Splitfire spark plugs

[Bradley G]

I changed the plugs Wednesday.
The Autolites have been in for almost a year, maybe 10K miles.
The can ran fine or did it?
The first impression, the throttle response is nite and day better.
Power feels like it develops with less pedal effort.
I'm gonna keep changing them often.
Oh, yeah they were the cheap copper core(s), one step colder than stock.

[knine]

What model number did you use?

[Marauderjack]

Everything I've read about SplitFires says they offer no advantage over conventional plugs and have certain disadvantages??:confused: Spark will only go to the path of least resistance and not to both sides of the ground electrode simultaneously!!:shake:

I tried them in a 2 cycle outboard that idled poorly and it continued to idle poorly with SplitFires!!:eek:

Perhaps you would feel the same improvement with new conventional plugs too??:confused:

My $.02 FWIW

[finster101]

I've tried them. They are crap. JMO.

[SC Cheesehead]

This thread raises a couple of interesting questions:

How often are most folks changing their plugs?

What type of plug and heat range are you using for replacements?

I'm just under 46K on the Bluesmobile and haven't considered changing plugs yet, based on Ford's replacement schedule, nor have I had any noticable performance issues, but maybe I should consider...:dunno:

[knine]

^^ That's what I was thinking Rex. :dunno:

[fastblackmerc]

I change my plugs once a year, using NGK TR55's which are one heat range colder than stock.

Air filter on my JLT gets cleaned whenever it needs it (keep a spare ready to go), belt changed every two years along with tranny fluid, rear end fluid and coolant flush and refill.

[SVT_MERC]

Here at WyoTech we have a demonstration tool that is an entire ignition system and fires spark plugs, and has variable speed going from idle to 6,000 rpm's. Every spark plug in the tester is different. There was NGK, Delco, Motorcraft, Splitfire, One of the plugs with 4 electrodes...Bosch I think, and a couple others. The Delco and Motorcraft showed the best and most consistent sparks. the 4 electrode plug was the worst overall. the split fire worked ok, but the spark actually was consistently arcing to the ground electrode before the V-cut in it. So it sparked OK, but the split does nothing for the plug at all.

[fastblackmerc]

Here at WyoTech we have a demonstration tool that is an entire ignition system and fires spark plugs, and has variable speed going from idle to 6,000 rpm's. Every spark plug in the tester is different. There was NGK, Delco, Motorcraft, Splitfire, One of the plugs with 4 electrodes...Bosch I think, and a couple others. The Delco and Motorcraft showed the best and most consistent sparks. the 4 electrode plug was the worst overall. the split fire worked ok, but the spark actually was consistently arcing to the ground electrode before the V-cut in it. So it sparked OK, but the split does nothing for the plug at all.

How did the NGK work?

[Marylandrauder]

Marylandrauder's son here, I talked with a mechanic awhile back and he told me that it is best to stick with what came from the factory.

He told me if you have a Ford product stick with Motorcraft spark plugs.

If you have a GM, AC Delco spark plugs.

[Marauderjack]

Autolite AR-103's here and I have used normal Autolite 103's up to now....change every 15K-20K miles...ProCharger recommends every 10K but you throw away damn near new plugs for no gain!!:shake:

OEM plugs are good to 100K miles in NA cars....I think??:confused:

[SVT_MERC]

If I remember correctly the NGK's were pretty good...probably next in line after the motorcraft and delco. Champions sparked like ****, but thats why they should stick to making plugs for weed whackers.

I personally agree with Marylandrauder's son and stick with mostly all OEM components that were designed for them. My plugs are a little bit of an exception. I use the same plug design but opted to stick with copper. SP-505 (Formerly AGSF-22C). I only went this route because the copper plugs offer much less electrical resistance (meaning it's easier for spark to jump the gap) which means the coil doesn't work as hard. Less stress and work means the coil should last longer. I don't mind changing my plugs a little bit more often since the only purpose of platinum and iridium plugs is that they are more self cleaning and lengthen the time between servicing the plugs.

