Ethanol, a corn-based alternative fuel, comes with pros and cons.

Ethanol is an alcohol and alcohol separates from gasoline (called Phase Separation) in a relatively short time. In doing so, the alcohol attracts water molecules and gasoline sitting in holding tanks, gas cans or your car can become diluted. As the contaminated fuel mixes with the same amount of air as before, your engine is forced to operate at a lean condition. Running lean means hotter operating temperatures which can cause an increased wear factor for your car spark plugs. In addition, the diluted fuel has a reduced octane rating that may cause your engine to “knock” due to predestination. Some common engine problems associated with E10 Gasoline include:

• Lack of Performance
• Loss of Power
• Hard to Start
• Doesn’t Want to Idle
• Hesitates on Acceleration
• Stall at Slow Speeds

On a positive note, Ethanol is a leading alternative to fossil fuels and is considered to be a “green alternative”. Prior to the mid-1970s, most gasoline contained lead which was replaced by another oxygenating agent called MTBE (or Methyl-Tertiary-Butyl-Ether). Although oxygenates were found to reduce the carbon monoxide emissions from car engines, MTBE would later be scrutinized as a ground water contaminate. So, over 150 years after ethanol was first used to power a motor, the grain or sugarcane based fuel additive was back.

If your engine doesn’t run as well as it once did or if you’ve noticed a drop in gas mileage, it might be a good time to install new E3 car spark plugs. Our patented DiamondFire technology is proven to provide a cleaner, more thorough an engine’s combustion cycle. After extensive tests, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that E3’s “… technology offered clear advantages in HC and CO emissions control while at the same time improving power and fuel economy.” Plus, E3 is the ONLY car spark plug to be included in rulings by the EPA, cited as a “supplemental emissions control device.”

Make sure your motorcyle keeps its spark with E3 motorcycle spark plugs.

1)    The easiest starting point is to remove one of the motorcycle’s spark plugs and re-attach the spark plug wire. Holding the loose plug by its ceramic insulator, make certain the plug’s metal base is well grounded. Then, have someone bump the ignition switch or kick starter while you observe the plug’s ground electrode. If you see a blue or yellow spark bridge the gap, then you should have adequate fire to ignite the fuel/air mixture in that cylinder. If not:

2)    Be certain the motorcycle is turned on. That sounds simple but ignition switches can fail. Plus, on many newer models of street bikes, the motorcycle’s anti-theft system must receive a specified flow of juice or the engine will not start. This prevents a would-be thief from by-passing the switch and “hot wiring” the motorcycle’s ignition. With the key or switch in the “On” position, your multi-tester should display a positive electrical flow leaving the switch. If not, the switch may be broken or may have lost its ground.

3)    Once you have determined that you have power from the switch to the coil, use your multimeter or bulb tester to ensure that the current leaving the coil is reaching the spark plug cap. With the tester attached, you should get an “on” and an “off” reading for each engine revolution as someone tries to start the motor. If so, replace the failed plug with a new plug and repeat Step 1. If you do not get an alternating flow of current, then the spark plug wire or spark plug cap may need to be replaced.

4)    NOTE: On older motorcycles, you may also need to check the electrical flow on either side of the engine’s points and condenser. If the multi-tester stays “On” in Step 3 during cranking, the contact points are not closing correctly. If the tester stays “Off” in Step 3, the points may be stuck closed or the condenser may have a short. In either case, it’s best to replace the faulty ignition parts.

E3 motorcycle spark plugs feature our patented Edge-to-Edge DiamondFire technology and offer improved Energy, Efficiency and Ecology. Keep your wheels pointed at the road or the trail and “safe riding from all of us at E3 Spark Plugs.”

Make sure your lawn mower is really is a green machine with a new set of E3 spark plugs.

Well to start with, the Environmental Protection Agency estimates that older small engines like those used for lawn and garden equipment pose significant environmental problems. The EPA’s concern is based on the fact that poorly performing small engines are a major source of unburned fuel being emitted into the atmosphere through the engine’s exhaust system. In fact, recent studies suggest up to 30% of the fuel is emitted as unused “raw” gasoline.

