E3 Spark Plugs News

Over the weekend, E3 spark plugs driver Rick Huseman dominated Rounds 9 & 10 of the Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series at the famed Glen Helen Raceway short track in San Bernardino, CA. With long-time E3 driver, Kevin Probst, retiring from the series in 2010, E3 teamed this season with Monster Energy to sponsor the #36 Toyota of Huseman. The 14-year veteran of off-road racing responded with four straight wins to grab an early lead in the 2011 points series. Rick had dominated the 2010 Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series Pro-4 Championship with 10 wins in 15 rounds of racing.

After a poor performance in Rounds 7 & 8, the E3 Spark Plugs /Monster Engery team again proved that they have the truck to beat in the LOORRS’ Pro-4 Championship. Huseman, who began off road racing in the southern California desert with his brothers Danny and Kevin, posted a double win at Glen Helen event. In Saturday’s main event, Houseman finished 2.4 seconds ahead of long-time rival Carl Renezeder in the #17 Lucas Oil truck and the #11 of Adrian Cenni. Under the lights in Round 10, Huseman battled the #99 of Kyle Leduc to a 1.4 second win as the pair led Renezeder to checkers.

With back to back wins at Glen Helen, Houseman now stands nine points off the LOORRS Championship points lead for 2011. The E3 Spark Plugs race team will be busy preparing for Rounds 11 & 12 at Speed World Off Road Park in Surprise, Arizona, on September 24th and 25th.

Let me gues... E3 Spark Plugs lists the top 10 reasons your car breaks down.

So you’re on the side the road again, hoping your cell phone battery will hold out long enough for you to get through a phone call with the tow trucker, dad, significant other, best friend, neighbor, guy you met in the bar last night, or whomever else you can think of who might be willing to give you a lift home. E3 Spark Plugs probably knows why you’re there. Here are our top ten reasons for auto breakdowns:

1. You’ve got a bum battery. Small trips can be a big drain on a battery. Make sure your car gets an extended run every few weeks. It’s a great excuse for a fun day trip.
2. You lost your keys. Again. Make several copies of your car keys. Keep one in your purse or wallet, another at your home and one or two with a trusted family member, friend or neighbor.
3. Your tire went flat. Check your tires weekly to make sure the tread remains deep and your tires remain adequately aired up.
4. You’ve got a damaged distributor cap. Damp conditions can play a part in this little fiasco if your distributor cap happens to be cracked or otherwise damaged. It can cause a high voltage short circuit, preventing the spark from reaching your spark plugs.
5. You’ve got a faulty alternator. Check for a worn drive belt or a wonky connection.
6. You’ve got fuel trouble. Were you paying attention at the gas station? Accidentally filling up (even just a little) with diesel gas instead of regular can damage your engine.
7. Your clutch cable is shot. A clutch cable engages every single time you change gears. Eventually, it will wear out and, unfortunately, it doesn’t always give you any warning.
8. Your spark plugs have lost their spark. If they’re misfiring or just not sparking, they may be fouled. You may be able to give them a good cleaning and re-install. But if they’re worn or cracked, you may have to switch them out for new ones.
9. Your HT leads have fizzled out. HT leads deliver high voltage currents to your spark plugs. Long periods of repeated temperature cycling can deteriorate them and cause them to fail without warning.
10. Your starter won’t start. Your starter may be shot, but it could also be a bad battery, worn battery cables, broken starter mounting bolts, a stuck neutral safety switch, the starter solenoid or armature.

If you suspect it’s your spark plugs, be sure to check our online cross reference catalog to choose the right spark plugs for your vehicle.

You know you wanna drive it! E3 Spark Plugs racing fans are rushing to sign up for the Ford Octane Academy and the chance to show up a few of today's top racers.

You’ve called plenty of races from your sofa or from the stands. Now, E3 Spark Plugs racing fans have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to hang with the big boys and take in the view of the tracks from behind the steering wheel.  Power up your video camera and ready your audition for Ford’s Octane Academy.

