E3 Spark Plugs News

If you like to ride motorcycles, there is a very good chance that sooner or later you will experience a “No Spark” situation. The scope of this article will focus on visual observations, the use of a multimeter or bulb tester, and the appropriate process of elimination to determine why your motorcycle spark plug(s) is not firing correctly.

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. (more…)

If your lawnmower performs poorly after being stored all winter, it’s probably time for routine maintenance. Most of us fail to realize the importance of small engine maintenance as a benefit to our landscaping efforts, to our pocketbooks and to our environment. Typically, if it cranks, there is a tendency to put off any equipment maintenance until next weekend. After all, what’s the harm in waiting?

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. (more…)

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.

Not all spark plugs are created equal. Some spark plugs are made to burn hotter than others. Making sure that you install the right spark plugs can make a critical difference in the way your engine performs.  Using spark plugs that burn too hot for your particular engine can result in pre-detonation and cause your engine to overheat. But if your spark plugs burn too cold, your engine may perform sluggishly and you can end up with carbon fouling requiring you to clean or replace your spark plugs.

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.

If your vehicle has a little less spunk lately, it might be time to change your spark plugs. A quick inspection can not only tell you if it’s time for new spark plugs, but can speak volumes about your automobile’s engine condition as well. Light brown or tan colored deposits on the tip of your spark plugs are normal. But deposits of different colors and consistencies can be indications of bigger problems. Here are a few things to look for:

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.

Compared to older competitive designs, E3 Spark Plugs‘ patented DiamondFire technology was recently and conclusively proven to provide more rapid and robust combustion by research engineers at Michigan Technological University.

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

Basically, indexing a car spark plug faces the open gap of the plug’s ground electrode toward the direction for the optimal burn of the fuel mix in an engine’s combustion chamber. Although technical experts often disagree as to the actual performance enhancement attained by indexing a car’s spark plugs, it can’t hurt. In fact, with the price of gasoline skyrocketing in today’s economy, do everything possible to reduce the amount of raw fuel that escapes from your car’s engine is probably worth the effort.

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. (more…)

Engineering research involving E3 spark plugs will be featured on an upcoming episode of Speed TV’s GEARZ starring Stacey David, a nationally recognized automotive expert. Each week on GEARZ, sponsored in part by E3 Spark Plugs, David pushes the limits of creativity and automotive logic, building some of the most unconventional, even downright crazy cars you’ve ever seen. GEARZ is geared toward teaching viewers all the tools and tips needed to build or customize a one-of-a-kind ride.

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!

171 years ago this month, the first known spark plug was invented by Edmond Berger, historians say. Unfortunately, Berger failed to patent his spark plug invention, so documented history points to Sir Oliver Lodge of England, whose sons parlayed the “Lodge Igniter” into a profitable company founded in 1903. The next year, Albert Champion, a world renowned bicycle and motorcycle racer who made extra cash by handcrafting spark plugs and selling them to friends, moved from France to Flint, Michigan and founded Champion Ignition Company. Investor drama left Champion jobless, but he soon found himself appointed president of the AC Spark Plug Company formed with backing from Buick Motor Co. AC spark  plugs were used in Charles Lindbergh’s and Amelia Earhart’s trans-Atlantic flights and fired the second and third stage rocket engines that took Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Mike Collins to the moon.

(more…)

Ever have a problem cranking up your ATV or snowmobiles engine in cold weather?  Most of the time, the issue lies in your batteries cold cranking amps and your spark plugs ability to develop a good spark in lower temperatures.  E3 Spark Plugs, the leading manufacturer of automotive and small-engine spark plugs, recently released its new line of powersport plugs, which offer a simple and easy way to ensure that your engine will fire no matter what the temperature.  With over 85% coverage for motorcycles and snowmobiles, and a more than majority coverage for ATV’s and personal watercraft vehicles, E3’s powersport plugs also improve horsepower and increase fuel efficiency. (more…)