Listed below are 5 Steps to Lawnmower Maintenance that can help you save gas, enjoy a more beautiful lawn and protect our environment in the process:

Step 1 – Check the Condition of the Gasoline
Inspect the gasoline that was left in your lawnmower’s tank and/or fill can during the dormant months. If you added a few drops of a fuel stabilizer before your equipment was stored, chances are the gasoline will be fine. If not, you may want to use a bulb siphon to remove the old fuel and start fresh. Since most pump gas today contains a percentage of renewable fuels like ethanol, it is always a good idea to inspect the motor’s carburetor for leaks. Some gasoline additives can have a harsh effect on metals, seals and gaskets.

Step 2 – Change the Engine Oil
Don’t even bother to inspect the engine oil. Just change it. Small engines will invariably crank easier and run smoother with fresh lubricants. Before you remove the drain plug, be sure to brush away any buildup of crude or debris. You should also use a catch pan and have the used motor oil disposed of properly. Avoid all temptations to pour any used motor oil on the ground as it can cause groundwater contamination that’s hazardous to everyone’s health. Most auto parts stores or hardware stores sell catch pans that can be returned to the store for disposal when it’s full.

Step 3 – Clean or Replace the Air Filter
Inspect the air filter. Most lawnmower air boxes have a wing nut for easy removal of the top plate. Remove the filter and carefully clean the air box with a soft cloth before reinstalling. Small engine air filters are relatively inexpensive and most were designed to be replaced rather than cleaned. If you’re in a bind and the filter is only mildly soiled, you can tap the unit squarely against a flat surface to remove excess debris. But, the airflow to your small engine is equally important as the fuel and spark, so pick up a new filter soon. In the long run, it will likely save you money and time.

Step 4 – Inspect the Cutting Edge of the Blade
Inspect the lawnmower’s blade. A dull blade can cause your gasoline-powered lawnmower engine to labor under the extra load as the blade drags through the grass that’s being cut. This causes your engine to use more fuel and often leaves your lawn with an uneven cut. If the forward edge of your lawnmower’s blade is rounded or dull, most small engine repair shops can sharpen the cutting edge. However, if the blade is gouged or chipped, installing a new blade is the better solution. In fact, a study at the University of Nebraska suggests lawnmowers with sharp blades use roughly 20% less fuel than mowers with worn blades. Plus, sharp blades cut your grass tips cleanly to produce a better looking and healthier lawn.

Step 5 – Install a New Spark Plug
According to the EPA, a traditional gas powered lawn mower can produce about the same amount of pollution as 40 new cars driven 12,000 miles. Since E3 spark plugs burn fuel more completely in the engine’s cylinder, installing a new plug (see the E3 Catalog for crossover numbers) in your lawnmower or leaf blower will save gas and your motor will emit less pollution into the air that we breathe. Plus, E3 spark plugs last longer and will help to reduce the growing number of spark plugs that end up in landfills around the world.

Approximately 54 million Americans mow their lawns every week, burning about 800 million gallons of gas per year and emitting tons of harmful pollutants into the atmosphere. Since lawn and garden equipment is loosely regulated, there is a growing concern that poor lawnmower maintenance may add to our nation’s problems with air pollution. As the saying goes, “Think Globally, Act Locally” and one of the best ways to fight global warming is getting better mileage from your small gas-powered engines. So, set a schedule for regular maintenance of your lawn and garden equipment and help reduce the amount of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and other harmful hydrocarbons that escape into the air we breathe.

Team Diva hat worn by reality show star and former Poison lead singer Bret Michaels.

E3 Spark Plugs sends congratulations to Poison rocker-turned-reality TV star Bret Michaels for nailing this season’s Celebrity Apprentice win despite a much-publicized bout of medical woes. Oh — and we dig that hat, Bret. You all know the one. Several times throughout the season, Bret rocked a spark plug- and feather-adorned cowboy hat by designer extraordinaire Amy Skaling, founder of Team Diva. Known as “Diva Amy” to her growing fan base (which also includes celebutantes Miley Cyrus and Paris Hilton), Skaling creates cowboy hats, caps, tank tops and bandanas embellished with an array of accessories including Swarovski crystals, nail heads, feathers and tiny ceramic skulls. Hers is a brawn-meets-bling style that’s getting lots of attention. Hey Amy – might we suggest using a shiny new E3 spark plug in your future designs?

