Dual ground electrode spark plugs

[Kitt]

Can anyone tell me if the dual ground electrode spark plugs will consume more fuel than the single ground electrode?



cheers-

[jeff_o]

Can anyone tell me if the dual ground electrode spark plugs will consume more fuel than the single ground electrode?



cheers-

I don't think so.. i believe it will just optimize combustion. some say will give more power becuase of 2 sparks than 1.

[johnnyfive]

it may consume a small amount more fuel, but only fuel that would have been thrown out the tail pipe anyways...and that may not even be the case at all...would be more than likley that there will be no difference without a different spark program...

[Teruyume]

Voltage always trying to find the easiest path to ground, a duel electrode plug still won't fire 2 spark at a time it will just find 1 path.

when compairing a brand new single or duel electrode plug they have totally exactly identical performance, but when it's aging carbon build up wearing of the point happens, the duel will tend to have double the life cuz spark doesn't just occuring at the same tip.

[07WYarisRS]

he's right

there will not be any powergain
however proper plug indexing may be a problem and the 2nd ground strap may block the spark more then with a single ground strap plug.

IMO use a fine wire plug like an iridium or platinum and don't worry about the hype from other plug designs

[jeff_o]

he's right

there will not be any powergain
however proper plug indexing may be a problem and the 2nd ground strap may block the spark more then with a single ground strap plug.

IMO use a fine wire plug like an iridium or platinum and don't worry about the hype from other plug designs

how does iridium or platinum help? they don't corrode easily? they're all metals though.

[Teruyume]

platinum last about 100K iridium last about 150k but either of them won't have any different when they are brand new.

anyway if u want a stronger spark u have to get a better ignitor, plug's won't do u much

[07WYarisRS]

how does iridium or platinum help? they don't corrode easily? they're all metals though.

The more dense the metal the less power is lost, and the less the wear on the electrodes. Less power loss = stronger spark. The more efficient the plug the easier it is on the rest of the electrical system.,
Iridium displaces heat better then standard copper core or platinum plugs so there is far less chance of plug errosion, spacing and insulator seperation, gapping and cracking etc. And this better heat displacement also helps eliminate hot spots in the combustion chambers that can cause pre-ignition/detonation.
Most important is the firing tip design. The Fine wire design allows the plug to maintain a sharp crisp edge for sure fire ignition everytime. With standard firing tips one the firing tip is worn and lost its sharp edges the spark becomes erratic.

Performance wise there is very little performance gains between NEW standard copper, platinum and iridium plugs, however over time with iridium plugs you maintain the performance where copper core plugs start to wear out. Most Copper core plug firing tips round off and start to wear to the point of needing replacment around 8-10,000 miles.
With iridium plugs every 100,000 miles

[LittleRed]

As much as pluse plugs are contriversal...i took out the original iridium tip plugs and put the pulse plugs in...the 1st set ended up having a flaw in it< apparently the insulator was too thin where the capacitor is..causing the insulator to burn up..the flaw is corrected now>..and someone said that it burns up coils...well i have had them for 20k now..have had no problems and can definately tell a difference..as i had to put the original ones back in until i got the replacement plugs from pulseplug..i put the new set in..and can tell a big difference in power..

[mimelio]

I used Bosch +4 plugs in a friends 2002 Echo and it actually gave it more punch (slightly) and a bit better gas mileage I changed them out for NGK Iridium plugs (on sale with rebate) after 50,000 miles with no problems.

http://www.powersparks.co.uk/images/plugs/closeplug.jpg

[TheSilkySmooth]

Multiple electrode designs are for old mechanical distributer/coil ignition aircraft for failsafe reasons. They will have LOWER performance than the OEM Ir plugs and may even damage the ignition system. They are crap. Basch platinum and multi electrode plugs are crap. Their Standard copper electrode plugs are excellent for older applications. Like Dads 396 Camaro or Moms 429 Ford LTD.

