-/

Twins give 40k, quads give 80k... In theory ::)

Don't completely understand why it shields it, but that's the theory. In reality I don't really see much difference but as the twins are slightly cheaper and I change them annually I'll go with them :y :y
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aaronjb

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
« Reply #44 on: 11 May 2011, 21:52:32 »
Quote
Quote
Quote
why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?
To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...
So twins give 80k life? In theory?

I see the theory on doubling the number of electrodes to spread the wear over 4 instead of two. Got that, that's why i fit quads.

I have trouble understanding how a cylinder full of compressed fuel by a ratio of 11.1 or whatever it is will ignite worse with two extra electrodes.... ? the spark radiates around the four, facing the piston. I don't get it. The flame front starts with spark. Theres nothing between it and the piston crown.

Surely? What am I not seeing ?  :-/

The ground prongs are the 'shield' between the spark and the piston crown.. The spark is vertical between the centre electrode and a random ground prong, the other three ground prong ends are essentially shielding it from the cylinder.

(Well that's the theory, anyway)
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