E3 Spark Plugs News

Like your girl's hot new haircut, an aftermarket upgrade to your ride can make you feel like you've got something brand new.

E3 Spark Plugs wasn’t too surprised to see results of a recent survey that shows Americans are dodging that “four-year itch” and keeping their cars for longer than ever before. After all, the economy’s tight, gas prices continue to climb and – thankfully – many of today’s automotive parts and engine components are built to last.

According to R.L. Polk, a leading automotive market research firm, Americans are keeping new cars for an average 63.9 months – up 4.5 months from the same period in 2009. And we’re keeping used cars for 46.1 months, up 3.7 months from 2009. That’s a combined average of 52.2 months of ownership.

Longer ownership is getting easier, too. Many routine tune-up items that once required replacement every 15,000 miles today are good for up to 100,000 miles. Others may not even exist in newer automobiles. More efficient internal combustion engines help your spark plugs keep their spark for longer and are less wearing on your spark plug wires. Newer ignitions with an ignition coil pack for each cylinder do away with rotors and distributor caps altogether.

To help stave off that four-year itch for something new in the driveway, auto owners increasingly are turning to aftermarket upgrades. According to SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association), consumer demand for aftermarket products hit a high pace in the first quarter of 2010 and continues. Upgrading your factory-installed radio to a new surround-sound stereo system with an iPod deck or installing a flashy new set of allow wheels and tires will give your ride a bit of a pride jolt for a lot less than buying a new vehicle will cost. Remember when your ol’ lady got that new hairdo and a slinky new dress to match? Admit it – You secretly felt like you got a whole new girlfriend without the cost of a breakup or an Internet dating site fee. We bet you even splurged on a few more nights out on the town with your eye candy upgrade. Treat your old car the same and you’ll get that same renewed pride taking her down the highway.

Have you upgraded your ride lately? E3 Spark Plugs wants to see your results. Leave a comment on our blog or post a pic on our Facebook fan page.

Don't be this guy. Before you hit the slopes, pack a snowmobiling emergency kit (including extra spark plugs), buddy up with a fellow sledder and call your mom.

Snowmobiling is in full swing right now, and sheriff’s deputies and rescue workers are reminding riders to take along emergency supplies – including an extra set of snowmobile spark plugs.

Just this week, sheriff’s deputies and rescue workers in Oneida, NY were dispatched to help a stranded snowmobiler who ran his Ski Doo across a swamp area just off the main snowmobiling trail. Not a smart idea, for sure. When his sled started to break through ice covering the swamp, the driver accelerated, hoping it would help keep him on the surface. No such luck. The sled hit a patch of cattails and deep water and promptly sank.

Fortunately, the driver (whose name we won’t mention so as to spare the guy a little humiliation) was able to keep his head and his cell phone above water long enough to call 911. By the time a crew from the local fire department showed up in their ATR, the unlucky snowmobiler had climbed his way out of the chest-deep swamp water to higher ground. He ended up in the hospital – no word on whether his snowmobile made it out of the swamp.

What’s the moral of this story? Any avid snowmobiler will tell you that an emergency pack and a little common sense are critical on the slopes. Stay on marked trails, bring a buddy and let your friends and family know where you’ll be riding and what time they can expect you back home. Make sure your supply pack includes:

• A change of clothes
• A flashlight and batteries
• A Tow strap
• Matches
• A cell phone
• A GPS unit
• A compact reflective emergency blanket in case your GPS unit and cell phone fail
• An extra set of spark plugs

E3 snowmobile spark plugs are ideal for snowmobiles. They offer a stronger, cleaner burn that affords your engine more power and won’t muck up the environment. Cruise our online catalog to find the right spark plugs for your snowmobile, or find an authorized E3 power sports spark plugs dealer near you.

Ed "Iron Man" Kretz, winner of the inaugural Daytona 200.

We’re betting many of the beautiful bikes headed to Daytona Beach Bike Week next weekend will be powered with E3 motorcycle spark plugs. After all, they offer a stronger, cleaner and more economical drive than any other motorcycle spark plug on the market. But do you know the history behind the most famous motorcycling event in America? In honor of Bike Week’s 70th anniversary, here’s a little American Biker History 101.

Bike Week has its roots in the inaugural running of the Daytona 200, which took place in January of 1937. Riding a souped up Indian motorcycle, Ed Kretz hit an average 72.34 mph throughout the 3.2-mile beach and road course to cross the finish line first. Known as the “Iron Man” for his amazing endurance on a bike, the Kretz was considered the greatest motorcycle racer of his time and one of the sport’s first major stars (Son, Ed Kretz, Jr. would follow in his footsteps, racing throughout the 1950s and 1960s).

The Daytona 200 quickly gained popularity and ran through 1941 – the year America formally declared war on Japan and entered World War II. The next year, the American Motorcycling Association cancelled the Daytona 200 “in the interests of national defense.” Fuel, tires and key engine components were needed for the war effort and rationed. Still, hard-core racing fans and partiers showed up on the Daytona Beach sands anyway, holding an “unofficial” event that would morph into the official “Bike Week.”

The Daytona 200 revved back up in 1947, promoted by the legendary Bill France. As a teenager, France irked his folks by skipping school to make laps in the family Model T Ford, then racing home before his dad got back from work. So it was no surprise when France went on to co-found NASCAR. The official return of the Daytona 200 (also known as the “Handlebar Derby”) proved so successful that the city fathers appealed to the locals to open their homes to visiting bikers and fans. Area hotels and campgrounds were booked solid and the race boasted a record 176 riders.

The last Daytona 200 raced on the sand was in 1960. The event moved to the Daytona International Speedway in 1961. Meanwhile, Bike Week events surrounding the race grew in number and notoriety. Tensions between visiting (or “invading,” some argued) bikers, locals and law enforcement grew, prompting a mid-1980s task force organized by the city and the Daytona Beach Chamber of Commerce. Understanding the economic impact of Bike Week, they set out to make the event a bit more community-friendly. Today, Bike Week remains as rowdy as ever. But it’s organized in a way that keeps both the locals and the visiting motorcycling enthusiasts (who come from around the world) happy.

If you’re headed to Daytona next weekend, be sure to stock up on a set of E3 motorcycle spark plugs before hitting the road. Drive safe, party responsibly and raise a toast to Ed “Iron Man” Kretz.

E3 Spark Plugs announces their new associate sponsorship of off-road racer Rick Huseman, 2010 Dirt Sports Magazine’s “Driver of the Year”.  With back-to-back championships, one in the TORC Series and another in the Lucas Oil Off Road Series, Rick has racked up awards and accolades from across the racing industry.

Rick Huseman, driver of the number-36 Pro 4×4 Toyota Tundra, is making his mark on short-course off-road racing with a winning attitude and an innovative approach to his racing strategy.  In his 12 years of racing, Huseman has scored 29 victories in Off Road Racing.  He won his first PRO 4×4 championship in The Off Road Championship (TORC) Series in 2009.  He followed that up by winning the Unlimited Pro-4 championship in the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) in 2010 in dominating fashion.  Huseman drove his number 36 Monster Energy/Traxxas/ Toyota to 10 victories out 15 rounds of racing.  This amazing feat has placed him in the record book for the most single season wins in short-course history.  In TORC, Rick won five races and podiumed in 10 of the 12 rounds of racing. He also took five Oakley Bomb awards for pulling the fastest lap time during a race.

E3 Spark Plugs Vice-President of Sales and Marketing, Steve Joiner, first heard about Rick Huseman and his winning ways through the company’s involvement with the Team Lucas sponsorship of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series. “Rick’s determination and ‘drive to win’ attitude makes him the perfect partner for E3,” stated Joiner.  “You never know when signing a sponsorship what the future will bring, but with Rick’s track record, we’re pretty sure we are teamed with a winner.”

Rick is very excited to be involved with E3 Spark Plugs as well, saying “E3 represents new technology, increased power and superior performance, that’s what we look for when selecting products for our race trucks.  You can’t win out here if you’re not using the best! I was pumped when I learned that E3 would be onboard as one of the sponsors for the 2011 series.  We are looking forward to taking E3 and my other sponsors to the winner’s circle a lot this year”

Rick Huseman Racing will kick-off the 2011 season in the LOORRS on March 19th at Firebird Raceway, Phoenix, AZ.  The TORC Series gets underway on April 30th at Cycle Ranch in San Antonio, TX. For more information on Rick Huseman and his racing program visit the website:RickHusemanRacing.com.

Backed by a five year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 Spark Plugs, with their patented 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. They are now available for most automotive, lawn & garden and power sports applications at automotive and home improvement retail stores nationwide. For more information and complete test results, visit www.e3sparkplugs.com.

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History was made at the Daytona 500 this weekend. E3 Spark Plugs congratulates Trevor Bayne, whose never-saw-it-comin’ victory made him the first driver to win the Daytona 500 in his first attempt since Lee Petty won the inaugural event in 1959. As if that wasn’t enough, Bayne also is the youngest Daytona 500 winner to date, beating former record-holder Jeff Gordon by five years, six months and 11 days. Gordon was 25 when he landed the checkered flag in 1997. Bayne turned 20 on Saturday, the day before the race.

20-year-old Trevor Bayne became the youngest Daytona 500 winner, and the first to win the race in his first attempt since the inaugural event. Congrats from E3 Spark Plugs! Image courtesy of NASCAR.

Many racing pros and fans were expecting the unexpected this year, given the recent repaving of the Daytona International Speedway. The last time the race took place on new pavement was in 1979 when Cale Yarbrough and Donnie Allison wrecked in Turn 3 on the last lap and Yarbrough and Bobby Allison duked it out on the infield grass while Richard Petty blasted in from nowhere to win the race. But nobody expected Bayne’s win – including Bayne himself.

“I keep thinking I’m dreaming,” Bayne, who races for Wood Brothers Racing, told reporters in Victory Lane. “Our first 500 — are you kidding me? To win our first one in our second-ever Cup race, I mean this is just incredible. .. It’s crazy to get my first win before a Nationwide win — I didn’t know how to get to Victory Lane.”

On behalf of all of us here at E3 Spark Plugs, and our E3 Spark Plugs racing pros and fans, congratulations, Trevor! We look forward to seeing much more of you on the tracks.

The Daytona International Speedway's recent repaving means a faster, smoother, more thrilling Daytona 500. Photo: International Speedway Corp.

This Sunday’s Daytona 500 promises a more intense race than ever, if testing/practice laps and last Saturday’s Budweiser Shootout are any indication. E3 Spark Plugs is excited to see competitors in the nation’s most prestigious racing event battle it out on the newly repaved Daytona International Speedway. Dubbed “The Great American Race,” the Daytona 500 offers the biggest total prize money payout (upwards of $18 million) of any motorsports event in the U.S. and boasts a sold-out crowd each year. This year, the thrills and chills come even faster.

Last year, a pothole caused two major race delays that lasted a total of 2.5 hours, triggering a mass exodus of fans and TV viewers and prompting speedway officials to fast-track plans to repave the 2.5-mile track. First opened in 1959 and last repaved in 1978, the track had had all it could take of the scorching Florida summers, abrasive sand and sea air. Work started less than 12 hours after Kevin Harvick won the Coke Zero 400 on July 4. Within five months, workers completely tore up and replaced the entire track, layer by layer, using 50,000 tons of asphalt. By December 15, the new track was ready for a Goodyear tire test with 18 drivers.

Test and practice laps proved exciting enough. But Saturday night’s Budweiser Shootout, won by Kurt Busch, proved the new track a game-changer. Speeds hit 207 mph, drivers broke up into two-car groups and the 75-lap race featured a record 28 lead changes. Faster speeds, less brake usage, better grip and fewer worn tires mean more competitors in the race for longer periods. Things just got tougher for drivers.

“This is more of a chess game,” Jeff Burton told reporters. “This is going to be, ‘When do I get aggressive; when do I not get aggressive?’ A lot of times on the old surface, your car dictated when you could and when you couldn’t. What’s going to dictate that this time is how many laps are left.”

E3 Spark Plugs wishes all the Daytona 500 competitors luck this weekend. And if you’re looking to boost your own performance on the tracks or on the roadways, pick up a set of E3 car spark plugs or truck spark plugs. See you in Daytona!

It’s a dispute that just gets hotter and hotter: How often should you change your oil? Here at E3 Spark Plugs, we get asked that question a lot. Owners’ manuals of various vehicles only make the debate more confusing. Some declare the pervasive 3,000-mile rule to be the gospel truth. Others argue it’s fine to slack on oil changes until you hit upwards of 10,000 miles. And many mechanics say a compromise of every 5,000 miles is perfectly doable for most makes and models.

How often should you change your oil? It depends on multiple factors including your engine's age, your climate and your driving style, says E3 Spark Plugs.

But E3 Spark Plugs cautions that a few instances that call for more frequent oil changes:

1. Your engine is old and burns oil faster. Oil rings and valves wear as they age, causing your car’s oil to leak or burn more quickly.
2. You regularly drive on dirt roads. Engines suck in air from outside. Along with that air comes at least a little dirt, even if your filter is relatively new. That dirt goes straight into your engine oil, potentially mucking up your engine.
3. You carry heavy loads. Any extra strain on your engine causes its internal operating temperatures to rise, causing the oil to evaporate and oxidize. Resulting heavy oil use causes oil to evaporate through the breather system rather than entering the combustion chamber and burning. Oxidation causes internal sludge that bakes onto the inside of your engine and starves it of lubrication by soaking it up like a sponge.
4. You drive mostly short distances. Contrary to popular belief, the more you drive (distance-wise), the less you need to change your oil. That’s because in order to rid the oil of liquid gasoline and water, your engine must completely warm up. Engine heat causes the liquid gas and water mix to evaporate and exit through the crankcase ventilation system. But if you make only short trips, the gas and water mix never fully evaporates and instead dilutes the oil, preventing it from doing its job.
5. You drive in an extremely cold climate. When the temperatures drop, water condenses and ices up the inside of your engine block. As the engine warms up, the ice melts and the water drips into your oil. Then there’s the gas issue. Cold starting an engine burns more fuel and cold gas is hard to vaporize as it is, so all that unburned gas has to go somewhere. Most of it goes out the exhaust, but some of it pours down your engine’s cylinder walls and into your oil.
6. You drive like a bonehead. Quick starts, heavy acceleration and driving at high speeds not only burns more gas, but sucks up more oil as well. Save it for your weekend trips to the go kart tracks.

E3 Spark Plugs recommends talking to your mechanic about the best oil change intervals for vehicle, based on its age, condition, the climate and your driving style (be honest!). And use E3 car spark plugs, E3 truck spark plugs or E3 motorcycle spark plugs for an extra power boost that won’t cost you in fuel consumption.

Teach your teen ALL the aspects of car ownership with tips from E3 Spark Plugs.

So your teenager is ready to hit to road in her own ride. Before you plunk down that wad of cash you’ve been saving for this day since she was a toddler bouncing on your knee to a catchy little ditty about a pony ride, make sure she’s got a full understanding of all the aspects of auto ownership – behind the wheel, under the hood and in her wallet. E3 Spark Plugs offers a few must-know tips for teens.

Know how to drive: You might think this would be obvious. But we’re not talking about the Driver’s Ed basics. There’s a limited amount of real-world experience that can be gained on the high school campus’ fenced-in driving practice range. She may master dodging those orange cones like a pro. But an oncoming truck with an impaired driver behind its wheel or a car with a driver more focused on the lines of a text message than the yellow lines on the roadway is a whole different story. Take full advantage of the time she’s driving with a learner’s permit to help her gain the defensive driving skills that could save her life one day. And make sure she knows that fast or aggressive driving can deplete the gas tank quicker and cause wear-and-tear repairs that will have to come out of her shopping money.

Know how to maintain: Teach your teen the basics of auto maintenance. If she’s mechanically inclined, teach her a few DIYs, like changing the oil, checking the battery and replacing the spark plugs. If she’d rather have a root canal than muss up her manicure, make sure she keeps that auto owner’s manual in the glove compartment and checks it regularly to make sure she’s getting all the recommended maintenance. Again – the more money she has to spend on fixing her car’s latest mechanical issue, the less she has to spend on the latest fashions.

Know how to budget: Speaking of spending money, even the best-maintained vehicle will need repairs from time to time. Encourage your teen to save a certain amount or percentage of the paycheck from her after-school job and earmark it for future repairs. Owning or operating a car also will help her learn to budget for gas, insurance payments and routine maintenance. Before handing her the keys, list all the related cost estimates and make sure she understands the financial commitment and has a plan in place to cover her costs.

