What is a hot type spark plug?
A hot-type spark plug has a longer insulator nose. The insulator nose of a hotter spark plug has a longer distance between the firing tip of the insulator and the point where insulator meets the metal shell. The heat range must be carefully selected for proper spark plug thermal performance.
When should a spark plug be hotter?
The spark plug tip temperature must remain between 930°F to 1560°F , regardless of the type of engine the plug is fitted in. If the tip temperature is lower than 930°F, the insulator area surrounding the center electrode will not be hot enough to burn off carbon and combustion chamber deposits.
What spark plug is hotter BR9ES or BR8ES?
The heat range of a spark plug is indicated by the number in the plug’s identification sequence. On NGK spark plugs, the lower the number the hotter the plug (higher numbers are colder). Thus, your NGK BR9ES is colder than a BR8ES.
Can overheating damage spark plugs?
Repeated overheating of the spark plug tip can cause the plug to prematurely fail. Overheating can be caused by many things like pre-ignition and a malfunctioning cooling system. Pre-ignition can lead to heat building up in the combustion chamber causing the spark plugs to fail.
When should I run a hotter spark plug?
Spark-plug heat ranges should stay the same as at sea level, unless racing above 3,000 feet, where one step hotter usually suffices. 10. Engine condition: Hotter plugs can crutch a worn engine suffering from worn or leaking piston rings or valve guides—for a while.
When should I use a hotter spark plug?
If some of the plugs are clean and others have dry sooty lamp black deposits, the sooty plugs are getting too much gasoline, and can be corrected with carburetor adjustments. If a leaner mix is used, and the engine runs irregularly or misfires, go back to original setting and consider a hotter plug.
Can wrong spark plugs cause overheating?
Incorrect ignition timing is most extreme cases of a poorly running engine that can create extra heat but even things like worn spark plugs, a clogged fuel system or a dirty airflow sensor can cause your engine to create extra heat and run hot.
What is the hottest part of the spark plug?
Since the insulator tip is the hottest part of the spark plug, the tip temperature is a primary factor in pre-ignition and fouling. Whether the spark plugs are fitted in a lawnmower, boat, or a race car, the spark plug tip temperature must remain between 500C-850°C.
What are the benefits of hotter spark plugs?
The Hot Spark Plug is a better heat insulator and keeps more heat in the tip of the spark plug. Whereas, a Cold Spark Plug conducts more heat out of the spark plug tip and lowers the tip’s temperature.
Why run colder spark plugs?
So for the basics of how colder plugs work: A “colder” plug is litterally a spark plug with a smaller pedestal. The reason it is called a colder plug is that it will cool off between combustion cycles faster than a plug with a larger pedestal. Since the plug is able to cool off between combustion cycles there is less heat in…
What do spark plugs heat range?
Most spark plug manufacturers recommend that the tip temperature remain between 500° C and 850° C. Heat ranges are designated by each spark plug manufacturer with a number. In broad terms, spark plugs are often referred to as “hot plugs” or “cold plugs.”