[TheSilkySmooth]

I used Bosch +4 plugs in a friends 2002 Echo and it actually gave it more punch (slightly) and a bit better gas mileage I changed them out for NGK Iridium plugs (on sale with rebate) after 50,000 miles with no problems.
Usually any car will respond to new plugs unless the heat range is way off or the electrode gap is off. One month down the road will tell a bigger tale. The ford dual-ended coil resonant ignition will spark the bosch plug - the toyota tiny coils will be toast. They NEED an easy to spark plug and the Ir fit the bill. Ir with small electrodes is biggest advance in plug design in 100 years. I racing we MADE our own plugs. Big secret - can't say anymore or Dick Childress will kill me ... :eek:

[mimelio]

Usually any car will respond to new plugs unless the heat range is way off or the electrode gap is off. One month down the road will tell a bigger tale. The ford dual-ended coil resonant ignition will spark the bosch plug - the toyota tiny coils will be toast. They NEED an easy to spark plug and the Ir fit the bill. Ir with small electrodes is biggest advance in plug design in 100 years. I racing we MADE our own plugs. Big secret - can't say anymore or Dick Childress will kill me ... :eek:

Performance isn't as good with the new Iridium plugs...I have a couple friends one ran his Echo 150,000 miles on +4's and the other over 200,000 on his Tercel with no issues.

[TheSilkySmooth]

Performance isn't as good with the new Iridium plugs...I have a couple friends one ran his Echo 150,000 miles on +4's and the other over 200,000 on his Tercel with no issues.

Whats in there, NGK or Denso Ir? Didnt the Tercel have dual coil ignitor?

Dyno chart or three 1/4mil runs back to back with New Ir vs New Bosch +4? OTW its all seat of the pants. Really I cant complain about seat of the Pants especially if they are size 6 Tight Jeans with holes:redface:

BAck to reality, Hey if you want MORE power and you did some mods like CAI and maybe header or fart can: go one Heat range COLDER (like 6 vs 5 in NGK) and file back GND electrode the open the gap another 0.1mm

[YarisSedan]

Multiple electrode designs are for old mechanical distributer/coil ignition aircraft for failsafe reasons. They will have LOWER performance than the OEM Ir plugs and may even damage the ignition system. They are crap. Basch platinum and multi electrode plugs are crap. Their Standard copper electrode plugs are excellent for older applications. Like Dads 396 Camaro or Moms 429 Ford LTD.


Yeah i totally agree with you. My shop has boxes of boxes of bosch platinum crap plugs. The car will run but till have problems later. Usually resulting in missfires. Only shops that want comebacks use bosch plugs. Only car that seems to like them is maybe volkswagon. For import cars NGK and Denso are the way to go. Ever car i have ever changed a burnt out coil on when i remove the plug is always something that the car wasnt designed to run on a non oem plug. Like when people try to stick a autolite in a honda when its meant to run in a ford. And then wonder why they ahve problems later. Stay away from all those split fire fancy spark plugs you see for sale or on display at your auto parts store they are just gimmiks to get backyard mechanics to fall for them.

Stick to what is known to be true and good oem parts. Electricity is lazy. Meaning it will take the path of least resistance. Dosnt matter how many prongs there are if one is slightly bent cause it was dropped or just that way from the factory the spark will ignore all other prongs and jump that gap. I mean i guess someone figured well if one gap is good 2 must be better then someone decided well if 2 is good lets double it then 4 prongs will beat that manufactures plug! Whats next 8 prongs?


If you are worried just change your spark plugs early like every 75k miles. That wil linsure a clean electrode tip and proper gap consistantly. The plugs are our cars are so increadibly easy to change.

[TheSilkySmooth]

A lot of this plug non-sense is from aircraft ignition problems and Failsafe engineering. Many non-injected aircraft engines have a lean-rich mixture controller with exhaust heat readout and if you run a lean condition too long you may end up toasting a plug and then toasting yourself a few minutes later (the fall isnt bad its the pavement that hurts the most). The electrode redundancy is to keep you flying ( or on boats to get you to shore) . OTW the less crap shrouding the centre electrode the lower the misfire rate.