Never heard of it? Octane Academy is an all-new action sports program that pairs the gutsiest young race fans out there with four of today’s top racers: Vaughn Gittin, Jr., Ken Block, Tanner Faust and Brian Deegan. Chosen participants will attend four fantasy weekend camps designed and run by the pros, taking on an array of challenges and dares to see which participant can best measure up. And each will have to prove himself (or herself – we know lots of ladies that can give any guy out there a run for his racing money) from the drivers’ seats of Gittin Jr.’s Mustang drift car, Block’s and Foust’s rally machines and Deegan’s off-road trucks.

“Getting the chance to create my own challenges for the hard-core competitors who want to take on the challenge of Ford Octane Academy is going to be crazy,” said Deegan in a media release announcing the program. “I can’t wait to bring competitors to my spot, the Compound, to give them the ultimate Ford action-sports adventure.”

The best part? The overall winner of each camp will drive home a one-of-a-kind vehicle created by Block, Foust, Deegan or Gittin Jr.

While it’s a dream waiting to happen for a select few lucky racing fans, Octane Academy also is being lauded a genius marketing move by Ford. More than 300 action sports competitions take place each year, with more than 22 million athletes participating and more than $12.1 billion racking up in retail sales.

Think you’ve got what it takes to take on racing’s top pros? Hit up www.OctaneAcademy.com to find out how to register. And if you’re readying for your next race, or just looking to rev up your ride, remember that E3 Spark Plugs are “Born to Burn.”

Over a half of million motorcycle enthusiasts are expected to travel to the Black Hills of South Dakota for the 71st Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally.

For over seven decades, motorcycle enthusiasts and E3 Spark Plugs racing fans have made the annual trek to Sturgis, South Dakota, for what is arguably the largest bike rally held in the United States. Both the Sturgis Rally and Daytona Bike Week typically draw several hundred thousand bikers to their respective venues with a reported 750,000-plus having attended the Sturgis event in 2000. This year over half a million motorcycle riders and their families are expected to migrate to the Black Hills for the official week of festivities from August 8th through August 14th.

Since the initial rally in 1938, which featured a single motorcycle race known as the “Black Hills Classic”, the event has grown to include something for everyone. With the revitalization of motorcycling across America, many new attendees now travel in campers, bring the kids and trailer their bikes. The 2011 Sturgis rally schedule features incredible live concerts, motorcycle races, beauty contests, midget bowling, burn-outs, charity rides and lots of good food. Although there are several places to park it for the night, none are more famous than the Buffalo Chip Campground.

On stage performers scheduled at the Buffalo Chip include Alice Cooper, Styx, Edgar Winter, Pop Evil, Sweet Cyanide, Buckcherry, Def Leppard, Toby Keith, Poison, Gregg Allman, Stevie Nicks, Saving Abel, Puddle of Mudd, George Thorogood, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and John Fogerty. In addition, the Bob Woodruff Foundation that helps educate the public about the needs of service members returning from war will host a charity event at the “Chip” (the American Thunder Music Festival) on Aug. 11 featuring actor/singer Jeff Bridges performing songs from his Academy Award winning movie “Crazy Heart”.

In between the bar hopping, hitting up the bike shows, attending concerts and watching motorcycle races at the famed Sturgis half-mile, event goers can stroll the vendor’s booths along Lazelle and Main Streets. A welcomed change for this year’s Black Hills festival will be improved traffic patterns. The State of South Dakota Highway Department and local officials worked together to develop new routes and improve the management of traffic signals to better facilitate the massive crowds. Plus, event promoters have promised more hot water and flushable toilets in prime public areas.

Before you head north, stop by your favorite motorcycle shop or discount auto parts store for a box of E3 Motorcycle Spark Plugs and discover for yourself why E3 replacement plugs are “Born to Burn”. If you’re hauling your bikes to Sturgis, you can improve the performance of your favorite ride with a new set of E3 car or truck spark plugs featuring E3′s patented DiamondFire technology. Safe travel and keep it on two wheels.

E3 Spark Plugs celebrates National Collector Car Appreciation Day, paying tribute to the autmobile's unique place in American history.

July 8 is Collector Car Appreciation Day. How do you plan to celebrate? Car shows, cruises and club gatherings no doubt are scheduled all across the country this weekend. You’re bound to see some beautiful sights and we  hope you’ll share them with E3 Spark Plugs.

Collector Car Appreciation Day first came about last year when the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) and its Automotive Restoration Market Organization (ARMO) and Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Councils successfully lobbied the passing of Senate Resolution 513. Sponsored by Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus members Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and Senator Richard Burr (R-NC), the day pays tribute to America’s ongoing love affair with all-things-automotive and to the automobile’s unique place in our country’s history. SEMA, ARMO and HRIA now are working to secure a Congressional resolution for Collector Car Appreciation Day.

“The industry endeavors to preserve our nation’s automotive heritage while providing well-paying, high-skilled jobs nationwide,” said Rick Love, Chairman-elect of SEMA’s HRIA Council. “Collector Car Appreciation Day is a singular tribute to this industry and the millions of hobbyists it supports.”

E3 Spark Plugs wholeheartedly supports this effort. We believe that no single invention has driven America’s technological, social or cultural progress quite like the automobile (pun intended). We’d love to hear your thoughts and see your photos/videos of your Collector Car Appreciation Day experience or your own automotive treasures. Leave us a comment here or post on our Facebook fan page. And remember to stock your vintage ride with E3 car spark plugs, E3 truck spark plugs or E3 motorcycle spark plugs to make her purr like a kitten and drive like she’s brand new.

Chill out, lady! That check engine light might just mean it's time for new spark plugs.

Nothing elicits an “Oh, crap!” like the ding and glow of a “check engine” light popping on while you’re cruising down First Street with the top down and not a care in the world. Except of course for the thought of the impending mechanical and financial doom to which you’ve just been alerted. But don’t panic yet. E3 Spark Plugs has a list of the most common issues that kick on your check engine light and a few of them are simple and inexpensive.

1. Replace oxygen (O2) sensor: The O2 sensor monitors the amount of unburned oxygen in the exhaust and tells your vehicle’s computer when there is too much or not enough fuel. A bum sensor costs less than $200 to repair including parts and labor. Ignore it, and you can bet on a drop in your gas mileage up to 40 percent – an average $700 a year in wasted fuel.
2. Replace gas cap: Missing, damaged or loose gas caps cause 147 million gallons of gas to evaporate each year. Not only does it harm the environment, but it can drop your gas mileage by 0.5%. Depending on the make, model and age of your vehicle, a gas cap can average $10 for a traditional vacuum cap to around $30 for a locking gas cap (recommended if you live one of the areas where gas siphoning and theft is a growing problem).
3. Replace catalytic converter: A catalytic converter typically fails only when related (and usually much less expensive) parts like faulty spark plugs are ignored for too long. All that denial eventually will force replacement and repair costs in the neighborhood of $2000.
4. Replace mass air flow sensor: The MAF sensor measures the amount of air entering your car’s engine and, therefore, how much fuel should be injected into the engine. A faulty sensor can cause a range of problems including stalling, misfiring and poor acceleration. Repair costs vary widely depending on your vehicle’s make, model and year – from $175 to more than $600.
5. Replace spark plugs/wires: Besides the gas cap, replacing your spark plugs and wires is the least expensive of the most common check engine light fixes. If you’re handy with tools, it’s the cost of the spark plugs and wires plus an hour or so of your time. And if your shop charges more than about a $100 for both combined, get yourself a new mechanic. Be sure to ask for E3 car spark plugs or E3 truck spark plugs for a cleaner and more efficient burn.

Info comes by way of the inaugural CarMD Vehicle Health Index, a new annual report aimed at clearing the mystery of the ever-ominous check engine light by ranking the most common automotive failures that prompt the light, along with the associated fixes and repair costs.

“As our nationwide network of automotive technicians diagnose and repair vehicles, they upload information to our online system, which enables CarMD to create an unprecedented compilation of data and level of transparency never before available,” said Art Jacobsen, vice president, CarMD.com Corp. “We are pleased to share this data publicly for the first time, and believe it will be useful to consumers, automotive technicians and the industry as they maintain and evaluate new and used vehicles.”

Check out the full report here. Tell ‘em E3 Spark Plugs sent you.

Sorry, Dude. We can't help you dig outta that. But we can hook you up with a set of new E3 spark plugs to make sure your car starts when you find it.

We know, we know – money’s tight right now and everyone is looking to put off any non-emergency auto repair and maintenance items they can. But we’ve got three great reasons why you shouldn’t put off replacing your old spark plugs.

Reason 1: New spark plugs help keep your engine at its peak performance and efficiency levels. Of course, every vehicle on the road will misfire from time to time. But as those misfires get more and more frequent, they also get more troublesome. Frequent misfires mean increased exhaust emissions, wasted gas and reduced power. Misfires caused by worn spark plugs will cause older vehicles to buck, stall, run rough or start slow. Vehicles made since 1996 have OBD II onboard diagnostic systems that track ignition misfires and shines a warning light.

Reason 2: New spark plugs can significantly improve cold starting. Worn or dirty spark plugs require higher voltage to get a strong enough spark to start a vehicle. By the time you’ve cranked the engine umpteen times hoping for an eventual start, you just might have run your battery dead. Now, you’ve got two problems. Keeping your vehicle stocked with a good set of spark plugs instead means lesser voltage requirements on your ignition system, which decreases the chances of a misfire and leaves more amps for the starter and injectors.

Reason 3: As if reasons 1 and 2 weren’t enough to convince an auto owner of the importance of a good set of plugs, this one may do the trick. New spark plugs will minimize your risk of a catalytic converter failure. Just one misfire can dump enough draw fuel into your vehicle’s exhaust to overheat and damage the converter. The resulting load of unburned gasoline in the exhaust will jack up the operating temperature of your converter and may cause a meltdown of the converter substrate, which in turn will form a restriction or full blockage of the exhaust, literally choking your engine. Your vehicle may run, but it will lack power and eat up your fuel economy. And we can assure you that a new catalytic converter is a whole lot pricier than a new set of spark plugs.

Bottom line, when it comes to slacking on replacing your old spark plugs, its “pay a little now or a lot later.” E3 Spark Plugs advises you dig out that auto owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for timely car spark plug or truck spark plug changes – preferably before you have to call your buddy last minute for a ride to work.

If you didn’t see the latest episode of Stacey David’s GearZ TV show sponsored by E3 Spark Plugs, you missed out! But not to worry. You can still see Episode 5 featuring the legendary Bigfoot online.

Bigfoot's first car crush in 1981.

The show features an interview with Bigfoot creator Bob Chandler, plus archival video of Bigfoot’s first public car crush in April of 1981. Automotive history buffs know that the original Bigfoot was Chandler’s work truck that occasionally doubled as a promotional piece for his 4×4 parts and service company. On a creative – and curious – whim, Chandler decided to roll Bigfoot over a couple of junk cars and see how audiences react. Little did he know back then that he had just created an entertainment empire that would become today’s Monster Truck Nationals.

Chandler tells David how the original Bigfoot morphed from a run-of-the-mill work truck into an automotive icon complete with giant tires and massive military axles on both the front and rear wheels. Because military front and rear military axles are interchangeable, Bigfoot’s development led to the term 4x4x4: Four wheels, four-wheel drive, four-wheel steering.

The show also mentions Bigfoot’s big screen debut on a low budget, B-grade comedy “Take This Job and Shove It,” inspired by the David Allan Coe song of the same name. The 1981 film starring Robert Hays and Barbara Hershey tanked at the box office. But it is credited with nationalizing the monster truck craze. Monster trucks subsequently made appearances in action flicks like “Cannonball Run II,” “Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment,” “Police Academy 6: Under Siege,” “Road House,” “Tango & Cash” and “Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.”

Chandler also recounts his frightening experience in the Pontiac Silverdome in 1983, when Bigfoot made its first major stadium appearance and got bum-rushed by 30,000 wall-jumping fans. David likened the event to the famed 1964 episode of the “Ed Sullivan Show” that ushered Beatlemania into the United States. The Pontiac Silverdome incident marked the official arrival of the monster truck, quickly followed by debuts of other big trucks with now-recognizable names like “Grave Digger” and “Predator.”

If you haven’t seen it yet, click below to see Stacey David’s GearZ TV Bigfoot feature. And just for fun, see Bigfoot’s

And while you’re at it, sign up for a chance to win a ride in Bigfoot and lunch with Chandler and David in the E3 Spark Plugs 2011 BIGFOOT/Stacey David’s GearZ Sweepstakes. Good luck!

