E3 Spark Plugs News

E3 Spark Plugs is giving you the chance to see the tracks from behind the wheel of one of these. Enter to win a trip to the 2012 E3 Spark Plugs Utah Off Road Nationals Presented By Toyota at Miller Motorsports Park.

Itching for a change of scenery? How about the wide open expanses of Utah? And how about seeing it from the behind the wheel of a Baja Challenge race car? Or a Ford Racing Mustang GT? Or Jerry Daugherty’s new Pro 4 #24 off-road racing truck? Or from the window of the Lucas Oil corporate helicopter.

While all that may sound like a far-fetched dream, E3 Spark Plugs is making it a reality for one lucky winner and a guest of his or her choosing. Winning is easy. Just go to the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page and fill out the contest submission form on the Off Road Contest Tab. Tell us why you want to win and who you’ll bring.

Here’s what you get if your name is chosen:

• Airfare for two and accommodations for three nights;
• Two tickets to the Lucas Oil Off-Road Racing event at Miller Motorsports;
• A two-hour Mustang Experience, putting you behind the wheel of a Ford Racing Mustang GT;
• A Wide Open Utah ultimate high-performance off-road Baja-style driving experience;
• A ride in the E3 Spark Plugs Daugherty Off-Road Truck;
• A ride in the Lucas Oil Helicopter;
• Two tickets to one of the top Kart road courses in America.

Make sure you read the rules first. You must be at least 18 years of age and a resident of one of the 48 contiguous states or District of Columbia. The contest runs from March 31st, 2012 till May 25, 2012 and you’ll take your trip June 21-23. Good luck!

Team E3 Racing winner Stephen Kildahl is the youngest competitor on the Super Boat International Offshore Boat Racing Circuit.

Estero, Florida’s Stephen Kildahl is, quite literally, an exception to the rule. That’s why he’s one of the inaugural class of Team E3 Racing Tier 1 winners.

Kildahl has been racing speedboats since age 16, when he received a special dispensation to compete on the Super Boat International Offshore Boat Racing Circuit. The rule book said competitors must be at least 18 years old, but Kildahl’s talent and skill were clearly beyond his years. And he’s since proven that the move was a good one.

In just four years, Kildahl has racked up 14 career wins, one world championship, two national championships and three Florida championships. And at age 20, he remains the youngest full time driver on the circuit by at least 10 years, regularly going deck-to-deck with racers boasting many more years of experience on the water. That’s quite an accomplishment, especially considering that many deem boat racing tougher than car, truck or motorcycle racing. After all, with boat racing, there is no solid surface or set course features. Everything changes with the winds, the tides, etc.

Team E3 Racing winner Stephen Kildahl accepting an award from a Cocoa Beach beauty.

“You never know what you are going to get,” Kildahl told a Tampa Bay Times reporter just before the Clearwater Super Boat National/Florida Championship last September. “Every day it is something different. Conditions can change from the beginning to the end of the race.”

Plus, while auto racers handle both the speed and the steering, powerboat racing is a team effort with one team member at the wheel and the other at the throttle. If one sees something the other doesn’t or makes an unexpected decision, it could mean the difference in winning, losing or even finishing the race.

For the 2012 powerboat racing season, Kildahl will be behind the wheel of a 30-foot Phantom with a 525HP racing engine. He and his new team, Scott Free Racing, expect to hit speeds of 90-95 miles per hour. So if you’re on the water, stay out of his way! And be sure to stock your own boat with a set of E3 racing spark plugs. If you’re on dry land, check the E3 Spark Plugs blog and Facebook fan page for updates on Kildahl’s racing career.

Got what it takes to join Team E3 Racing? Zoom over to the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page and find out.

If you’re an up-and-coming motorsports racer, why not put the power of E3 in your ride and on your back? Starting February 1, here’s your chance to be part of Team E3 Racing!

Over the next three months (Feb-April), we will award four WINNERS from each tier listed below a Race Sponsorship and load them up with Official Team E3 Racing Sponsorship Prizes!

• Tier 1: 12 Fans win $500 cash, 25 E3 Spark Plugs and Official E3 Race Day Gear/Decals
• Tier 2: 12 Fans win one (1) Set of up to 8 Plugs and Official E3 Race Day Gear/Decals
• Tier 3: 12 Fans win Official E3 Race Day Gear and Decals

In addition to being officially sponsored by E3 Spark plugs, being a part of Team E3 Racing means we can help you grow your fan base by following your standings throughout the 2012 racing season, posting your videos and pictures and featuring you on the E3 website and social media channels!