Raygun / Sonic Disruptor Pistol by Scupltor "Skunk."

Team Diva’s designs got us wondering about other artistic uses of spark plugs and a Google search turned up an amazing sculptor who goes by the name “Skunk.” Also an avid biker, Skunk creates robots, ray guns and bicycle contraptions that bring to mind scenes from the sci-fi Western “Wild, Wild West.” His creations are made using bicycle chains, old gears, vending machine parts, discarded musical instruments and, of course, spark plugs. See if you can spot the spark plug in this image of a ray gun available via Skunk’s website.

Spark plug grasshopper featured on the Greensmithy Blog.

Oh, and then there’s this little guy, posted by blogger “Cameron” on the apparently defunct Greensmithy Blog. Not quite the glam of a Team Diva hat or the detail of a Skunk sculpture, but he’s got the warm and whimsical charm that only a spark plug bug can exude. Got some great spark plug art of your own to show off? Become a fan of the E3 Spark Plugs Facebook Fan Page and post your pics on our wall feed. And, watch for some incredible spark plug-inspired  tattoo art in an upcoming E3 Spark Plugs blog.

Don't let this happen to your spark plugs! Make sure you get the right hot or cold spark plug for your engine based on its model and use.

Spark plugs work by forcing electricity to arc across a gap, much like a bolt of lightning arcs from a cloud to the ground. A high voltage – anywhere from 40,000 to 100,000 volts – is needed to create a strong enough spark to ignite the fuel/air mixture and start your engine. All spark plugs feature ceramic inserts designed to insulate the high voltage at the electrode tip, where it can jump the gap and be directed into the engine’s cylinder. The resulting heat also helps to burn excess fuel and carbon deposits from the plug’s electrode.

Hot spark plugs feature a ceramic insulator designed with a smaller contact area surrounding the metal electrode to reduce heat transfer and keep the spark plug tip insulated. Cold spark plugs have a larger contact area and transfer more heat away from the spark plug tip. Because ceramic is such a poor conductor of heat, these spark plugs run cooler. Manufacturers specify a spark plug’s heat range using numbers but always ask before you buy as differing brands may use larger or smaller numbers to indicate a specific temperature range.

For many years, auto makers and mechanics recommended hot spark plugs for vehicles that primarily were driven slowly and for short distances, and cold spark plugs for automobiles driven on long distances and sustaining high speed highway use. Today, car and truck fuel/air mixtures and cylinder temperatures are electronically maintained within a much narrower range than before, primarily in an effort to minimize emissions. So, the practice has become a bit obsolete except when it comes to high performance race car engines, boat motors and truck engines. Because these engines generate crazy high heat, they often require colder spark plugs to keep the fuel/air mixture from igniting before the spark fires.

The best way to make sure you are using the right spark plug for your vehicle’s engine, based upon its primary use, is to check your vehicle owner’s manual. You also can find the right E3 spark plug for your car, truck, boat, power sports or lawn & garden equipment engine by checking our online interactive catalog.

Your spark plugs hold numerous clues about your engine's conditition.

A yellow glaze on the spark plug’s electrode and the tip can inhibit conductivity, keeping the spark from being able to jump the gap. Clean it by spraying your spark plug with brake cleaner, letting it soak for about 10 minutes, then wiping it with a clean cloth.

If your spark plug is white in color or appears blistered, that means something is making the plug run too hot. Check for problems in your engine’s cooling, a lean fuel mixture or incorrect ignition timing. A melted electrode on your spark plugs means that they’ve been running too hot for too long and could burn a hole through the top of a piston.

A black, feathery carbon deposit on your spark plugs can be an indication of a weak spark or an overly rich fuel mixture. Causes may include a stuck choke, misadjusted or heavy carburetor float, a leaky injector or carburetor needle valve, low coil output or high resistance in your spark plug wires. A dead oxygen sensor or coolant sensor also can be a cause of carbon fouling.

A heavier, oily black deposit means that oil is being sucked down into the combustion chamber, likely via worn valve guides, guide seals or piston rings or a cracked piston. Check for oil consumption problems including leaky valve cover gaskets, crankshaft end seals and oil pan gaskets. Tightening your automobile’s valve cover or pan bolts may prove a temporary fix, but you’ll likely need to replace the gasket.

