E3 Spark Plugs News

E3 Spark Plugs and American Powertrain this year are partnering with Motorz TV, the web-based television show devoted to how-tos for the Average Joe. Executive Producer/Host Chris Duke “keeps it real” by showing auto enthusiasts how to install products on their vehicles with common tools found in any regular guy’s garage.

Chris Duke, Executive Producer and Host of Motorz TV, sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs and American Powertrain.

Duke is a former Senior Editor of Ford Truck World Magazine, which began as his own hobby website, “F-15 World.” He also started Truckblog and Muscle Car Blog and publishes the Truck Hownd aftermarket product guide. Though he’s a passionate gearhead, Duke has a few other interests, too. He founded Appmoto and Runner+, an online community of more than 9,000 runners from more than 115 countries.

Recent Motorz TV episodes featured instructionals on vehicle detailing, auxiliary lighting, truck bed protection, stereo installation, underdrive pulley installation and – our personal favorite – a full episode devoted to spark plugs, which Duke calls the “single most important part of your engine.” Of course, we agree wholeheartedly.

Motorz TV can be seen via 33 media outlets, including the Motorz.TV website; broadcast, cable and satellite TV networks; set-top boxes such as Apple TV, Google TV and TiVo; and via mobile apps. Got a question for Duke? Viewers who write in to the show and have questions answered during the “Letterz” segment will get free E3 spark plugs and other prizes.

Hey car buffs – Looking for something different to do with your vacation time this year? E3 Spark Plugs offers its list of three must-see automotive museums.

Johnny B. Goode guitar car, a favorite exhibit at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, Illinois - an E3 Spark Plugs' top pick for great auto museums.

Gilmore Car Museum, Hickory Corners, Michigan: Named one of the nation’s top five car museums, the Gilmore Car Museum features eight historic barns full of vintage cars, including an authentic London double-decker bus and a collection of vintage pedal cars you might remember from your own childhood; a mammoth collection of hood ornaments and name badges; and a re-created 1930s service station. When you get the munchies, stop by George & Sally’s Blue Moon Diner for a Chicago style hot dog, frozen custard and some 1940s nostalgia. Until moving nearly 800 miles in 2004, the 1941 diner served up tens of thousands of cups of coffee to locals and weary travelers for nearly sixty years in its original Meridian, CT locale.

Volo Auto Museum, Volo, Illinois: This family-friendly museum offers 30 acres of attractions and activities for every age. In addition to a history-rich vintage car collection, kids will get a kick out of the Hall of Fame collection, which includes a zany mix of car creations inspired by storybook and cartoon characters such as Cinderella, Buggs Bunny and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, plus entertainers Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. A favorite at the Volo Auto Museum is the 24-foot-long guitar-shaped Johnny B. Goode car, a tribute to the “Father of Rock & Roll” Chuck Barry. There’s also a full section dedicated to military history, and a collection of famous cars featured in television shows and films available for rent to businesses and charities.

International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum, Talladega, Alabama: It was around long before Will Farrell donned a Ricky Bobby race suit and thanked Baby Jesus for PowerAde. And it features an awe-inspiring collection of automobiles and memorabilia from throughout racing history. Among the vehicles on display at the International Motorsports Hall of Fame & Museum are Indy cars driven by Andy Granitelli and Billy Vukovich; a #3 Goodwrench Chevy driven by Dale Earnhardt and the No. 33 Skoal Bandit Monte Carlo that Harry Gant drove in his final race. Other items include hundreds of trophies, uniforms, helmets and artwork from nearly every type of motorsport. And hardcore racing fans love the track tours, running all year except during race weeks in April and October.

Do you have a favorite automotive attraction not on the E3 Spark Plugs’ list? Leave us a comment. And if you’re planning a road trip of any sort, be sure to pick up a set of fuel- and cash-saving E3 car spark plugs, truck spark plugs or motorcycle spark plugs first.

These days, automakers and drivers alike are looking for innovative ways to save fuel. If you drive a Ford, spark plugs by E3 Spark Plugs and a host of planned changes could make the future F-150 models among the most fuel efficient trucks on the road, officials say.

2011 Ford Harley Davidson F-150. The next generation of F-Series trucks may feature magnesium and aluminum in place of steel to lighten up on weight and fuel consumption.