So how do you become part of Team E3 Racing? Zoom over to the E3 Spark Plugs’ Facebook fan page, “Like us” and sign up via the Team E3 Racing tab. Fill in your name, age, contact information and T-shirt size. Give us the lowdown on your racing career thus far, including your ride’s make and model and info on your current series, standings and significant winnings. And hit us with your best pitch as to why YOU should be part of Team E3. We’re expecting lots of entries, so you’d better be convincing!

E3 Spark Plugs’ patented DiamondFire technology means a stronger, smoother, cleaner ride. Developed with help from some of the nation’s top scientists and engineers, E3 spark plugs are proven to boost your engine’s performance, mileage and fuel efficiency without mucking up the environment. In fact, E3 is the ONLY spark plug to be included in a federal rule making for emission standards.. Just like the best motorsports racers on the podiums, E3 spark plugs are “Born to Burn.”

E3 Spark Plugs launches a brand new look!

Hey E3 Spark Plugs fans, check out our new look! E3 Spark Plugs is launching a revamped website and social media sites this week. Our updated look is cleaner, more streamlined and easier to navigate. And you’ll find a few new goodies.

New features include:

• A tech support section with a chart designed to help you apply the correct torque to your new spark plugs, information on spark plug gapping, tech tips and videos, a cross-reference guide to help you choose the right spark plugs for your automotive, powersports or lawn and garden engines, plus warranty information;
• A continuously updated video section featuring how-to videos, our commercials and racing highlights;
• A testimonial section where you can see what people are saying about E3 Spark Plugs and add your own comments;
• An events calendar listing all upcoming racing and promotional events featuring or sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs.

“We are excited about our the launch of our newly redesigned website and social media pages,” says Steve Joiner, E3 Spark Plugs’ Vice President of Sales and Marketing “E3 is committed to providing in-depth information about our products and promotional activities. These sites will allow our customers and fans to keep up with all the different programs and events that E3 is involved in all over the country.”

Based in beautiful Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, E3 Spark Plugs developed its patented DiamondFire technology in conjunction with researchers from leading engineering universities. Utilizing a unique, diamond-shaped, edge-to-edge approach, E3 spark plugs are designed to deliver more power, improve fuel efficiency, reduce emissions and extend the life of your engine.

Our new look will launch this week. Are we missing something you’d like to see? Leave us a comment on our blog or on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

Is your ride ready for the fall and winter seasons? E3 Spark Plugs has seven easy DIY auto maintenance tips.

Temps are dropping and the sun’s going down earlier. The onset of the fall season means it’s time to ready your ride for the coming winter. E3 Spark Plugs recommends these six easy auto maintenance tips for the DIY mechanic.

1. Change your windshield wiper blades: You’ll use yours more often in the fall and winter time, so it’s best to start the season with a fresh set. Don’t forget that back blade if you drive a hatchback, station wagon or SUV with a rear window wiper.
2. Check your spare tire: Spare tires often are an out-of-sight, out-of-mind item but when you need yours, it’s critical that it’s in good shape. Tire pressure typically drops one PSI (pound per square inch) for every 10 degree drop in temperature, so check yours weekly as winter sets in. If the spare tire for your pickup truck or SUV is housed beneath your vehicle, try lowering, then raising it to make sure the cable mechanism that holds it is working properly. A good dose of WD-40 and lubing with white lithium grease each fall helps keep it working smoothly.
3. Check and top off all fluids: Topped off windshield wiper fluid, brake fluid and antifreeze levels are a must. Replace your windshield washer fluid with a solvent that’s suited for cold weather use. Top off the antifreeze in your coolant recovery reservoir and make sure you’re using the correct type. Orange and green coolants cannot be mixed. As brakes wear, a minor drop in your brake fluid level is normal. If you see a significant drop, it may be a sign of a leak or other problem in your braking system. Get to the mechanic before the roads ice up.
4. Replace the air filter: If your air filter is clogged, your vehicle’s fuel economy, performance and emissions suffer. And all that means money out of your pocket. We recommend changing your car’s or truck’s air filter twice a year.
5. Check your battery terminals: Lots of ignition and electrical problems start with loose or corroded battery connections. The time it takes you to tighten them and the $4 you’ll spend on a brush to clean them is a lot easier and cheaper than dealing with bigger issues down the road.
6. Check your lights: Shorter periods of sunlight make it tougher for you to see other vehicles on the road, and tougher for them to see you too.
7. Check your spark plugs: Worn, fouled or cracked spark plugs can cause misfires, muddle your car’s performance and eat up its fuel economy. E3 car spark plugs, truck spark plugs, Jeep spark plugs and motorcycle spark plugs assure better mileage, better performance and a cleaner ride.