A wet spark plug likely means that it hasn’t been firing due to engine flooding or a bad ignition cable. Dirt or moisture on the outside of the spark plug that provides a conductive path to ground, or an internal crack in the spark plug’s ceramic insulator that shorts the plug to ground also can be the culprit.

If your spark plugs’ electrodes are smashed flat or broken, they likely are the wrong spark plugs for your engine. If a spark plug is too long, it can protrude into the combustion chamber and hit the piston or a valve. This could not only shatter your spark plug into the piston, but shatter the piston itself or damage the head. A spark plug that is too short will cause your engine to buck. The spark won’t ignite your fuel correctly and can cause poor gas mileage, plus prompt your check engine lights. E3 Spark Plugs provides online catalogs to make sure you’ve got the right spark plug for automotive, power sports and lawn & garden equipment engines.

A split or chipped spark plug insulator is a sign of pre-detonation, also called “spark knock.” Check for engine overheating or ignition timing problems, a faulty EGR valve or excessive compression caused by a clogged combustion chamber.

Reading your spark plugs can provide multiple clues about your engine’s condition and save you tons of money.

In reality, spark plug technology hasn’t changed much since the original “J-Wire” side-wire electrode was developed and patented in 1904 and used in the Model T Ford.  Real-time combustion images were captured during advanced testing methods employed at Michigan Tech, a nationally-acclaimed automotive research facility, to show a comparison between conventional competitive designs and E3’s revolutionary DiamondFire technology. The images prove that E3’s “diamond-shaped” side-wire electrode projects the combustion spark in a way that more quickly ignites the air/fuel mixture, thereby creating a significantly faster and larger flame kernel.

In effect, this burns more of the available fuel, resulting in increased combustion efficiency for improved power and fuel economy with reduced emissions.

“I have had an active role in the automotive industry for about forty years, so new technology surprises are rare to me. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the scientific data from Michigan Tech when they tested the new E3 technology,” stated Jim McFarland, veteran automotive engineer, and Research consultant for E3.

While conducting engine dyno tests comparing E3 technology to competitive brands, Jeremy Worm, lead Research Engineer for the Advanced Power Systems Research Center at Michigan Tech stated, “We found that the E3 spark plug produces a faster burn, especially in the early stages of the combustion process.  In an engine, the early burn duration translates to the stability of the combustion process.  By making that early burn more stable, we can run more dilution in the cylinder, and that directly translates into improved engine efficiency.”

Backed by a five year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 Spark Plugs with DiamondFire technology, are now available for most automotive and motorsports applications at automotive retail stores nationwide.  For more information and complete test results, visit www.e3sparkplugs.com.

Ordinary Plug Flame Kernal vs. E3 Spark Plug Flame Kernal

Before you begin, you will need a spark plug wrench, a permanent marker and a pack of indexing shims. Almost any auto parts store that sells E3 car spark plugs should carry shim washers of differing thickness. It is also a good idea to check your car’s fuel mileage before you replace your car spark plugs for future comparisons. If you’re ready, let’s get started.

Step One – Use the spark plug wrench to remove the old plugs and purchase the correct E3 replacement plugs (see the Cross Reference Guide in the automotive section of the E3 Spark Plugs Catalog page on the company’s main website).

Step Two - This can require some detailed research but it is something you only have to do once (unless you change your engine’s head). To determine the location of the intake valves and exhaust valves in relationship to your car spark plugs will require a technical manual or a quick call to the service department of your local dealership. If all else fails, stop by any high performance speed shop and ask a professional.

Step Three – Scribe a vertical line with your felt marker from top to bottom on the outside of the ceramic insulator to denote the direction of the open end of the ground electrode. The idea is to orient the spark so the back side of the extending electrode does not block any part of the flame kernel from entering the combustion area. Some high performance engine builders prefer to orient the plug’s gap to face toward the exhaust valves while others recommend directing the spark at the opening for the intake valves. For your personal vehicle, just split the difference with the scribed line on your spark plugs and you should be fine.

