The first one, known as the dwell period, is pretty important, as the longer it is, the more power you get in the second circuit. This steps up the power from a mere 12V to around 40kV using two circuits, called windings. The CoilĪ massive voltage, generated by the coil, creates the spart at the end of the plug. Incorrectly seated plugs will sap about 40 percent of your power.Ĭheck out our spark plugs guide for more info on plugs.Ĭoil upgrades are usually seen on older engines. Check your car’s manual for the proper tightening sequence, but don’t overdo it. There are two types: ones with washers (flat seat) and ones without (tapered). Generally, you should make sure that your plugs are seated properly. However, this could indicate that your plugs are too cold. New plugs will have had less chance to foul up and will be a certain colour – you won’t tell much from black, carbon-choked plugs. However, this is only truly effective with new ones and a hard drive of about 500–1000 miles. But, if you’re that into plugs, you can tell a lot about how your engine is running and performing by ‘reading’ them. Don’t clean them with a wire brush or a sandblasting machine, as you’ll cause contamination (leading to shorts) or trapped abrasive (which can potentially damage the bores). Spark plugs generally last about 20,000 miles, but you should be checking them at every service interval. A more compressed charge generally requires less spark duration, because it’s more combustible, although inevitably there are exceptions. Again, a lower performing engine generally needs a bigger gap for the same reasons. Plugs gapped correctly create optimum performance. However, this is an area that you will need to consult your engine tuner about, as what needs doing will vary according to the modifications you’ve made. Then, you generally need colder plugs, which means they’ll transfer heat away much faster. You can see that if you raise the temperature within the combustion chamber by increasing the compression ratio (CR). Colder plugs that are correctly gappedīut you can also help with your plugs – a low-performance engine generally requires hotter plugs, since it needs to retain heat to provide a more efficient burn. This is why we install stuff like more efficient cooling systems and alloy heads. This additional heat needs to dissipate quickly to avoid overheating. However, if you increase performance, the engine’s operating temperature also rises. This is obviously calculated with your engine’s standard level of performance in mind. Your plugs will operate within a heat range. In a modern car, that figure is likely to be 40kV or more, and generated by the coil. This requires a minimum of 14,000V, or 14kV, of electricity. The plug provides the spark, which jumps an air gap from its central electrode to its earth. The easiest and most logical place to start is the spark plugs. Tracing a misfire can be a real headache. It can happen on a standard car, of course, but another likely cause is that you’ve tuned your engine and your components don’t match. The most common ignition fault scenario is that jerking, coughing, and spluttering sensation that drives everyone nuts. Plugs operate within a certain heat range. However, it does help to know what the old stuff did in order to understand why modern systems are better. Hence, there’s a lot less ‘stuff’ in a modern ignition system than there used to be. In turn, making the whole system more efficient and reliable. Although the fundamentals of spark production haven’t changed dramatically over the years, manufacturers have concentrated on removing mechanical discrepancies. The thing is, there’s a million ways to do the job. This pushes the piston back down the bore, turning the crank, and everyone knows you need a spark to do this. That, plus the ability to ignite that combustible charge at the correct time. The fundamentals of any petrol engine are an ideal ratio of air to fuel. You never know, you might discover power you didn’t know you had! With this in mind, we thought we’d take a look at the essentials of ignition systems. Of course, you can bypass this agony by swotting up first. Then it becomes a case of learning very quickly and trying to put it right. That’s until you get a misfire, or worse, a melted piston due to too much ignition and not enough fuel. Many people pay no attention to their ignition system, whether it’s a modified car with a tuned engine or not, until something goes wrong. Find out how to keep it running sweet with our in-depth guide. Neglecting your car’s ignition system can mean losing power.
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