Got more DIY tips for fall/winter auto maintenance? Leave us a comment on the E3 Spark Plugs blog or our E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

The makers of E3 Spark Plugs love to hear from customers.

Here at E3 Spark Plugs, we love to hear from customers who have used our car spark plugs, truck spark plugs and motorcycle spark plugs and loved them – or hated them. We recently came across this post in a highly read car care blog by an author who had switched out his standard AC Delco spark plugs with a set of E3s an noticed a big change in his Chevy Caprice. Here’s what he had to say:

“So I ended up ordering a set of E3 plugs for my 350 from Advance Auto Parts and installed them this weekend. Let’s just say that I noticed a difference. I’m not talking night and day, but I still had some work to do.

“Now that my motor is finally broken in I decided to re-tune it, adjusting the mixture and idle speed, and filling the tank with some real fuel instead of the cheap crap I was running. I put in 93 octane with an octane booster which bumped it up to 105 according to the chart on the bottle. Then, there was a difference. Each pop of the piston was louder and crisper. The idle was more even and just sounded better.

“On the road, things only got better. Reaction to the throttle was lightning fast for a carbureted car, and the black soot that used to come out of the tailpipes was all but gone. I realize much of the difference can be attributed to the fuel change and carb tuning, but knowing how this motor usually behaves, I can honestly say that I think these plugs are the real deal – after all, it had been running better even before I made the later adjustments.”

E3 wants to hear about your experience with our plugs – positive or negative. Often, when a buyer writes about problems with our spark plugs, our engineers can help pinpoint other problems that may be affecting the plugs’ performance. So don’t hold back – Let us know how you really feel about E3 spark plugs. Leave a comment on our blog or on the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

Smells delicious! But are my spark plugs in one of those boxes too?

Calling in a large pepperoni pie or a few orders of moo goo gai pan for home delivery is second nature in America. But how about getting that new set of spark plugs and struts, a few jugs of motor oil and a pair of fuzzy dice delivered right to your doorstep? Several auto parts retailers are testing the home delivery waters.

Advance Auto Parts (which, by the way, is an E3 Spark Plugs distributor) is one of those retailers offering home or curbside delivery in a select few pilot markets. The company offers free delivery for purchases of $75 or more within a five-mile radius ($9.99 for purchases under $75) and generally drops off orders within two hours. Nearly 80 percent of those deliveries are to the homes of auto owners with dead batteries or to the roadside curbs where stranded motorists call via their cell phones.

Come to think of it – that is pretty handy. And some marketing pundits say home delivery of auto parts is a smart move.

“When a consumer is stuck at home because their car won’t start, once you deliver the part they need, you leave them with positive emotions about your brand and gain their loyalty,” Cult Marketing CEO Doug McIntyre told reporters recently.

While having your spark plugs delivered may never offer quite the appeal as, say, a 12-inch supreme on thick crust with extra cheese, we think these retailers are on to something. What do you think? Leave us a comment here on the E3 Spark Plugs blog or on our Facebook fan page.

Spark plugs make great (and cheap) fishing lure retrievers.

Going fishing? Well, if you’ve got a used spark plug sitting in your tool box, you may want to drop it in your tackle box on your way out the door. That’s because car spark plugs make great fishing lure retrievers.

Old-school fishermen have used this trick for decades, but the idea went mainstream with the onset of urban fishing holes, where young, hip city denizens gather to cast lines and compare catches. Photos of these events certainly are not the stuff of Field & Stream photo spreads. Fishing spots often are small bodies of water surrounded by chain link fencing with razor wire, rusting metal beams and concrete slabs jutting out of the surface. But the camaraderie of anglers everywhere is just as strong in urban areas as it is anywhere else.