Pack a care package: Purchase a plastic box that fits nicely in the trunk and fill it with items she may need in a roadside emergency, such as jumper cables, a flashlight and extra set of flashlight batteries, a battery-operated tire pump, blankets and a small shovel or ice scraper if you live in an area that snows. Check the tire pump once a month to make sure it’s fully charged. Some parents we know include a prepaid debit card for emergency towing or repair if it’s not included on the insurance policy or for a hotel room and food if a breakdown happens during an out-of-town trip.

Got another word of advice? Post a comment on our E3 Spark Plugs blog or Facebook fan page.

E3 Spark Plugs has been recognized as one of 50 “Florida Companies to Watch”, an awards program that celebrates second-stage companies throughout the state of Florida. Fifty companies from 18 Florida counties have earned a place in Florida’s inaugural class of “Companies to Watch”, an award that recognizes the state’s privately held businesses that employ up to 99 employees and have between $750,000 to $50 million in annual revenue or capital. On Dec. 16, 2010, a statewide press release was issued announcing all 50 award recipients. A February 17, 2011 Celebration Gala event at Rosen Shingle Creek Resort is planned.

Second-Stage companies are powerhouses for job creation. During 2006-2008, Florida’s resident companies averaged more than 111,500 second-stage establishments, according to YourEconomy.org, an online resource of the Edward Lowe Foundation. And, they represent more than 2.5 million workers (31.5 percent of the jobs created by companies headquartered in the state).

E3 Spark Plugs started in 1997 by principals who recognized the that the key to any breakthrough would not come from fancy and exotic metals such as platinum or iridium. What was needed was a whole new electrode design. E3 accomplished this new design and has become one of the best selling spark plugs on the market. Today, E3 is an aggressive marketer sponsoring many motorsports events throughout the country, with name brand recognition increasing exponentially. Steve Joiner, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for E3, stated “We are so honored to be awarded this accolade. In these times of economic doom and gloom, especially in the aftermarket, it is so refreshing to be recognized as a growing company.”

To be eligible, a company must be a privately held, commercial enterprise that is currently in a stage of growth and past the start-up phase. Qualifying companies must also be headquartered in the state of Florida, employ between six and 99 employees, and have between $750,000 and $50 million in annual revenue. Companies in all industries are invited to apply and candidates may be nominated or apply stage.

Florida Companies to Watch is presented by GrowFL, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute at the University of Central Florida, and ACG Florida, in association with the Edward Lowe Foundation. Grow, FL is the official Economic Gardening Technical Assistance Pilot Program funded by the State of Florida and a program of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute. Created in 2009 to stimulate investment in Florida’s economy by providing technical assistance for expanding businesses in the state, the Florida Economic Gardening Institute is headquartered at the University of Central Florida under contract with the State of Florida’s Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development under the Executive Office of the Governor. For more information please visit Florida.CompaniesToWatch.org

Backed by a five year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 Spark Plugs, with their 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. They 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.

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E3 Spark Plugs announces the hire of Ms. Erica E. Blake as Social Media Manager. Her background includes various positions at Alpha Productions and Advantage Publishing Inc., both Gainesville, Fl based companies. Most recently, Blake had been employed as a Public Relations Account Coordinator at SHIFT Communications in Boston, MA where she gained experience in social media management, media negotiations and public relations.

The University of Florida Graduate will oversee all Social Media activity for the Ponte Verda-based spark plug manufacturer. Blake started at E3 part-time in December 2010 after moving back to her home-state of Florida. Steve Joiner, Vice-President of Sales and Marketing for E3 Spark Plugs, stated “Erica has been a great addition to our team and we are excited to have her onboard in a full-time capacity.”

“I am truly enjoying working at E3 and am looking forward to all the great things we can accomplish in the future.” commented Blake, adding; “Social media has completely changed the way companies do business and it is here to stay. With multiple flourishing social networking channels, E3 Spark Plugs is already leading the way in their industry. I’m thrilled to be joining the team to continue sharing their unique story, engaging with customers and leading the conversation through social media.”

Backed by a five year, 100,000-mile warranty, E3 Spark Plugs, with their 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. They 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.

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