Platinum Plugs or Not - A Dyno Run to see the difference...
Discussion
Hi,
I have my 3rd Dyno Set-up booked with Mark Adams for this Thursday at Mech Repairs (Cheltenham)and I will run up there from Poole on the standard NGK Plugs and then once everything sorted I will get Mark to replace with the new Iridium, get hot and the re-run to see if there is any difference....
I have read lots about the Pros & Cons of Platinum\Iridium Plugs and I thought that this may help with the opinions...
Yes, the 3rd Dyno Set-up, long story but all I can say that Mark Adams, Brian at Mech Repairs and Andy at Dorset Sports Cars have finally got my TVR driving as it
Main lessons learnt:
Get a Water Temp/Pressure
Fuel Temp/Pressure
Compression Test
Leak Down Test - ...and in hindsight for me the most important a 'Proper' test ('Proper' being allowing the engine to cool down between tests...)
All done locally by garage with a good reputation which I now have found in Dorset with Andy at Dorset Sports Cars!
The full story to date:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
More to follow but I have to say that my ear's are ringing with comments from one of the TVR Veterans (On the TVRCC Forum - which should be free but I pay for to Support the Club) who very bluntly told me to stop buying and replacing parts to work out what is wrong!
I guess as my 500 is a hobby and a release from my very logical IT job I love the gamble of not knowing what adventures (AA Recovery) that we are going find ourselves doing, but after 6 years of ownership he has always got me home, even if only on 5 cylinders! (After some leads I bought from ebay popped off... Yes I know: ebay...)
I see my TVR as fun, and everyone else I know all make jokes about the reliability and problems but they have never owned one...
Regards
Steve
Poole, Dorset
I have my 3rd Dyno Set-up booked with Mark Adams for this Thursday at Mech Repairs (Cheltenham)and I will run up there from Poole on the standard NGK Plugs and then once everything sorted I will get Mark to replace with the new Iridium, get hot and the re-run to see if there is any difference....
I have read lots about the Pros & Cons of Platinum\Iridium Plugs and I thought that this may help with the opinions...
Yes, the 3rd Dyno Set-up, long story but all I can say that Mark Adams, Brian at Mech Repairs and Andy at Dorset Sports Cars have finally got my TVR driving as it
Main lessons learnt:
Get a Water Temp/Pressure
Fuel Temp/Pressure
Compression Test
Leak Down Test - ...and in hindsight for me the most important a 'Proper' test ('Proper' being allowing the engine to cool down between tests...)
All done locally by garage with a good reputation which I now have found in Dorset with Andy at Dorset Sports Cars!
The full story to date:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
More to follow but I have to say that my ear's are ringing with comments from one of the TVR Veterans (On the TVRCC Forum - which should be free but I pay for to Support the Club) who very bluntly told me to stop buying and replacing parts to work out what is wrong!
I guess as my 500 is a hobby and a release from my very logical IT job I love the gamble of not knowing what adventures (AA Recovery) that we are going find ourselves doing, but after 6 years of ownership he has always got me home, even if only on 5 cylinders! (After some leads I bought from ebay popped off... Yes I know: ebay...)
I see my TVR as fun, and everyone else I know all make jokes about the reliability and problems but they have never owned one...
Regards
Steve
Poole, Dorset
Hi Matt,
Enjoy the car when you pick it up, Mark is a busy guy but all I can say is that it was worth the wait for me!
If you PM me your mobile I will ask Mark to call you to book in when I am with him on Thursday.
I think you will be intrigued by his analytic 'manner' when it comes to an engine, it would be fair to say I was expecting him to put on a White Jacket, Stethoscope to peer over his glasses when he started working...
Any more GoPro footage?
I recently convinced myself that I needed the new version, still in the box as I have not had a chance to use it yet...
I will update later this week.
Regards
Steve
Enjoy the car when you pick it up, Mark is a busy guy but all I can say is that it was worth the wait for me!
