Discussion
I have tried loads of different type, they make no difference at all, An electrical spark will take the route of least resistance to ground, having 2,3 or 4 electrodes is of no use at all, it will only ever take the one.
It will help if your plugs have seen better days, but as long as they are set corectly don't fall for the sales packaging, Also make sure your leads are in good nick!
It will help if your plugs have seen better days, but as long as they are set corectly don't fall for the sales packaging, Also make sure your leads are in good nick!
little RZD said:
I was just wondering the other day if changing spark plugs on my engine will increase the power output? If so what would be the ideal choice of plugs to use?
Cheers
Michal
P.S they would be going into a 1.4 Ford Zetec that will be run on 100 octane fuel- if that helps.
They wont, unless you were using teh wrong plugs by a mile, or yours were completely done.
The ideal plugs would be totally standard ones I would imagine, as you dont say your engine is modified in any way whatsoever.
Hi, yes the engine is 100% standard although the only modification that has been made is the addition of a Pipercross filter and also the use of a Pectel T2 motorsports ECU - which i don't think comes standard with a road going Ford engine
All i know about the engine is that it it is a Ford Zetec SE 1.4 16v, meaning it is a Sigma variant using standard leads and plugs, although i will check tomorrow.
Thanks for all the advice so far
Michal
All i know about the engine is that it it is a Ford Zetec SE 1.4 16v, meaning it is a Sigma variant using standard leads and plugs, although i will check tomorrow.
Thanks for all the advice so far
Michal
stevieturbo said:
Why such an expensive ecu on a standard engine ?
The engine is used in a Ginetta GT Junior which i race in the Playstation 2 Ginetta GT Junior Championship. Im not sure why that ECU was used, i think it could have just been that Ginetta got a good price for them or they tried to get as much power out of a reasonably cheap engine but i really am unsure.
Look on my profile for a bit more info.
Cheers
Michal
If you've got the right heat range plug already, you won't make significant power increases by changing to anything different. I ran a test on an engine dyno a few years ago with several different makes and types of plug on (if I remember right) a 1.8 Zetec and the difference between best and worst was barely 1bhp.
The only difference multiple electrodes make is to service life.
The only difference multiple electrodes make is to service life.
Cheers for that Andrew!!
Im not sure what it gets at the fly, but at the wheels at 5500rpm it gets 88 bhp and its power to weight ratio is 0.155 Bhp/Kg.
No other little bits have been done as all the cars and engines are meant to be equal and standard, although the plugs are the only items on the engine that can be changed.
Would the Bhp change if the fuel was changed? For example going from 95 octane to 100 octane or would the engine have to be re-mapped to gain any visable changes?
Cheers
Michal
Mattyboy101 said:
What are you pushing with it at the fly then? Is it just the ECU that has been changed or have other little bits been done, or are any other things allowed?
Im not sure what it gets at the fly, but at the wheels at 5500rpm it gets 88 bhp and its power to weight ratio is 0.155 Bhp/Kg.
No other little bits have been done as all the cars and engines are meant to be equal and standard, although the plugs are the only items on the engine that can be changed.
Would the Bhp change if the fuel was changed? For example going from 95 octane to 100 octane or would the engine have to be re-mapped to gain any visable changes?
Cheers
Michal
Not familiar with your ECU but I doubt it, if you are racing I would have thought a standard fuel would be specified e.g. Optimax or Avgas etc.
If you can get away with high octane race fuel then go for it (and get it mapped to suit).
>> Edited by Mattyboy101 on Monday 20th February 22:27
If you can get away with high octane race fuel then go for it (and get it mapped to suit).
>> Edited by Mattyboy101 on Monday 20th February 22:27
Mattyboy101 said:
Not familiar with your ECU but I doubt it, if you are racing I would have thought a standard fuel would be specified e.g. Optimax or Avgas etc.
If you can get away with high octane race fuel then go for it (and get it mapped to suit).
Last year was the first year for this race series and we were told to run on standard 95, but this year it has changed as we will be all running on Sunoco RMR MSA 100 octane control fuel.
Although i don't think any plans have been made by Ginetta to re-map the ECU's.
Michal
Mattyboy101 said:
Perhaps you should enquire as to whether such plans exist, or to whether you are allowed to remap to suit personally!
Have emailed Ginetta, i have a funny feeling that no plans have been made and nothing will be done. I dnt think i would be able to re-map the ecu everything on the cars is meant to be identical, which would mean that all the cars would have to be re-mapped too.
Michal
i admit it does not make much difference but if you are into serious perfection for engine performance and response then it makes all the difference. for a start upgrading to a hotter plug or different reach plug can can change the burn completly and with the right octane fuel can increase power but you run the risk of burning pistons and damaging valves if they are not upgraded. and yes if the plug has 2 3 or 4 electrodes it can only use one cause it will take the best route but when the spark is running at 100,000 to 150,000 volts it makes a difference of up to 60%. it depends how serious you are but touring cars cant modify the engines but they can do small things like re-tap the plug thread so the electrode faces a certain way for the best burn.
ollie.
ollie.
Gassing Station | Engines & Drivetrain | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff