Omega Owners Forum - What plugs to fit in my 3.2?

chrisgixer

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #30 - 07. May 2011 at 14:08

TheBoy wrote on 07. May 2011 at 10:18:

Also, whilst in there, there was a customer with a Merc V8, just been converted. It seems they change the plugs at conversion as a matter of course? He'd not long had it serviced by Merc, who had changed all the plugs, so he was having these newish ones that came out as spares... ...all 16 of them Shocked

(2 plugs per cylinder)

Than sense money more.

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Lazydocker Omega King Offline Victim of Pinky's Power Trip! Posts: 11336 Woodbridge, Suffolk Gender: Drives: 2003 3.2 Elite Estate LPG Converted, inspected and Certified	Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2? Reply #31 - 10. May 2011 at 21:14 What was the decision? I'm putting a little shopping list together for andyc (although he doesn't know yet ) and go and collect it all before the end of the month
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TheBoy Administrator Offline TBE has an MOT! Posts: 64817 Brackley, Northants Gender: Drives: 98 MV6, 03 Elite, 00 25, 89 ZX10	Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2? Reply #32 - 11. May 2011 at 16:01 Bought twins
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Lazydocker Omega King Offline Victim of Pinky's Power Trip! Posts: 11336 Woodbridge, Suffolk Gender: Drives: 2003 3.2 Elite Estate LPG Converted, inspected and Certified	Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2? Reply #33 - 11. May 2011 at 18:05 TheBoy wrote on 11. May 2011 at 16:01: Bought twins Hmm... I'm placing an order with andyc tomorrow. May as well go for twins too... It's got to be the best compromise and best way to reduce spark shielding
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chrisgixer Omega King Offline Black ones are faster. Posts: 14570 Wokingham Gender: Drives: "Omega Black" 3.2 Elite. Thanks to Joshwyatt.	Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2? Reply #34 - 11. May 2011 at 18:07 Can someone explane the shielding thing please?
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kcl Senior Member Offline Posts: 696 Finland Gender: Drives: 2002 Opel Omega 2,6 Caravan Auto	Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2? Reply #35 - 11. May 2011 at 18:20 why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?
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Lazydocker Omega King Offline Victim of Pinky's Power Trip! Posts: 11336 Woodbridge, Suffolk Gender: Drives: 2003 3.2 Elite Estate LPG Converted, inspected and Certified	Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2? Reply #36 - 11. May 2011 at 18:24 kcl wrote on 11. May 2011 at 18:20: why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better? We're talking about an alternative fuel here Both the cars in question have (or will have) LPG fitted which demands a stronger spark to ignite
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hotel21

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #37 - 11. May 2011 at 18:25

chrisgixer wrote on 11. May 2011 at 18:07:

Can someone explane the shielding thing please?

The available plug area is only so much.

If there are two electrodes versus four electrodes competing for the available area, the two additional electrodes impinge on the flame front of the other two, despite having a flame/spark of their own.

Thats how I understand it, anyroads.... Embarrassed

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Tech 2 available in Scotland. click on ->

http://theboy.omegaowners.com

for prices.....

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Lazydocker

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Woodbridge, Suffolk
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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #38 - 11. May 2011 at 18:26

chrisgixer wrote on 11. May 2011 at 18:07:

Can someone explane the shielding thing please?

Basically the spark could potentially be completely inside the hollow of the end of the plug so twins have more open area than quads so less chance of the spark being "hidden" behind the electrodes.

Be interesting to stick quads in one and run a back to back comparison Undecided

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aaronjb

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #39 - 11. May 2011 at 20:49

I think, personally, quads are fitted for longer life only - ISTR reading that the spark will only ever be between the centre electrode and one of the ground electrodes (at any given moment).. So with four grounds presumably you get longer life out of them as they're only hit a quarter of the time?

Then again I always thought it was the centre electrode that wore more (perhaps it wears more evenly)..

Still, I know plenty of cars that seem to hate quad electrode plugs - personally I've only ever fitted good quality copper electrode, single ground NGK plugs in anything I've had (and that includes the 75%-more-power-than-stock turbocharged MR2) and never had a problem.. Granted I haven't done the Omega yet!

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..and it went 'dugga dugga dugga dugga'..

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Lazydocker

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Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #40 - 11. May 2011 at 21:16

aaronjb wrote on 11. May 2011 at 20:49:

I think, personally, quads are fitted for longer life only - ISTR reading that the spark will only ever be between the centre electrode and one of the ground electrodes (at any given moment).. So with four grounds presumably you get longer life out of them as they're only hit a quarter of the time?