If you PM me your mobile I will ask Mark to call you to book in when I am with him on Thursday.
I think you will be intrigued by his analytic 'manner' when it comes to an engine, it would be fair to say I was expecting him to put on a White Jacket, Stethoscope to peer over his glasses when he started working...
Any more GoPro footage?
I recently convinced myself that I needed the new version, still in the box as I have not had a chance to use it yet...
I will update later this week.
Regards
Steve
Hi,
A good afternoon with Mark Adams at Mech Repairs on the Dyno, and finally my 500 is running like a dream!
So, the White Line is new NGK Iridium Plugs and the Red line was the standard NGK Plugs.
Mark did point out that the only way to properly test these Plugs were be to use 2 sets of new plugs, the standard NGK's that were replaced had less than 200 miles on them!
Both Brian and Mark predicted that the new plugs would be down on power, this being based on their experience but within 50 miles they would be where they should be, something to do with heat and the spark 'shaping' a least path of resistance between the Centre Electrode and Ground Electrode...
Dyno Runs:
http://youtu.be/ZBAOxOaZhpE
http://youtu.be/5sdSgXUpuHA
A good afternoon with Mark Adams at Mech Repairs on the Dyno, and finally my 500 is running like a dream!
So, the White Line is new NGK Iridium Plugs and the Red line was the standard NGK Plugs.
Mark did point out that the only way to properly test these Plugs were be to use 2 sets of new plugs, the standard NGK's that were replaced had less than 200 miles on them!
Both Brian and Mark predicted that the new plugs would be down on power, this being based on their experience but within 50 miles they would be where they should be, something to do with heat and the spark 'shaping' a least path of resistance between the Centre Electrode and Ground Electrode...
Dyno Runs:
http://youtu.be/ZBAOxOaZhpE
http://youtu.be/5sdSgXUpuHA
Edited by A500TVR on Friday 8th March 08:29
Hi,
'ChimpOnGas'
It is one of the issues of Forums, which is why I always try to be very careful what I write, I am not a motor mechanic or engine expert, I just like cars, but to date I have had more positives with direction, help and advice to get my TVR sorted!
The next Tread I was thinking about was about the Evans Waterless Coolant, before and after, I have already bought it and the Prep Fluid (not filled with it yet), fitted Flow and Return sensors to the Radiator piping connected to a SPA Temperature/Temperature Gauge, Black Bezel, White Face, Blue Led, fitted under the Dash near the Dash Light Switch, it can be programmed to do loads of stuff, the most important to me is to Flash Red and if connected Sound and Alarm!
http://www.spa-uk.co.uk/%28S%28pewrap21rumielurdpu...
As I have just replaced my Cam and most of the Top-End I am worried about any possible overheating thinning the oil and making everything just get 'expensive', so I am going to fit one of these...
http://www.spa-uk.co.uk/%28S%28g0jcyp4lzdt5exo5uip...
It is also a real shame that many people who really know what the are talking about no longer post on Forums , I asked Mark Adams (Tornado Systems) about this yesterday and he basically said that he bases his advice and work on his experience and knowledge, he is not looking for any fights or conflicts...
Anyway...
'Russell Mc'
;-)
'jr6yam'
I am not sure about 'the new plugs are using less fuel to make the same power...' as I guess the only way to work that out would be a controlled test using the same amount of fuel, drained and measured after each run...
'leerdam23'
Yes 268 at the wheels, using http://www.mk5cortinaestate.co.uk/calculator4.php I guess it comes out around: 316hp at the crank!? ...but this is a only a 'Guestimator'...
'blitzracing'
'the ionisation point' was what Mark and Brian were discussing, and it was great as lets just say that their conversation become quite 'Robust'... again based on their own experience they thought that after some miles the BHP went up, but as you say only very minimally so no great gain...
'davep'
Not sure yet about the difference as when we left Mech Repairs in Cheltenham for our drive back to Poole, Dorset the havens opened, the Wiper Park Switch started to play up and then when we got to Swindon the Main Beam gave up!