[Bradley G]

BTW these were not the funky multi armature type.
They look exactly like conventional plugs.
The car starts quicker and feels great!
They were about a buck a piece.

[Marauderjack]

Interesting....are these the ones you used??:confused:

http://www.splitfire.com/copper_classic.html

I didn't know they made "normal" plugs......what makes them better than the industry leaders??:cool:

[bob6364]

Interesting....are these the ones you used??:confused:

http://www.splitfire.com/copper_classic.html

I didn't know they made "normal" plugs......what makes them better than the industry leaders??:cool:

+1 on not knowing they made normal plugs to....But i'll stick to my Autolites.

[Marauderjack]

+1 on not knowing they made normal plugs to....But i'll stick to my Autolites.


Yeah....me too!!!:beer:

[Bradley G]

Yep!
Interesting....are these the ones you used??:confused:

http://www.splitfire.com/copper_classic.html

I didn't know they made "normal" plugs......what makes them better than the industry leaders??:cool:


+1 on not knowing they made normal plugs to....But i'll stick to my Autolites.
Well My car runs noticibly better than with the Autolites and they were only in for several months.

[Marauderjack]

Were they Autolite Platinums Bradley??:confused:

[Bradley G]

No, only cheap copper core plugs with a blower, gapped a tite .030.
My mechanic pal who helps me at work claimed he has had very poor luck with Autolite spark plugs with misfires.
There was some coment about lawnmowers.:lol:
Were they Autolite Platinums Bradley??:confused:

[Marauderjack]

Hmmmm......that's funny since I've run AutoLites over 110K miles with the blower and don't recall any miss fires but I change them every 15-20K miles??:shake:

I might throw a set of "Splits" in next time and see what happens??:beer:

[CKMustangCobra]

I got on this late but here is my experience.

"Splitfire" or "Quadfire" whatever sparkplugs only offer one advantage and that is longer life.

When the sparkplug fires the voltage will jump the gap... the voltage likes to leave and land on a sharp point. The more sharp edges = more surface area. The single lead will eventually wear out from use where the multi lead will have an extra or possibly several edges ready to go.

Assuming the engine is running correctly (not fowling) the splitfires will last a bit longer.

Spark plugs are cheap. Change them with NGK TR5 (N/A) gapped @ .060 every 4 oil changes.

[Bradley G]

The ones I installed were conventional, not the multi point, like one would think by the name.
It might be in my head, But I honestly dont think so.
The throttle response is fantastic.:2thumbs:
obra;731131]I got on this late but here is my experience.

"Splitfire" or "Quadfire" whatever sparkplugs only offer one advantage and that is longer life.

When the sparkplug fires the voltage will jump the gap... the voltage likes to leave and land on a sharp point. The more sharp edges = more surface area. The single lead will eventually wear out from use where the multi lead will have an extra or possibly several edges ready to go.

Assuming the engine is running correctly (not fowling) the splitfires will last a bit longer.

Spark plugs are cheap. Change them with NGK TR5 (N/A) gapped @ .060 every 4 oil changes.[/quote]

[1stMerc]

Anybody tried the E3 yet?

[Bradley G]

Y2k?.....:d
anybody tried the e3 yet?

[HITEKBALANCER]

http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/faqs/index.asp?mode=nml

Nice info about spark plug tech. Answers most questions posted here.
I think a good tune should allow for long plug life. Platnum plugs are usually used in passenger cars where the average person can forget about them and are not trying to get optimum performance . Hence all other non-platnum electrodes are subject to more rapid wear. NGK says "Replacing worn out spark plugs with new ones (with sharp new edges) effectively restores the ignition system's efficiency. Misfires are reduced, power is restored, economy of operation is enhanced and emissions are reduced." I changed the plugs in my wife's honda odyssey after 116,000. Yes that made a big differance, It even got rid of the catyltic converter below threshold error code.