Tough new federal regulations designed to boost fuel economy in vehicles nationwide mandate that light trucks and SUVs must operate at 30mpg by 2016. Ford designers and engineers are working to meet or beat that deadline with an F-150 that’s just as strong as today’s models. They’re focusing on the F-150 because of its staggering popularity. In fact, Ford’s F-Series has been the most popular vehicle sold in the U.S. nearly every year over the past three decades.

One strategy is to reduce the weight of the next-generation F-150 and other Ford vehicles by 250 to 750 pounds using aluminum and high-strength steel. Sources say that Ford is considering replacing the F-150′s convention steel-ladder frame with a new platform that uses magnesium-aluminum alloy. Magnesium is 36 percent lighter than aluminum and 78 percent lighter than iron. And considering that magnesium is the eighth-most common element on Earth, easy to procure and highly recyclable, it’s a potential money saver as well.

The use of magnesium in auto manufacturing has increased over the past decade. Ford previously shaved 22 pounds from the 2010 Lincoln MKT by using aluminum and magnesium panels rather than steel in the crossover’s lift gate. Magnesium has helped lighten BMW engine blocks and the Chevrolet Corvette’s front suspension, too. To ensure that the lighter-weight F-150 doesn’t compromise in towing and hauling strength, the next Ford F-150s likely will feature elements of unibody construction and aluminum body panels, though the cab and cargo box will be separate and interior of the cargo box will be made of steel for durability.

The 2011 F-150′s three new engines already give it class-leading fuel economy, and reducing the truck’s weight should add another gas-saving boost, says Ford. Spark plugs by E3 takes fuel efficiency even further with patented DiamondFire technology recognized by the EPA for its emissions control benefits. Got thoughts on Ford’s plans for the F-150? Leave us a comment.

Hey, E3 Spark Plugs racing fans – Lookout for Mitchum Motorsports‘ new Chevrolet Camaro. After a great 2010 season and a successful test at The Roar Before the 24 in Daytona, the team decided it was time to add a second GS class Camaro to its Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge program for the 2011 season.

Mitchum Motorsports' #6.2 Chevrolet Camaro. Photo by Above the Fold Communications, courtesty of Mitchum Motorsports.

“We have come a long way in the 12 months since we returned to GRAND-AM competition just prior to the Homestead race last year,” says team principal Chris Mitchum. “The addition of the second Camaro speaks volumes to the team’s commitment and level of effort everyone has shown. We developed the Camaro last year and it is now poised to run at the front, so adding a second car to the program makes a lot of sense. [Having] two cars, with four top notch drivers gives us the best chance at winning races and competing for the championship.”

In the driver’s seats this year will be Joey Atterbury and Lawson Aschenbach in the #6.2 car, and Jeff Bucknum and Robert Stout in the #6 car. Atterbury is fresh off a strong rookie season that landed him three top-ten finishes. Bucknum and Aschenbach are both GM factory drivers with lots of experience in GRAND-AM racing. And Robert Stout joins the team straight off his World Challenge championship season, wherein he racked up five victories and nine podiums in just 12 race starts.

E3 Spark Plugs is excited to be among Mitchum Motorsports sponsors, along with Sunoco fuels, GM, Lucas Oil and Rockstar Energy Drinks.

“These are all great products and we are excited to be associated with them,” Mitchum said. “To have them come on board both cars in 2011 is an honor for us and we plan to represent them to the best of our abilities… Without supporters like these we couldn’t be as competitive as we are.”

If you’re at the tracks or watching the races on TV, keep a look out for the new Camaro. The #6.2 will sport the same flat black and gloss yellow livery that it did for the 2010 season. The #6 car will debut with an inverse design featuring a white body with black stripes. And if you’re looking to get your own car in racing shape, or simply give it a little boost on the roadways, be sure to pick up a set of E3 performance spark plugs.

Surfing the web recently, we came across something that really hit home with all of us here at E3 Spark Plugs. Honda’s “The Power of Dreams” documentary series celebrates those who found the courage to follow their dreams, even at steep costs, and to turn failures into successes. The series of short films, available online, features an array of individuals including automotive and robotics engineers, racers, athletes, feature filmmakers, astronauts, aquanauts and others. Many of their successes positively impact not just the lives of those featured in the series, but lives of tens of thousands of people nationwide, even worldwide.

