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Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs

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ShepFL

03-14-2005 07:12:03




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I am a pessimist by nature but this may have some promise. Thought I would pass along for those that are interested.

Article is about new design of sparkplug. Not sure if the old mouse trap can be improved but this fella thinks he has a design that is functional.

For your reading . . .

Link




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Jerry/MT

03-14-2005 22:26:22




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
I quit reading when he claimed that he was running with a fuel/air (f/a) ratio of 40:1, Gasoline will only ignite with a spark in a very narrow range of f/a ratios;something like 12-16:1. My bet is it's snake oil. There's only so many BTU/gallon in a gallon of fuel. No ammount of spark energy is going to release anymore than that and the engine at best is maybe 28% thermally efficient so 28% of those BTU's in the fuel are going to be available to do useful work. Modern ignition systems are probably releasing 99.9% of the fuel energy already so I don't see where the big savings can come from.

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Big C

03-15-2005 06:54:11




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to Jerry/MT, 03-14-2005 22:26:22  
Not trying to start anything but gasoline engines configured with direct injection can run ultra lean conditons well below 16:1....Bosch(very reputable) has been working on this. If the fuel is atomized/vaporized it will burn more efficently and completely....At 14.5: or even 16:1 there is alot of room for improvement...that being said I don't necessarily believe the claims on the plug.



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Jerry/MT

03-15-2005 20:54:20




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to Big C, 03-15-2005 06:54:11  
I don't disagree with you. I'm sure some minor improvements are possible but the claim was 40:1. I don't think that's in the realm of possibility. And existing combustion efficiency ((energy released/fuel energy input)X 100) is all ready pretty good, like 99.9%, so there's not much room for improvement from a combustion efficiency standpoint. The best chance for a big reduction in fuel consumption will have to come with a move to higher compression ratios and that will mean a higher octane fuels, improved combustion chamber geometries, etc.

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NC Wayne

03-14-2005 17:56:59




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
Let's see, he went through a batch of old plugs and the old, worn out ones fired better than the new ones.....so why the he-- should you even bother to change your plugs if they burn better when their used??? With all the used plugs he kept laying around maybe my Uncle was onto something years ago that this guy just figured out.... Wether it works better or not it looks like one of the major mfgs would jump at the chance to make millions off the uneducated masses with another gimiky plug, I just can't undestand their reluctance to do it..... Especially since he's a man that can simply listen to an engine and tell you exactly what's wrong with it...all he needs to do is start a school to teach other mechanics the secret...I'd pay to learn how to be that precise, wouldn't you..... that way we can throw away all that sophisticated diagnostic equipment that's needed nowdays...imagine the millions the industry could save....Finaly, notice how he casually mentioned needing several hundred thousand for research, etc? If nobody is interested in producing the plug for him then why the need for further development???...Like the old saying goes, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.....Just my .02

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Mark - IN.

03-14-2005 16:14:18




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
Years ago I got into the practice of taking a magic marker and drawing lines down the backside of the plugs (opposite the gaps), have a bag of plug washers and keep changing them out until I get the markings to line up so that the gaps face as close at the pistion domes as I can get them. Can do the same thing if heads use washerless plugs by having a couple of spares. It really isn't as time consuming as it sounds, and if one doesn't line up in one hole, it often does the next. Does it help? Who knows, but am sure it's cheaper than buying those things, and that's good enough for me. Sandblasting and re-gapping the tips instead of buying new ones works fine too.

By the way, has anyone seen that "OnStar" commercial where the kids refuse to get into the car with their mommies until they get with the next level of child safety and get new cars equipped with "OnStar"? I walked through the fields and woods to school many times as a kid (was fun gettin dirty), but if I had any kids and they ever pulled that "OnStar" demand with me, I'm pretty sure I'd drive them to the orphanage, open the door and tell them to get out or shutup.

Mark

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720Deere

03-14-2005 15:18:33




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
Those sound alot like the revolutionary "Splitfire" sparkplugs of 10 years ago. You don't hear much hype about those $5 a pop pieces of trash, do you?



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ChrisH(IA)

03-14-2005 11:24:24




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
A fella I work with bought a used Oldsmobile and put in a set of similar plugs. Less than 300 miles, the center electrode fell out of one and ruined the engine-badly scored cylinder wall, head looking like it was peened with a tack hammer, and part of that electrode embedded in the top of the piston. He tried to get the car's seller to stand behind it, but you know where that went. Bottom line-stick to the name brands-try to avoid Champion, though IMO Chris

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Sloroll

03-14-2005 09:23:48




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 These mesmorize me. in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
If it is liquid and will burn throw away your electrical system!



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dr.sportster

03-14-2005 09:12:41




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
They been around.Tried them in a Harley.No revolutionary improvments occured to justify the price.The conventional manufacturers have tried it all by now.Just my opinion.



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dr.sportster

03-15-2005 04:50:34




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to dr.sportster, 03-14-2005 09:12:41  
Thats what I meant Splitfire, not these new ones.If they cost more than $1.50 each I wont be trying them.I have also holed pistons with the incorrect plugs in a six cyl Ford motor and stick to the heat range I know works.Too hot plugs will burn holes I learned the hard way on that one.Anyone who "knows" they can run 40/1 air/fuel ratio should be working at NASA or MIT.



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Jonboy

03-14-2005 09:04:40




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
Hard to sort out the hype from the facts sometimes. The thing is, they come up with some lines about how marvelous a product works, stick it in a flashy box, sit back and watch people buy them, even though the reality is they only work half as good as they make it sound, thats the way stuff sells.



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Paul in Mich

03-14-2005 08:23:59




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
Rusty, You"re exactly right, someone is trying to reinvent the wheel as it exists, not as they would envision it. Multi point spark plugs have been around for time imemorial. We used a similar spark plug on aircraft engines back in the early 50"s and I"m sure they were around far sooner than that.



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Dr.EVIL

03-14-2005 08:40:58




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to Paul in Mich, 03-14-2005 08:23:59  
That Guy used to be "Marketing Manager" for Jon Deare.... (hehehe) ;-)



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RustyFarmall

03-14-2005 07:41:23




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to ShepFL, 03-14-2005 07:12:03  
Nothing new, that design has been available for at least as long as spark plugs have been around.



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Dave Brennan

03-14-2005 11:27:29




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to RustyFarmall, 03-14-2005 07:41:23  
Whats old, is new!!! Or is it ???



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dr.sportster

03-14-2005 12:42:18




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 Re: Snake Oil or Revolution - Spark Plugs in reply to Dave Brennan, 03-14-2005 11:27:29  
I have a freind who keeps saying the fifties were more high tech than today.He cites stainless kitchens and high compression engines,that sort of thing.Sometimes he makes sense.



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