Spark Plugs 101
Spark plugs play a vital part in the over-all engine operation. A spark plug provides ignition to ignite the fuel and air mixture. The correct spark plug and heat range allow precise engine performance. The operating temperature range is between 932 to 1472 degrees for spark plugs. In order to be self cleaning a minimum range for a spark plug should be 842 degrees. By design the heat range of a spark plug is determined by the length of the porcelain insulator. Too low of operating temperature will cause carbon fouling, and concurrently too hot could eventually cause engine damage. It is always the best rule to read and understand your owner’s manual for the proper spark plug for the engine.
Spark plugs play a vital part in the over-all engine operation. A spark plug provides ignition to ignite the fuel and air mixture. The correct spark plug and heat range allow precise engine performance. The operating temperature range is between 932 to 1472 degrees for spark plugs. In order to be self cleaning a minimum range for a spark plug should be 842 degrees. By design the heat range of a spark plug is determined by the length of the porcelain insulator. Too low of operating temperature will cause carbon fouling, and concurrently too hot could eventually cause engine damage. It is always the best rule to read and understand your owner’s manual for the proper spark plug for the engine.
Oil: Petroleum vs. Synthetic
For years we have used petroleum based lubricants with reasonable success. In automotive applications and at 3000 mile oil change intervals, conventional oils work fairly well. Times have changed. Engines of all types are asked to do more, perform better, and last longer with poor quality fuels and higher operating temperatures. With EPA mandates, engines have to put out far less emissions and one of the ways this is done is by leaning out the fuel mixture. The leaning out of the fuel mixture produces less emissions but it also creates excessive heat. Dealing with heat is not a strong point of petroleum based oils and that is where synthetic lubricants come into play. Synthetic oils are engineered at the molecular level as compared to petroleum oils that are refined from crude oil. The molecules in petroleum based oils are random in size and shape. Imagine a group of ten people of different heights holding up a platform. Obviously the tall people would bear all of the weight as the shorter peoples hands would not touch the platform. Take the same platform held up by ten people of the exact same dimensions equally sharing the load, a great deal more weight could be held up. The same analogy can be used for oils. The molecules in synthetic oils are engineered exactly the same size so the strength of the oil film is over five times stronger than conventional oils and are not affected by heat. These oils thrive in extreme conditions. Another benefit of synthetic oils is in engine cold starting. The pour point or how easily an oil flows at a given temperature. In some areas of the country, synthetic oils are required due to the extreme cold temperatures.
Do yourself a favor, switch to synthetic. Your engine will love you for it. We will address the benefits of synthetic in a 2 cycle in another tech tip.
Do yourself a favor, switch to synthetic. Your engine will love you for it. We will address the benefits of synthetic in a 2 cycle in another tech tip.