SPARK PLUG WIRES
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[ http://autos.yahoo.com/repair/results/ques063.html ]
The spark plug wires conduct high voltage current from the distributor or ignition coil pack
(distributorless ignition systems) to fire the spark plugs. The spark plug wire's job is to
provide a conductive path that doesn't leak voltage. The earliest
spark plug wires were copper, aluminum or steel wire wrapped with insulation sufficient to
contain 12,000 volts. But when high voltage current surges through a low resistance wire, the
wire becomes a broadcast antenna and sends out radio waves. This causes radio frequency
interference (RFI) which disrupts radio and television reception. In vehicles built during the
past 20 years, RFI can also play havoc with the car's computer, ignition and fuel injection
modules. So the plug wires must also "suppress" the troublesome RFI. This is done by using
"resistor" wires that create enough resistance to suppress RFI, but not so much to interfere with
proper ignition.
Resistance in the spark plug cables can be created one of two ways:
Original equipment plug wires are supposedly engineered to last 100,000 miles or more. But in
real life, they seldom make it. Heat, vibration and mishandling can drastically shorten the life
of the wires. After 50,000 miles or more,
the insulation may begin to break down and internal resistance may be inching up.
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[http://www.boschusa.com/AutoParts/FAQs/PlugWireSets/ ] Some wires fail from the inside, due to a breakdown of their insulation materials. Wires should always be inspected and tested whenever a rough or erratic idle is present, poor acceleration is noticed, a decrease in fuel mileage is experienced or a vehicle fails an emissions test due to high hydrocarbon emissions or cylinder misfire fault code. "What are some common problems that prevent spark plug wires from working properly?" Excessive heat from exhaust headers- Routing spark plug wires in areas with excessive heat can destroy the silicone insulation. To prevent this, all Bosch spark plug wire sets are designed specifically for each application to ensure wires are out of harms way. |
A professional mechanic can spot a bad plug wire with too much resistance by watching for an unusually high firing voltage on his scope. Resistance can also be checked with an ordinary ohmmeter:
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[http://www.msdignition.com/7530html/info.htm ]
Spark plug wires are very important to the operation of your ignition system. A good quality,
helically wound wire and proper routing are required to get the best performance from your
ignition, such as the MSD Heli-Core or 8.5mm Super Conductor Wire. Helically wound wires provide
a good path for the spark to follow while keeping Electro Magnetic Interference (EMI) to a
minimum. Excessive EMI, such as the amount that solid core wires produce, will interfere with the
operation of the MSD. Solid Core spark plug wires cannot be used with an MSD Ignition.
121-3119-9 V8 HEI & Non-HEI, Multi-Angle $75.99
PN 31179 - 6 cyl for me with Superconductor 8.5mm metal core
PN 31199 - 8 cyl version with HEI and straight plug boots
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[MSD Super Conductor Ignition Cables]
[ http://www.overboost.com/story.asp?id=355 ]
After installing an MSD SCI high-energy ignition system on our 1998 Honda Civic EX, we decided
the next logical step in the upgrade
was a set of high-performance spark plug wires and some new spark plugs. A commonly known
electrical law is that electricity will travel the path of least resistance. Usually, this is the
spark plug.
But an MSD Ignition Coil applies a 65,000 volt potential, and if you have a high-strung engine
the spark plug may no longer be the path of least resistance. Those of you with a high-RPM
misfire know this well, as the spark plug energy will fire between the engine block and spark
plug wire instead of inside the combustion chamber. MSD Super Conductor
wires keep this 65,000 volt potential under control by using a tightly-wound
conductor. Winding the conductor prevents electricity from jumping off the wire, and MSD has
managed to wind 40 feet of copper wire into every foot of their Super Conductor wires!
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[http://forums.s-series.org/viewtopic.php?t=2336&highlight= ]
[Forum on spark plug wires ]
I recently bought wires from Autozone they are the ones that are double silicone. and i dont like
them. the boots on the cap don't seem to stay on all the way.. like the connector goes on but the
boot doesn't stay on.... what are the best for a 93 4.3? i was thinking maybe i should just get
some delcos....
MSD SUPER CONDUCTOR period!
I like my Taylor 8mm race wires. Fit nice no problems. Since I need 135 angle boots.