Step Four – Remember to set the gap on your new plugs, then install each plug and torque to the recommended specifications (see Spark Plugs Installation & Gapping on the E3’s main website for gap/torque requirements). Now look at the direction of your scribed line as it relates to the location of your intake and exhaust valves.  Select an indexing shim that will allow the scribed line on the E3 spark plug to split the valve openings in the combustion chamber. For newbies, this is a trial & error approach and requires a little patience as you learn to allow for the thickness of the shim that you’re testing.

Step Five - When you’ve replaced all of the engine’s plugs, reinstall the car’s spark plug wires by firmly pressing the spark plug cap until it snaps over the terminal tip. Now start you motor and rev the engine the several times. The acceleration should be smooth and free of misfire or popping noises. It is unlikely that you will notice any performance difference right away. Even with finely-tuned high performance racing engines, the results of indexing the spark plugs is typically only seen on the tachometer or by using computerized data acquisition.

Almost any motor will operate more efficiently after replacing the spark plugs. To determine whether indexing your E3 spark plugs was worth the effort, consider keeping a gas mileage log. Although you should always see an improvement immediately after changing your car’s plugs, watch for any variance in performance that might show up in your notes as the spark plugs wear. Quality car spark plugs, like E3 DiamondFire plugs, are designed to last longer than standard plugs. Drive safely and join E3 in “Going Green for 2010″.

The episode centers on the work of a team of scientists and engineers at Michigan Technological University’s Keweenaw Research Center involving E3 spark plugs in automotive and snowmobile engines. They’re constructing a laboratory that will support a pressure vessel able to withstand pressures and temperatures that occur in most combustion applications – including inside spark plugs. The pressure vessel will allow scientists to study issues involving transport phenomena and thermo-chemical processes and related issues including flammability and safety; spark-ignited and diesel fuel-air mixing and combustion; and bio-fuels and alternative fuels mixing and combustion.

E3 Spark Plugs proudly supports the work of numerous researchers on the Michigan Tech team including principal Dr. Jeff Naber, Dr. Seong-Young Lee and research engineer Jeremy Worm. After all, E3’s diamond fire technology was developed and tested by top professors of combustion and engine dynamics at two leading engineering universities before hitting the market.

While filming, David and his crew visited the Keweenaw Research Center as well as Michigan Tech’s ion propulsion lab and driving simulator. They also visited the MTU Four Wheelers, a student group of four-wheel and off-road vehicle enthusiasts who share off-roading adventures and even help law enforcement in the search and rescue of lost individuals. David autographed the dashboards of several student vehicles, which undoubtedly are outfitted with E3 spark plugs.

Be sure to tune in for E3 Spark Plugs’ GEARZ plug!

Fast forward one century and the garden variety spark plug hasn’t changed much, outside of manufacturing materials and techniques to make them cheaper. That is, until E3 Spark Plugs entered the scene. We figured 100 years was plenty of time to go without a major advancement, and we had a gut feeling that a better, more environmentally sensitive product was possible. So, we headed back to school – literally – and recruited researchers specializing in combustion and engine dynamics from leading engineering universities.

The result was a totally revamped electrode design. Gone was the antiquated J-wire electrode. And after several years of testing and back-to-the-drawing-board drudgery, we debuted the DiamondFire spark plug design. The DiamondFire design features multiple sharp edges (rather than the traditional single edge) to the circular edge of the center electrode, allowing the spark to seek the path of least resistance. This design boosts combustion pressure and completely burns the fuel/air mixture within the cylinder, allowing for higher power output, increased fuel economy and reduced emissions. That means you get more horsepower using less fuel and leaving less mess in the air, helping to reduce air pollution and global warming.

We have verified every claim via testing using the most sophisticated diagnostic equipment available and via independent testing. Even the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) reports that E3 Spark Plugs’ DiamondFire technology offers “clear advantages in HC and CO emissions control while at the same time improving power and fuel economy.” In fact, E3 Spark Plugs is the only spark plug mentioned in EPA rulings as a supplemental emissions control device.

We’ve come a long way, baby! Find out for yourself how E3’s DiamondFire spark plugs can improve the performance of your engines from your Winnebago to your weedeater. Browse our website to find and E3 spark plugs dealer near you or send us a comment or question via our convenient online email form.