Stacey David’s GearZ TV episode featuring Bigfoot.

Bigfoot’s big screen debut in “Take This Job and Shove It.”

E3 Spark Plugs offers tips for taking care of your pre-owned or older vehicle.

If you’re in the market for a new ride, don’t discount the possibility of a high-quality used vehicle. A pre-owned car or truck costs less than a new vehicle both in purchase price and insurance rates. But it can cost you in repairs if you don’t take a little extra care. E3 Spark Plugs offers a few tips for taking care of an older or pre-owned vehicle.

1. Find that auto owner’s manual and use it! Follow all of the manufacturer’s scheduled maintenance recommendations. Starting early with this one, and keeping consistent with it can help extend the life of your vehicle and keep it running smoothly.
2. Get regular tune-ups and cooling system flushes. And be sure to replace your spark plugs, transmission fluid, and fuel and air filters regularly.
3. Keep the oil changed as recommended. Opinions and factors vary as to that long-held 3,000-mile rule, but with an older vehicle, it’s best to err on the cautious side.
4. Keep an eye on the temperature gauge, making sure it stays between 190 and 225, particularly during the hot summer months. If the over-heat light comes on, don’t try to make it that last mile or two home. Pull over immediately or chance some pricy damage to your engine. Even if your engine survives, running your vehicle hot is hard on engine bearings, piston rings and cylinder walls.
5. Don’t drive like you think you’re in an episode of “Madhouse.” Fast or aggressive driving wears on an engine, not to mention your tires.
6. Listen to your vehicle. That new clicking/swishing/grinding sound means something, and minor issues become major issues when they’re not dealt with quickly.
7. Have a friend drive your car occasionally. It’s kinda like that funky smell you don’t notice once you’re used to it. A second opinion behind the wheel can help point out issues you may have missed.
8. Keep your vehicle clean inside and out. Paint not only makes your ride look sweet, it protects the body, too. And that tracked-in sand and grime can eat away at your upholstery – and your vehicle’s resale value.

Remember, when you go to change those spark plugs, E3 car spark plugs and truck spark plugs are designed for a cleaner, stronger more efficient burn – perfect for older vehicles.

Financial times are tough, no doubt. But we’re starting to see signs that America is on the road to an economic recovery. And E3 Spark Plugs is stoked to see one of those signs – a resurgence in custom car parts sales.

Sales of custom car parts are picking up as the American economy gets back on the road to recovery.

Throughout the recession, high-end custom car parts and extensive overhauls of vehicles by serious collectors and hobbyists slowed down. But another demographic picked up just a bit. Regular Joes itching for a new ride, but leery of spending the cash for one instead opted to dress up their cars and trucks with new custom parts – giving their rides a whole new feel for a lot less money.

Today, the $30 billion-a-year industry is getting back up to speed, according to reports from Southern California, the epicenter of America’s custom car parts business. With a catalog of 3,000 custom parts, Street Scene is one of the homegrown manufacturers seeing a surge in business. Owner Mike Spagnola started the company 13 years ago with five people and grew the workforce to more than 50. The recession forced a cut of more than half of his workers, but he’s steadily hiring them back over the past few months.

Street Scene’s recovery is one to watch. They’re among the top custom car parts providers that put new grilles, spoilers, rear view cameras and other game-changing features in show cars and trucks long before they hit the mass market. And they’re one of the trusted lock-and-key custom car parts makers that auto manufacturers like Chevrolet hire to trick out their new models with exclusive designed parts.

The custom car parts industry started in Southern California, borne of a handful of manufacturers looking for a way to make a living after having served the World War II effort. Decades later, it’s still contributing to the local and national economy thanks to auto enthusiasts like you.

As Spagnola recently told California media: “When we make a part, we’re not only employing jobs here, but we are employing outside manufacturers, so it might be a chrome shop, powder coating shop. We have to buy boxes, hire trucking companies to move the product, and so there’s a whole ripple effect that takes place when you’re manufacturing.”

Tricking out your vehicle with new custom auto parts? Make sure you include a set of E3 car spark plugs or truck spark plugs for a stronger, cleaner burn in your head-turning ride.