For you racers with 14:1 Compression ratio or higher, how long are your spark plugs lasting, what type are you using, and what ignition system are you using? Also, what type of fuel are you using? Thanks in advance.
With 14 to one compression, I would worry about the rod bearings more than the spark plugs. What type of head do you have?
Which would you worry about rod bearings? Norm knows how to build a bullet proof bottem end. Did 5 I know of including mine. Mine is still together 365 passes thus far. Hot thin oil with the correct tolerances Not a concerning issue.
No issues with rod bearings...was looking for feedback from other people who run greater than 14:1 compression, street, strip, or both, on how long their plugs last.
Rod bearings were my problem. 14.5-1 methanol circle track engine. I never could get it to live more than 10-12 shows. I was missing something. It had to be detonating. My 12-1 engines last forever. Back to the question about plugs. The plugs I settled on were Champion V57YC. Really cold plugs. I run them for years at a time which would be a lifetime of drag racing. Our shows equal about 15 miles of WOT each night. I could run hotter plugs on shorter tracks, but big tracks would make the plugs start glowing and cause pre-ignition. Then the plug life got real short because the pistons would smash them when the rod let go. ou:
Norm we use the NGK plugs in our dragster. The plating on the plug lets you see how much heat is being generated in the cylinder. We try to take the color down the ground strap into the 1st to 2nd thread. We run ours right at the point of melting the ground strap. I swap plugs every round due to the gap opening up , reset gap and have em ready for the next swap. I can usually get about 6 -10 passes on a set of plugs. It depends how lean you run the engine = plug life. If this is a race set up only, switch to alcohol, if detonation becomes an issue.
norm. we have 16.4 compression in our motor using menthonal. we are using champion c57yc race plugs. we get 2 years of racing from these plugs. and still running good. we change them just for the fact they been in for 2 years. we are using the msd 7AL3 ignition system
Hey Norm, I do not get to the racetrack but a few times a year anymore but I can say that I have not changed my spark plugs since I built this engine. I run it on alky and use NGK. I suggest you call their tech line for a recommendation. It is tough to guess as for how many passes but it is certainly over 100 and under 300. o No: Later
