E3 Spark Plugs News

Unfortunately, we hear this question asked more often than ever before. Although it may have something to do with your E3 Car Spark Plug, it is more likely the result of using E10 gasoline, especially if you live in a hot, humid area of the country. Since the spark plug is the easiest place to start, take your spark plug wrench and carefully remove the plug for inspection. NOTE: If the top of the motor is dirty or there is a buildup of debris around the base of the plug, you should use a brush to clean before removing the plug. As always, you want to prevent anything from falling into the spark hole.

To keep your small engine running smoothly, make sure you know the special considerations for using E-10 gas.

Now, inspect the bottom of the spark plug for signs of excessive wear or a heavy build up carbon deposits. If need be, replace the used plug with the correct E3 Spark Plug for your particular engine. You can go to the E3 Spark Plugs Catalog page and select the Cross Reference Guide for your lawn & garden spark plug, powersports spark plug or motorcycle spark plug. Don’t forget to check the spark plug gap and always install your new plug using the correct torque specifications to avoid blow-by or damage to the internal threads. Assuming this did not resolve your problem, we will move to the next step.

Today, the majority of the fuel that you buy at any gas station or convenience store is going to contain around 10% of Ethanol (often referred to as E10 gas). The government’s Renewable Fuel Standard Program has required that Ethanol be blended with gasoline as a “Greener Alternative” to more harmful oxygenators such as lead or MTBE (methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether). The biggest problem with using the grain or sugarcane based fuel additive is that it is an alcohol. As the alcohol naturally separates from the petroleum-based gasoline, it has an affinity for attracting water.

This instability is called “phase separation” and has reduced the shelf life of the gasoline that remains in your small engine’s tank or that which is stored in your gasoline can. Most experts agree that under ideal conditions the shelf life of E10 gas is only about 3 months. If you live in hotter, more humid climates, it is much less. Once the fuel is contaminated, the bad gas can cause filters and carburetors to become clogged as unprotected rubber hoses and plastic parts actually begin to dissolve. Although some fuel stabilizers can help, there really isn’t a miracle product available for today’s cheaper small engines.

In time, we will likely find an alternative to Ethanol as a gasoline oxygenator, or even better, an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. But, until that happens, you should try to limit the length of time that E10 is kept in either your small engine’s gas tank or fill can. If your motor requires the choke to be engaged (even slightly), it is likely time to thoroughly clean the fuel lines, filters and carburetor. After that, try to limit the amount of time that you leave E10 in tanks or cans. Whenever possible, run the tank dry before storing your lawn equipment, mower, scooter, go kart or other powersports equipment. Many of these small engines also have a drain plug at the bottom of the carburetor bowl for that very purpose.

Not exactly but attach a big asterisk to that statement. In recent years, there has been a rise in consumer complaints of poor running engines and sluggish motors that won’t idle properly. Most drivers naturally associate an engine’s spits and sputters with ignition problems. But, the truth is today’s drivers are filling their tanks with gasoline that has a reduced shelf life. Since the signing of the Renewable Fuel Standard Program in September of 2006, the majority of fuel pumped at gasoline stations contains around 10% of Ethanol and is often referred to as E10 gas. The problem is ethanol is not the most stable oxygenator, especially in sub-tropical or tropical climates.

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.”