Featured in the series are several famous names including Indy car racer Danica Patrick, skateboarding legend Tony Hawk and Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman, screenwriters whose feature film credits include “Star Trek” and “Transformers.” Others featured are engineers whose names you’ll likely never hear, but whose work affects your life every minute that you or your family is on the road. These individuals spend their lives working to make your vehicles safer, stronger, more fuel efficient and environmentally sensitive.

Among the films, one titled “Failure: The Secret to Success” was of particular interest to us here at E3 Spark Plugs. Our founders and early partners remember well the trial-and-error period we endured while working to revolutionize spark plug technology, creating a product that would help drivers conserve fuel, save money and lighten the burden on our environment. Early on, it seemed an impossible feat to many, sometimes even to ourselves. How could one make such a big impact by changing something as simple as a spark plug design?

Well, after many failures and back-to-the-drawing-board experiences, we finally succeeded – in a big way. E3 Spark Plugs’ patented DiamondFire technology does everything it was designed to do. Developed and tested with help from scientists and engineers at several leading research and technology universities, our spark plugs are proven to help drivers conserve fuel and save money. And the E3 spark plug is the only spark plug deemed an environmental emissions control device by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Two interviewees in Honda’s “Failure: The Secret to Success” documentary say it best:

“We can only make fantastic advances in technology through many failures.” – Takeo Fukui, former President and CEO of Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (2003-2009)

“Challenging the impossible is something only humans can do and it’s something we should do.” - Tatsuya Okabe, PhD, Chief Engineer of Brain Machine Interface at the Honda R&D Fundamental Technology Research Center.

Do you have an inspiring failure-to-success story? We want to hear it. Leave us a comment here on our blog.

Kevin and Sammy Swindell, pictured on the podium at the 2010 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals, have racked up a combined seven Chili Bowl titles. Photo by STLRacing.com.

Kevin Swindell made history at the 2011 Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals by winning his second consecutive title – but he had to beat his own dad to do it. Kevin’s repeat win came only after holding off a final-lap charge from his father and five-time Chili Bowl champion Sammy. When the dust settled on the 50-lap main event, the two Swindells were joined by New Zealander Michael Pickens, who overcame trouble early in the event to make a hard-charging comeback; Oklahoman Jonathan Beason; and Bryan Clauson, who led the race’s first 12 laps.

Kevin’s victory marks the seventh time in the Chili Bowl’s 25-year history that a Swindell has stood in victory lane. None of Sammy’s five wins were consecutive, however. In any case, it was only fitting that the family with the most Chili Bowl Nationals wins would take home trophies from its Silver Anniversary event.

A 2006 Houston High School graduate, Kevin began racing karts at age five – before he could ride a bicycle. Over the years, he has racked up nearly 80 wins in Sprints, Midgets, Mini-Sprints, Karts, Quarter Midgets and Road Race Karts and landed “Rookie of the Year” props in two classes from the National Sprint Car Poll. Dad Sammy started racing at age 17, winning 11 feature events in his rookie year and going on to become one of the most recognized names in American motorsports.

E3 Spark Plugs congratulates Kevin, Sammy and all the winners on the tracks at this year’s Lucas Oil Chili Bowl Nationals. Visit the Chili Bowl website for full results of the week-long event. And be sure to pick up a set of E3 performance spark plugs before you next hit the tracks, roadways or off-road terrain.

If you live in a state that requires annual or biannual smog and emissions tests on your vehicle, E3 Spark Plugs has your automotive cheat sheet. Failing or dodging your mandated emissions test can result in your being denied registration of your vehicle and rack up legal infractions and fines. But a few simple steps can help assure your ride passes with flying colors.

A few simple steps, including installing a new set of E3 spark plugs, can help assure your vehicle passes emissions testing.

