E3 Sparks Plugs performance Gain
#1
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E3 Sparks Plugs performance Gain
Did anyone see the last episode of Horsepower on the Speed Channel. They dino'd the E3 spark plugs and got like 8-12 horsepower increase. Has anyone tried these and do they work?? Sounds to goood to be true.
#3
Burning Brakes
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actually i have does in my vett.... car pulls and runs perfect but, I dont know if I gain 8 hp; I mean is not like you can feel it but if they dyno them then I guess I have another 8-12 hp without knowing it
#7
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You can easily have a 5 hp varience between the tests. That can occur with just something as simple as they way you strap a car down, or a change in ambient temperture or humidity. Or the engine coolant temperature. If you let the engine cool down for a long time between test or testing a real heat soaked engine there is going to be a considerable difference, easily 5 to 10hp.
#8
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I saw that ep. also.
They made a point to say that the engine was allowed to cool between tests. It was done on an engine dyno...not a chassis dyno. Seems to me there would be an allowable variable of a few hp +/- even on an engine that's not altered between pulls.
Imo for this to be a claim that would be credible I would have liked them to have done a few pulls with the "other" plugs and a few with the e3's under matching conditions then do an average. If the e3's consistantly pulled "x" amounts of more hp then that would be a solid result.
Basing their hp gain assertion off of one pull with each set of plugs proves little to me.
edit:
They also showed the actual spark patterns as well. It did look like the E3's obviously had a "hotter/bigger/better" spark compared to the other plugs but again...under what variables where these sparks filmed?.?.
They made a point to say that the engine was allowed to cool between tests. It was done on an engine dyno...not a chassis dyno. Seems to me there would be an allowable variable of a few hp +/- even on an engine that's not altered between pulls.
Imo for this to be a claim that would be credible I would have liked them to have done a few pulls with the "other" plugs and a few with the e3's under matching conditions then do an average. If the e3's consistantly pulled "x" amounts of more hp then that would be a solid result.
Basing their hp gain assertion off of one pull with each set of plugs proves little to me.
edit:
They also showed the actual spark patterns as well. It did look like the E3's obviously had a "hotter/bigger/better" spark compared to the other plugs but again...under what variables where these sparks filmed?.?.
Last edited by KenWH; 04-20-2008 at 01:04 PM.
#9
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When they showed the "hotter spark" how did they do it? The reason I ask is because a couple years ago one of the Nology wire reps came to my shop to do a demo on their wires claiming the same BS about how their wires makes a hotter spark. They had a gizmo that has a aftermarket plug wire and one of their wires both firing a spark across a adjustable gap. Of course their wire showed a obviously hotter spark. So I asked them to show me the internals of their gizmo so that I can see that both wires are being fed voltage from the same source, of course the rep refused to show me the internals, I call SNAKE OIL still.
#12
Instructor
I saw the show also, look close to the plug they compared it to. They compared a plain generic plug against the E3. They also did this comparison on a SBC with a carb. This is not a comparison in a LSx with injection.
In addition this add was to flywheel horsepower, after the average 15-20% drivetrain loss you are with a few horsepower at the wheels which is negelable.
In addition this add was to flywheel horsepower, after the average 15-20% drivetrain loss you are with a few horsepower at the wheels which is negelable.
#13
#15
Team Owner
I could find 8-12rwhp on a dyno without making ANY changes to the car.
Dyno testing spark plugs is like dyno testing stock replacement panel air filters...there is no true conclusive evidence that can be obtained, it's all easily explained away by simple dyno variations and/or letting the car cool between pulls LOL.
I once tried out the 'then new' Brisk spark plugs (aka: Lamborghini spark plugs) in my LS1 Z28 and we saw a roughly 3rwhp gain on the dyno...we let it cool and pulled it again and the car dyno'd less than before.
Dyno testing spark plugs is like dyno testing stock replacement panel air filters...there is no true conclusive evidence that can be obtained, it's all easily explained away by simple dyno variations and/or letting the car cool between pulls LOL.
I once tried out the 'then new' Brisk spark plugs (aka: Lamborghini spark plugs) in my LS1 Z28 and we saw a roughly 3rwhp gain on the dyno...we let it cool and pulled it again and the car dyno'd less than before.
#16
Tech Contributor
The standard plugs on the C5 back in 2001 were causing about 100 misfires in total on all 8 clyinders per minute. When you scan the car with HPtuners, set up the scanner to log misfires per cylinder and the total for all 8 as a 9th parameter. I did this with Auto-tap back then.
What I was investigating was that the plugs (the IX version the C6 comes with) actually reduced the number of misfires per minute and had shown 5hp on the dyno. I bought them and verified the misfire count dropped to about 5-8 per minute. The irridiums were a real power gain. I dnt doubt that a spark plug that maximizes electrode area would do something similar. To what degree I'm not sure. When the royal purple oil is swapped for the old non-synthetic oil in a engine I dont doubt there is a gain. I dont see these tests being done when a good synthetic oil like mobile 1 is used nor do I think they compared against a good state of the art spark plug.
That said, I do think there is a gain to be had from a stronger spark with a better constructed spark plug but the amount is going to vary depending on what they used for the comparison plug. If its a good set of irridiums, dont expect a 12hp gain.
What I was investigating was that the plugs (the IX version the C6 comes with) actually reduced the number of misfires per minute and had shown 5hp on the dyno. I bought them and verified the misfire count dropped to about 5-8 per minute. The irridiums were a real power gain. I dnt doubt that a spark plug that maximizes electrode area would do something similar. To what degree I'm not sure. When the royal purple oil is swapped for the old non-synthetic oil in a engine I dont doubt there is a gain. I dont see these tests being done when a good synthetic oil like mobile 1 is used nor do I think they compared against a good state of the art spark plug.
That said, I do think there is a gain to be had from a stronger spark with a better constructed spark plug but the amount is going to vary depending on what they used for the comparison plug. If its a good set of irridiums, dont expect a 12hp gain.
#17
Burning Brakes
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Any gain for the price of plugs should be OK. Lots and lots-o-folks buy a $XXXX CAI to pick up a couple of HP. So why not the same for a few HP with MUCH cheaper plugs? Fairly inexpensive .
#18
Team Owner
Also keep in mind that one could even potentially see a gain simply by changing from 20k mile old spark plugs to brand new ones of the exact same name/type.
#19
Burning Brakes
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You may have misunderstood my position on the plugs. I agree that a CAI has more potential. Plugs, these or new, MAY give a few HP. So if you/we/I want to give them a go, at least it is a very small amount of money. And if you/we/I get any help, then it is a good thing. I'm just saying that for a couple of $$ it might help a bit .... especially if you /we/I have a CAI or any other mods.