'rev-erend'
Again both Mark and Brian said that there are a lot of components which can have an effect, for example the single coil, my review of my latest Dyno Set-up is a few paragraphs from 4 hours of testing...
'ChimpOnGas'
I only did the test because I could, and totally appreciate it was in no way a controlled test, but one of the reasons I did it was to see if the I could get a 'better cold start, a smoother idle' as said above not sure yet as I have not had a chance to drive again yet!
'Bluebottle'
I agree, the guys have loads to Software and Tools to do the tests to get a proper picture, in fact they asked me before the run if wanted to get in stock a set of both plugs so they could do a like for like run, it was my decision (money to ask to set-up the car with the standard plugs that I drove up with and then change to the new plugs just to see...
'macdeb'
I was thinking the same, but as we are now in 2013 I thought I would give it a go...
'QBee'
Once the roads are dry I am going to see and will update!
'ChimpOnGas'
It is one of the issues of Forums, which is why I always try to be very careful what I write, I am not a motor mechanic or engine expert, I just like cars, but to date I have had more positives with direction, help and advice to get my TVR sorted!
The next Tread I was thinking about was about the Evans Waterless Coolant, before and after, I have already bought it and the Prep Fluid (not filled with it yet), fitted Flow and Return sensors to the Radiator piping connected to a SPA Temperature/Temperature Gauge, Black Bezel, White Face, Blue Led, fitted under the Dash near the Dash Light Switch, it can be programmed to do loads of stuff, the most important to me is to Flash Red and if connected Sound and Alarm!
http://www.spa-uk.co.uk/%28S%28pewrap21rumielurdpu...
As I have just replaced my Cam and most of the Top-End I am worried about any possible overheating thinning the oil and making everything just get 'expensive', so I am going to fit one of these...
http://www.spa-uk.co.uk/%28S%28g0jcyp4lzdt5exo5uip...
It is also a real shame that many people who really know what the are talking about no longer post on Forums , I asked Mark Adams (Tornado Systems) about this yesterday and he basically said that he bases his advice and work on his experience and knowledge, he is not looking for any fights or conflicts...
Anyway...
'Russell Mc'
;-)
'jr6yam'
I am not sure about 'the new plugs are using less fuel to make the same power...' as I guess the only way to work that out would be a controlled test using the same amount of fuel, drained and measured after each run...
'leerdam23'
Yes 268 at the wheels, using http://www.mk5cortinaestate.co.uk/calculator4.php I guess it comes out around: 316hp at the crank!? ...but this is a only a 'Guestimator'...
'blitzracing'
'the ionisation point' was what Mark and Brian were discussing, and it was great as lets just say that their conversation become quite 'Robust'... again based on their own experience they thought that after some miles the BHP went up, but as you say only very minimally so no great gain...
'davep'
Not sure yet about the difference as when we left Mech Repairs in Cheltenham for our drive back to Poole, Dorset the havens opened, the Wiper Park Switch started to play up and then when we got to Swindon the Main Beam gave up!
'rev-erend'
Again both Mark and Brian said that there are a lot of components which can have an effect, for example the single coil, my review of my latest Dyno Set-up is a few paragraphs from 4 hours of testing...
'ChimpOnGas'
I only did the test because I could, and totally appreciate it was in no way a controlled test, but one of the reasons I did it was to see if the I could get a 'better cold start, a smoother idle' as said above not sure yet as I have not had a chance to drive again yet!
'Bluebottle'
I agree, the guys have loads to Software and Tools to do the tests to get a proper picture, in fact they asked me before the run if wanted to get in stock a set of both plugs so they could do a like for like run, it was my decision (money to ask to set-up the car with the standard plugs that I drove up with and then change to the new plugs just to see...
'macdeb'
I was thinking the same, but as we are now in 2013 I thought I would give it a go...
'QBee'
Once the roads are dry I am going to see and will update!
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