Plug gap, why everyone says .044?
- Thread starter 98civex
- Start date
The black "soot" is standard combustion remnants. Remember theyre creating mini explosions thousands of times per drive. If it was thick black soot all over then it'd be an obvious problem.
You could re-gap them without sanding the diode but it'd be better to clear it up a bit. To be clear, by diode I refer to the curved metal above the spark point. I've done both for years with no issues. I just actually did it on my Civic about 4 weeks ago and mine already wore down to where I dont have the v-recess you have. Yes, I know thats a bit excessive but my car is still running very well.
You could re-gap them without sanding the diode but it'd be better to clear it up a bit. To be clear, by diode I refer to the curved metal above the spark point. I've done both for years with no issues. I just actually did it on my Civic about 4 weeks ago and mine already wore down to where I dont have the v-recess you have. Yes, I know thats a bit excessive but my car is still running very well.
Ah nice. I'll keep that in mind. I mainly replaced them because when they were installed I kept questioning the offset I've been talking about. I guess it was more for peace of mind.
Also I had been smelling gas during idling and I thought new plugs would be easiest thing to rule out
What do you use to sand with, fine grit sandpaper or?
Also I had been smelling gas during idling and I thought new plugs would be easiest thing to rule out
What do you use to sand with, fine grit sandpaper or?
I sandblast mine, makes sure you regap AFTER cleaning them.
I dont want to further erode the electrode with it being a softer metal than the diode.
If the plug shows this wear early then its overheating. Otherwise, it does this progressively over the natural use of the plug.
Im sure it does being that soda blasting is mild in abrasion. If I had easy access to media or soda blasting, Id be using it on all sorts of projects.
That's called corona stain and is normal
http://www.ngkntk.co.uk/index.php/technical-centre/spark-plugs/corono-stain/
If the plug shows this wear early then its overheating. Otherwise, it does this progressively over the natural use of the plug.
I wont argue with that, but from what I recall excessive heat wear still can cause at least a similar looking ring. Ill look further into it though.
That's cool. I just came across this about sharp points being best for spark. Here's a quote of the linked site:
"It would be easiest to pull electrons from a pointed electrode but a pointed electrode would erode after only a few seconds. Instead, the electrons emit from the sharp edges of the end of the electrode; as these edges erode, the spark becomes weaker and less reliable."
http://www.gsparkplug.com/shop/spark-plug-construction
Maybe this is the reasoning behind those V shaped electrode NGK plugs?
"It would be easiest to pull electrons from a pointed electrode but a pointed electrode would erode after only a few seconds. Instead, the electrons emit from the sharp edges of the end of the electrode; as these edges erode, the spark becomes weaker and less reliable."
http://www.gsparkplug.com/shop/spark-plug-construction
Maybe this is the reasoning behind those V shaped electrode NGK plugs?
It's interesting it says in the 70s they had problems with a nickel alloy center electrode so they switched to copper, yet the side electrode is made of nickel steel which is basically a nickel alloy just with carbon (to make the iron a steel)