Then again I always thought it was the centre electrode that wore more (perhaps it wears more evenly)..

Still, I know plenty of cars that seem to hate quad electrode plugs - personally I've only ever fitted good quality copper electrode, single ground NGK plugs in anything I've had (and that includes the 75%-more-power-than-stock turbocharged MR2) and never had a problem.. Granted I haven't done the Omega yet!

I stuck NGK single electrodes into the Omega (after LPGing it) once as a trial and there was no improvement over GM twins that were cheaper Wink

AFAIK you're right about quads being for life, but as I'll be changing them annually anyway I can get away with twins Thumbs Up!

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Whatever it is... I didn't do it

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TheBoy Administrator Offline TBE has an MOT! Posts: 64817 Brackley, Northants Gender: Drives: 98 MV6, 03 Elite, 00 25, 89 ZX10	Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2? Reply #41 - 11. May 2011 at 21:28 kcl wrote on 11. May 2011 at 18:20: why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better? To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...
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chrisgixer

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Black ones are faster.

Posts: 14570
Wokingham
Gender: male

Drives: "Omega Black" 3.2 Elite. Thanks to Joshwyatt.

Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #42 - 11. May 2011 at 21:42

TheBoy wrote on 11. May 2011 at 21:28:

kcl wrote on 11. May 2011 at 18:20:

why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?

To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...

So twins give 80k life? In theory?

I see the theory on doubling the number of electrodes to spread the wear over 4 instead of two. Got that, that's why i fit quads.

I have trouble understanding how a cylinder full of compressed fuel by a ratio of 11.1 or whatever it is will ignite worse with two extra electrodes.... ? the spark radiates around the four, facing the piston. I don't get it. The flame front starts with spark. Theres nothing between it and the piston crown.

Surely? What am I not seeing ? Undecided

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Lazydocker

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Victim of Pinky's Power
Trip!

Posts: 11336
Woodbridge, Suffolk
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Drives: 2003 3.2 Elite Estate LPG Converted, inspected and Certified

Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #43 - 11. May 2011 at 21:49

chrisgixer wrote on 11. May 2011 at 21:42:

TheBoy wrote on 11. May 2011 at 21:28:

kcl wrote on 11. May 2011 at 18:20:

why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?

To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...

So twins give 80k life? In theory?

I see the theory on doubling the number of electrodes to spread the wear over 4 instead of two. Got that, that's why i fit quads.

I have trouble understanding how a cylinder full of compressed fuel by a ratio of 11.1 or whatever it is will ignite worse with two extra electrodes.... ? the spark radiates around the four, facing the piston. I don't get it. The flame front starts with spark. Theres nothing between it and the piston crown.

Surely? What am I not seeing ? Undecided

Twins give 40k, quads give 80k... In theory Roll Eyes

Don't completely understand why it shields it, but that's the theory. In reality I don't really see much difference but as the twins are slightly cheaper and I change them annually I'll go with them Thumbs Up!

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Whatever it is... I didn't do it

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aaronjb

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Bracknell, Berkshire
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Drives: '01 3.2 Elite (was '96 2.5TD CD), '02 MR2 Roadster (plus snail), '92 300ZX 3.0V6 TT

Re: What plugs to fit in my 3.2?
Reply #44 - 11. May 2011 at 21:52

chrisgixer wrote on 11. May 2011 at 21:42:

TheBoy wrote on 11. May 2011 at 21:28:

kcl wrote on 11. May 2011 at 18:20:

why would GM put quad plugs in cars if twins were better?

To extend the plug life to a supposed 80k. Shame they are all loose by 60k...

So twins give 80k life? In theory?

I see the theory on doubling the number of electrodes to spread the wear over 4 instead of two. Got that, that's why i fit quads.

I have trouble understanding how a cylinder full of compressed fuel by a ratio of 11.1 or whatever it is will ignite worse with two extra electrodes.... ? the spark radiates around the four, facing the piston. I don't get it. The flame front starts with spark. Theres nothing between it and the piston crown.

Surely? What am I not seeing ? Undecided

The ground prongs are the 'shield' between the spark and the piston crown.. The spark is vertical between the centre electrode and a random ground prong, the other three ground prong ends are essentially shielding it from the cylinder.

(Well that's the theory, anyway)

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..and it went 'dugga dugga dugga dugga'..

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