spark plug gap

93SVTstang · 09-22-2002, 06:42 PM

What produces a hotter spark-a big gap or a small one? Thanks

09-22-2002, 06:48 PM

A smaller one would, but dont go to small

93SVTstang · 09-22-2002, 08:00 PM

why not too small? and how small is too small?

mike72678 · 09-23-2002, 12:24 PM

actually a bigger gap produces a hotter spark , but if you go to big you might misfire .

09-23-2002, 05:02 PM

i was told a smaleer one is and much better for your car

87gt17815 · 09-23-2002, 11:40 PM

A larger gap will produce a hotter spark. Depending on your application you have to be careful about the size of your gap. The higher the compression gets the smaller the gap you want. The higher the boost level the smaller the gap you want . this may sound weird but when their is high boost or compressin a large gap is not good because the spark can actually be blown out. Also the performance of your ignition has to be factred in. If you have a stock motor with a MSD box for instance you can run say .060 thsds. or so. I read a story about a turbo focus motor built by turbo god Kenny Duttweiller and he made a 400 plus hp increase on a chassis dyno by putting in Denso Iridium plugs because they would blow out under the turbo's 40 plus pounds of boost. This example may be a little extreme. but the theory works. I you have or will in the future this is all explained with charts and starting points in any MSD owners manual.

93SVTstang · 09-24-2002, 12:49 PM

87gt17815, what size gap would you recommend I run on my car? It is mostly stock with the MSD 6AL and Blaster HVC coil. I had them gapped at .045 instead of the .052 I was running before and it seemed to pick up some power on the low end. What do you think?

87gt17815 · 09-25-2002, 11:46 AM

depending on your fuel pressure and how tuned the motor is you can probobly run a bigger gap the that. Although not all cars are the same. If you think you picked up power then leave them alone. But on an almost stock motor tuning with spark plug gap is not all about power because it will be minimal, it getting your motor to run as clean as possible and efficient as possible, hence more throttle response and power across the rpm range.

09-22-2002, 06:42 PM	#1
93SVTstang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Metairie, LA, United States Posts: 80	spark plug gap What produces a hotter spark-a big gap or a small one? Thanks

09-24-2002, 12:49 PM	#7
93SVTstang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Metairie, LA, United States Posts: 80	87gt17815, what size gap would you recommend I run on my car? It is mostly stock with the MSD 6AL and Blaster HVC coil. I had them gapped at .045 instead of the .052 I was running before and it seemed to pick up some power on the low end. What do you think? __________________ Black Metallic '93 Cobra-#4213

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09-22-2002, 06:48 PM	#2
1989stanger Guest Posts: n/a	A smaller one would, but dont go to small

09-22-2002, 08:00 PM	#3
93SVTstang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Metairie, LA, United States Posts: 80	why not too small? and how small is too small?

09-23-2002, 12:24 PM	#4
mike72678 MW Link Sponsor Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: rochester , ny Posts: 79	actually a bigger gap produces a hotter spark , but if you go to big you might misfire .

09-23-2002, 05:02 PM	#5
1989stanger Guest Posts: n/a	i was told a smaleer one is and much better for your car

09-23-2002, 11:40 PM	#6
87gt17815 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bloomsburg,PA Posts: 34	A larger gap will produce a hotter spark. Depending on your application you have to be careful about the size of your gap. The higher the compression gets the smaller the gap you want. The higher the boost level the smaller the gap you want . this may sound weird but when their is high boost or compressin a large gap is not good because the spark can actually be blown out. Also the performance of your ignition has to be factred in. If you have a stock motor with a MSD box for instance you can run say .060 thsds. or so. I read a story about a turbo focus motor built by turbo god Kenny Duttweiller and he made a 400 plus hp increase on a chassis dyno by putting in Denso Iridium plugs because they would blow out under the turbo's 40 plus pounds of boost. This example may be a little extreme. but the theory works. I you have or will in the future this is all explained with charts and starting points in any MSD owners manual.

09-25-2002, 11:46 AM	#8
87gt17815 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Bloomsburg,PA Posts: 34	depending on your fuel pressure and how tuned the motor is you can probobly run a bigger gap the that. Although not all cars are the same. If you think you picked up power then leave them alone. But on an almost stock motor tuning with spark plug gap is not all about power because it will be minimal, it getting your motor to run as clean as possible and efficient as possible, hence more throttle response and power across the rpm range.