“Fishing is so cool because it breaks down social barriers,” Ben Sargent, founder of New York’s Brooklyn Urban Anglers Association and Brooklyn Fishing Derby told reporters. “If you’re male or female doesn’t matter, race doesn’t matter. There’s definitely skill involved, but you can bring out a newbie who can catch a 40-inch fish.”

Many of those involved in these organizations, which encourage fishing in New York’s East River and surrounding waterways, use the spark plug lure retriever trick. Simply slip a snap swivel on the spark plug electrode and bed or tap the electrode downward, closing the gap. If your lure gets snagged (as often happens when fishing beneath bridges and dams), tighten your line, clip the swivel onto the line between the rod tip and your lure, and let the spark plug go. It’ll link down and knock your lure free. Spark plug lure retrievers work best on crankbaits and jigging spoons. They’re less effective with small lures such as jigs and worms. And if your lure doesn’t come free, you’ll have to break the line and leave behind both your lure and the spark plug retriever. You might miss your favorite lure, but at least your spark plug retriever is cheap and easily replaceable.

To help keep America’s fishing holes clean from toxins, be sure to boil your spark plugs in salt water before using them as lure retrievers. This will get rid of any oil or grease.

Have you used a spark plug as a fishing lure retriever or for some other odd-but-handy purpose? E3 Spark Plugs wants to know. Drop us a line on in our blog comment section or on our E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page. Don’t forget to post your pictures, too.

"Robby Gordon Army Challenge" was released on DVD in April.

E3 Spark Plugs supports America’s troops. So, when we heard that “Robby Gordon Army Challenge” was recently released on DVD, we had to get our copy. And we think you will too.

First aired on the Military Channel, “Robby Gordon Army Challenge” features NASCAR and off-road champion Gordon’s visit with the troops at Fort Irwin military base, a premiere training center for military members. While Gordon certainly has an impressive list of accomplishments over his racing career, he admits he’s got nuthin’ on our troops. Getting a firsthand glimpse of the real-life conditions that U.S. troops encounter on the front lines every day proved to be a real eye  opener for Gordon, and will for you, too.

The program follows Gordon as he tours Fort Irwin, engaging with the troops and teaching them Hummer off-road driving techniques that he’s developed during his career as a top racer. Along the way, the young soldiers teach Gordon a trick or two as well. A few even join him at the SCORE Las Vegas Terrible’s Prim 300 Desert Race in Nevada (SCORE International is an off-road sanctioning body in the sport of desert racing and is famous for its flagship event, the Baja 1000).

The visit proved to be a great morale booster for the soldiers at Fort Irwin and an experience Gordon will never forget. We think you’ll enjoy it too.

“Robby Gordon Army Experience” is available from Baha Unlimited. Tell ‘em E3 Spark Plugs sent you. And to all our military members at home and abroad, thank you!

Let's not get carried away, here. Celebrate Earth Day and National Car Care Month by using eco-friendly automotive products like E3 Spark Plugs.

While Christians celebrate Good Friday today, they and others around the world also are celebrating Earth Day today. And since April also is National Car Care Month, Earthgarage.com has released its list of “Top 10 Green Automotive Products,” including E3 Spark Plugs. Use of these and other environmentally friendly auto care products, along with proper maintenance of your vehicle, goes a long way in helping to reduce harmful emissions

“Poor vehicle maintenance directly impacts the environment, with 10 percent of the nation’s automobiles causing 50 percent of the automotive pollution,” says Rich White, Executive Director of the Car Care Council. “With skyrocketing gas prices, people are wasting more money and polluting the environment if their vehicles are not running properly.”

Do your part to help drive a cleaner environment by keeping up to date with all manufacturer-recommended maintenance and by choosing products designed to improve both your vehicle’s performance and its eco-friendliness. That’s exactly the goal that E3 Spark Plugs’ founders had in mind when they went into the laboratories, on to the tracks, and back to the drawing board a time or two to develop a revolutionary spark plug technology. E3′s patented DiamondFire technology allows for a faster, more thorough burn that increases power output and fuel economy while reducing emissions in gasoline engines.

For a cleaner, stronger, greener ride, visit E3 Spark Plugs’ online catalog to find the perfect eco-friendly spark plugs for your ride. And look up a few of Earthgarage.com’s other eco-friendly car care picks including: TripleEdge Green Silicone Wiper Blades; Fuel Doctor; CarMD; Accutire Tire Gauge; Car Planet Cleaning Products; PLX Kiwi; Fuel Infusion; CarEconomy and MotorSilk.