When should you use hotter spark plugs?

1. Air/Fuel Mixture: Lean air/fuel ratios raise cylinder-head temperatures, requiring a colder plug. Rich air/fuel ratios require a hotter plug to prevent fouling. Mixtures that cause the plugs to read lean might contribute to preignition or detonation.

Do hotter spark plugs make a difference?

A hotter plug does what is says, it runs hotter. This will not give any more power and neither will a too cold plug. Because the spark plug resides in the combustion chamber, it’s influenced by what happens there. If the current plug is too hot then the tip may be melted or deformed.

How do I know what heat range my spark plugs are?

The heat range is determined by the insulator nose length and its ability to absorb and transfer combustion heat, the gas volume around the insulator nose, and the materials/construction of the center electrode and porcelain insulator.In identical spark plug types, the difference from one heat range to the next is the …

What number is a hotter spark plug?

The higher the number, the hotter the plug. The lower the number, the colder the plug. Starting with part # 24 (heat range 4), if you want a colder plug you would use part # 23 (heat range 3), for a hotter plug you would use part # 25 (heat range 5).

Does spark plug heat range affect performance?

Choosing the right heat range is crucial for high performance engines. If the heat range is too cold, the spark plug will be unable to properly self-clean by burning off carbon deposits. If it the heat range is too hot, your engine could experience detonation, pre-ignition, or power loss.

Do colder spark plugs make more power?

Will colder spark plugs give me more power? A colder plug transfers heat faster while a hotter plug is slower. The goal is to keep the cylinder temperature between 550*c and 800*c which is about 1020*f to 1470*f.

What happens if you use the wrong heat range spark plug?

Effect of Selecting Wrong Heat Range The spark plug temperature remains too low and causes deposits to build up on the firing end; the deposits provide an electrical leakage path that gives rise to a reduction of spark.

Will a hotter spark plug stop fouling?

Rich air/fuel ratios require a hotter plug to prevent fouling. Mixtures that cause the plugs to read lean may contribute to pre-ignition or detonation. The higher the compression ratio, the colder the spark plug needs to be.

Do you need a tune for colder spark plugs?

Basically, any modification that does not alter the overall compression ratio will not necessitate changing plug types or heat ranges. Generally, for every 75-100 hp you add, you should use a one (1) step colder heat range to be safe and avoid pre-ignition.

What will a colder spark plug do?

The colder type removes heat more quickly, and will reduce the chance of pre-ignition/detonation and melting or damage to the firing end. (Engine temperature can affect the spark plug’s operating temperature, but not the spark plug’s heat range).

What do the NGK numbers mean?

The heat range of a spark plug is the range in which the plug works well thermally. The heat rating of each NGK spark plug is indicated by a number; lower numbers indicate a hotter type, higher numbers indicate a colder type.