1. Get an oil & filter change: Dirty oil results in dirty emissions. Be sure to get your oil changed in the days just before you vehicle undergoes testing. Don’t forget to change the oil and air filters while you’re at it. If your fuel filter is five years old or older, it will need changing, too.
2. Check for leaks: These include any potential leaks in the hoses of your engine compartment (especially vacuum lines). Replace any hoses that show signs of leaks or are simply beginning to wear out. Give the engine a look look-over. If you see oil residue, your vehicle likely is losing oil pressure and the culprit may be a blown gasket. Also check for exhaust leak. The simplest way? Just start up and rev your engine. If your muffler hollers, you might have an exhaust leak.
3. Check the positive crankcase valve: Another easy check. Just give it a quick shake and listen for a clicking sound. That will be your cue that it’s working fine. If you don’t hear a click, head to the mechanic’s shop or auto parts store.
4. Test your battery: A weak battery can affect your fuel injector’s performance and alter the outcome of your smog test.
5. Change your spark plugs and check your spark plug wires: Worn or fouled spark plugs, as well as worn spark plug wires can result in less-than-stellar results on your emissions test. Of course, we recommend E3 spark plugs. Our DiamondFire Technology allows your vehicle to create more power using less fuel than conventional spark plug designs. And it’s the only spark plug recognized by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) as an emissions control device. Also be sure to check your spark plug wires and replace any that look worn.
6. Fill up with premium gasoline: We know, we know – gas prices are crazy these days. But premium gasoline is cleaner and more environmentally friendly. So one fill-up just before your test will be worth the extra cost.
7. Bring your vehicle in warm: Ideally, run it for 10 to 15 minutes each on the highway and on city streets. This will help burn off any emissions you don’t want showing up on your test. And if possible, check the weather forecasts and schedule your test on a sunny day. Rainy and cool weather require you or your emissions testing mechanic to run your vehicle’s engine for a longer period of time before administering the test.

Even if your state doesn’t require emissions or smog testing, we at E3 Spark Plugs encourage you to keep your vehicle in its cleanest running condition possible. Dirty emissions pollute the environment and put you and your family at risk of cardiac and respiratory ailments.

$36,500 Renault F1 chess set

Here at E3 Spark Plugs, we’re about energy, ecology and efficiency in your drive, whether it’s the family sedan, your weekend muddin’ truck or the sleek, strong racecar you’re hoping will win big at the tracks. But we’re always amazed at those who see a simple spark plug as a thing of artistic value. And this time, we’ve found some of the coolest spark plug art we’ve seen. Chess, anyone?

Artist Armando Ramirez has designed two chess sets that will make any auto buff proud to own. Each of the boards and game pieces are made using scrap metal including leftover metal pieces from a die machine; cogs, bearings and Bendix caps from auto electrical systems; screws; and, of course, spark plugs. The first, titled “Recycling Challenge” features kings, pawns and horses made from automotive cogs, queens made from cogs and bearings, and bishops made with spark plugs and towers from cogwheels. The chessboard is made using a metal sheet resting on a platform made of ornate iron wires and Bendix caps. It retails for $176.95.

Where the “Recycling Challenge” chess set is designed to have a rough finish and can feature smudges and scratches, his “Rustic Warriors” chess set has a more polished look. Spark plugs again do battle as bishops. Pawns are made of heavy boots and sprockets. Each piece has a solid and study feel.  And the tiered chessboard makes a clanging sound. Retail will set you back $492.95, but both sets are available at steep discounts from Novica.com, which sells unique works by artists and artisans around the world in association with National Geographic.

Now, a little something for the big ballers: Formula 1 auto racing may not have quite the fan base in the U.S. that it does everywhere else on the globe, but you can’t help but want one of these. The Renault F1 chess set features a chessboard made of the same carbon fiber used to make F1 cars and chess pieces made from assorted parts of F1 car wings, hubs, uprights, cockpits and suspensions. Materials used include leather, stainless steel and titanium. It’s hands-down the sleekest, baddest chess set you’ll ever own – that is, if you can afford the $36,511 price tag. Unfortunately, the website that sells it appears to be down right now. We’ll let you know if it pops back up. Meanwhile, save your pennies. Better yet, why not create your own chess set using your old E3 spark plugs and other trash-bound stuff cluttering your garage. Just be sure to post a photo our E3 Spark Plugs Facebook fan page.

E3 spark Plugs offers tips to winterize your boat so you can hit the water hard come springtime.

If you’re a hard-core duck hunter, you can skip this E3 Spark Plugs blog post seeing how you’re probably in your boat with a site line on a feathered target right now. Otherwise, your boat is likely out of the water and out of mind. Come springtime, you might wish we weren’t right about that “out of mind” part. Lucky for you, we’ve got some great tips for winterizing your boat and motor so you can hit the water hard first thing this spring.

