Spark plug heat range?
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (9)
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 584
Likes: 0
From: Charleston, SC
Spark plug heat range? I'm wondering if i need to go to a hotter plug since i'm running a 160 thermostat in my LS1 TA. I know you need a colder plug for nitrous because it heats up the combustion chamber, but what about a heads/cam LS1 running at no hotter that 175*? Would a stock heat range plug still be fine?
TECH Resident
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 845
Likes: 0
From: K-W, Ontario
You could probably get away with a stock plug depending on how much power
the engine makes.
Power = Heat ; it doesn't have to be a nitrous engine to use a colder plug.
Best thing is to check the condition of the current plugs for signs of detonation.
the engine makes.
Power = Heat ; it doesn't have to be a nitrous engine to use a colder plug.
Best thing is to check the condition of the current plugs for signs of detonation.
What he said is correct.
Also keep in mind that a plug is a compromise.
A stock application spends 99% of running time under very light load conditions which doesn't generate a lot of heat in the chamber.
For WOT use, the stock range is already a compromise that will overheat given a few seconds of heavy loading and an aggressive tune.
If your engine is making more power at WOT than stock then you really should be running a cooler plug for WOT operation anyway.
It's not reasonable to swap plugs every time you want to go WOT, so you must pick your compromise.
It's much safer to use a colder plug than neccessary and let your high powered ignition take up the slack during low-load conditions where you spend most of your time.
If I were you I would definately not run a hotter plug.
Pretty much the only time one would need to increase the heat range of a plug is if you're getting a consistant fuel fouling problem that cannot be fixed by the tune... and that's very rare.
Also keep in mind that a plug is a compromise.
A stock application spends 99% of running time under very light load conditions which doesn't generate a lot of heat in the chamber.
For WOT use, the stock range is already a compromise that will overheat given a few seconds of heavy loading and an aggressive tune.
If your engine is making more power at WOT than stock then you really should be running a cooler plug for WOT operation anyway.
It's not reasonable to swap plugs every time you want to go WOT, so you must pick your compromise.
It's much safer to use a colder plug than neccessary and let your high powered ignition take up the slack during low-load conditions where you spend most of your time.
If I were you I would definately not run a hotter plug.
Pretty much the only time one would need to increase the heat range of a plug is if you're getting a consistant fuel fouling problem that cannot be fixed by the tune... and that's very rare.