1. If you’ve used your boat in the salt water, flush out your engine with fresh water. Salt water and salt deposits can block strainers and pipes, and can cause corrosion and rust inside your engine. A thorough flush will prevent costly damages. Spray down your trailer after each salt water excursion too. This can add a full 10 years to its life.
2. Change the oil before you store your engine for the winter. Fresh oil eliminates problems associated contamination by moisture and engine deposits and can cause spark plug fouling.
3. Make sure you change the oil in your engine’s lower unit too. Synthetic oil is recommended because it’s much more tolerant of moisture.
4. Empty that gas tank. Today’s ethanol-enhanced fuel blends absorb water and lead to what is called “phase separation,” which means that the ethanol/water mixture drops out of the gasoline and settles in the bottom of your tank – the very spot from which your engine draws fuel. Needless to say, this can wreak havoc on an engine. To avoid problems, disconnect the fuel line from the motor and allow it to run itself out of fuel. Add a stabilizer to stabilize any small amount of fuel remaining in the tank, tighten down the fuel cap and refuel in the spring. While you’re at it, replace your fuel filter.
5. Once your engine runs dry, remove your spark plugs and fog the pistons and cylinder walls with fogging oil. You can pick up a can from any marine supplier. Also, spray the engine down with an anti-corrosive spray. Make sure you coat the electrical connections, as they’re most prone to rust.
6. Remove the battery, charge it up and store it inside for the winter, along with all electronic gadgets such as your GPS unit. These are easy targets for thieves.
7. Get yourself a new set of E3 boat spark plugs. Says one reviewer on a recent forum: “I have a friend that just replaced his plugs in his ’93 Ocean Runner 200 with new E3 spark plugs. I went out with him for a ride… I swear the motor sounded better than ever & gained about 250 rpm. WOT, it’s running 5900. It does not smoke as much as before and after trolling for two hours we removed a couple of plugs and there was NO sign of fouling. Here’s the big one: It gained 4.5 mph.”

See you on the water next spring!

We’ve all heard that simple measures like changing your spark plugs and filters and keeping your tires inflated can help save fuel. But exactly how much do those savings equal in dollars? It could be quite a lot, considering this winter’s unusual rise in gas prices. In a typical year, gas prices drop a few cents after Labor Day and rarely break $3 through the fall and winter, say economists with the Energy Information Administration. The National Association of Convenience Stores agrees, adding that retailers switch from more expensive summer blends to less expensive blends in the fall, and traditionally see prices at their lowest in January. Unfortunately, this year is anything but typical, with gas prices breaking $3 per gallon in most markets nationwide.

Changing your spark plugs a little early can save you a lot in gas mileage.

Here are some numbers to put it all in perspective. Crude oil prices are nearing $90 a barrel, spurred upward in part by a weakening of the dollar. When the dollar drops, investors are quick to bid on crude oil, driving up the per-barrel costs. For every dollar that crude oil prices rise, drivers pay about 2.5 cents more at the pump.

So how – and how much – can you save?

According to AAA, replacing your spark plugs before their stated life span is up can save up to $450 a year in wasted fuel. It’s during the last 20% of a spark plug’s life that misfires and incomplete combustion occurs most frequently, so changing them before you hit that last stretch can save you money, time and frustration.

Changing your air filter every 10,000 miles (about once a year for typical commuters) can save up to $270 a year. Dirty filters eat up your car’s fuel efficiency by up to 10 percent.

Underinflated tires can cost you upwards of $600 in wasted fuel each year. Plus, they wear faster. What do your tire replacements cost? Add the potential costs associated with the increased risk of a tire-related car crash and it’s clear – keeping your tires inflated to the proper levels should be a non-negotiable no-brainer.

So far – that’s an average $1,320 you can save this year! Keeping your cool behind the wheel also saves. Aggressive driving with rapid acceleration and breaking can cut your gas mileage by five percent on city streets and a whopping 33 percent at highway speeds. Seriously. Chill out, dude.

Another tip – If you’ve to a load of errands to run, plan to run them all in one trip. Several cold-start short trips can suck up twice as much fuel as a longer trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

Follow these tips and stick to E3 spark plugs for even more savings. Our DiamondFire technology means a stronger, cleaner, more efficient burn.