Since the inception of the newer versions of HEI, the stock wires, dollar for dollar, are the
best. They match the resistance requirements of the distributorless ignition system.
The new MSD Super Conductor Wires are 40 ohms per foot compared to stock wires at1.2k-1.5k ohms
per foot.
I like my Crane 8.5's.
Wholeheartedly agree the MSD wires are super! A close second are some of the Jacobs wires. The
ohms per foot of the MSD is superior, and I get to watch the spark lines on the scope while doing
a dyno run on chassis dyno, you can SEE the differences in the extra hash, and spark scatter
among the lesser brands, then see the crisp clear spark line of the MSD wires under full load,
wide open throttle power runs. I have even noticed a drop in hydrocarbons = (un-burned fuel),
going from OEM to the MSD wires with no other changes made.
Speedy
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Hey Speedy have you tried any of nology's parts or know
someone who has? bg
Yes we did it at Autozone for a demo. All the wires were from 40 ohms per foot to just a tad over
150 ohms a foot, except the Accels, they were over 320 ohms per foot. Wires included where MSD,
Crane Firewires, Accel supers, stock A/C Delco. The stock ignition systems used on the 96 and up
motors has a 100,000 mile recommended tune up point, why: they're that good.
Nothing approached 1200+ ohm's per foot. Older wires, pre-1990-ish , yes, they do approach that number and also the older aftermarkets did too. Not today, not anymore. I did run a set of MSD after I installed the JBA's, fried them to a crisp and am are currently running stock ones again that have 60,000 on them for the wires that melted. Its your money...
If it fires, it fires, no special plug or wire makes it better under 5000 rpm's, this has been
proven countless times.
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Nology Hotwires.
I've never tested them but I'd like to. They have capacitors built into the wires so they store
current and then discharge it very quickly (short duration). This method would only work in
certain applications, so most serious racers don't use them, they go with the MSD or
Electromotive style of 20* to 60* spark duration.
Plus, any serious amount of current through the Nology's would fry them. That's why they
work best with older style stock ignitions.
I've done a few tests on other plug wires (AC-Delco, Packard, MSD, and the Duralast
double-silicone from Autozone).
The AC's & Packards were complete garbage and the Duralast's from Autozone showed gains in power
and mileage over either. This test was done in 1993, and the Delco's are probably better now.
I then tested the Duralasts against the MSD's. The MSD's were a little lower in resistance than
the Autozone wires, but none of my tests showed any gains by using them.
The difference in resistance was insignificant compared to the resistance of the plug gaps, and
the build quality was very similar. The Duralasts were lifetime wires so that's what I run on
everything now including my ten-second camaro. I really like MSD products, but Autozone is just
more convenient and gets the job done.
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white2001 wrote:
Speedy 87ss, are those NAPA wires solid cores with zero resistance?
The napa wires come in different stages: I, II, and III. The stage III are the solid core race
only,, the stage II are good low resistance street wires for ecm equipped vehicles, and if they
even still make the stage I, I think they are more for the dressup crowd, and not really a
performance wire.
Speedy
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[http://www.barneymc.com/toy_root/techtalk/electric/sprkplug.htm ]
Date: Mon, 19 May 1997 06:37:55 -0700From: "Mackiewicz, John J" Subject: MSD Super Conductor Wires / IdeaTo: "'toy4x4@tlca.org'"
All,
I just installed a set of MSD Super Conductors on my '83 22R and
noticed a definite improvement over the stock & Autolite wires. Idles a
bit smoother, revs a bit easier, and seems to have a little more grunt
in 5th gear. I bought these wires from Summit
Racing, a universal 4cyl set for $64.
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[Platinum Plugs General Info : http://zccw.org/Tech/Ignition/PlugBasics.html ]
Longevity is the driving force behind the current rash of platinum plugs. I remember back when
Bosch platinums were supposed to be the trick plug to run in your car. After a while I found they
worked really well with the low voltage systems used by the British and Italians, and poorly
with others (such as GM's HEI system).
All claims of superior performance to the contrary,
platinum plugs are not performance oriented
plugs. In fact, platinum is not even a very good material to use as an electrode. If you
push the plug makers (or if you get to talk to their tech people instead of sales/advertising)
they will admit that for a performance plug, you want something other than platinum. But for
engines where access is bad, you really do want to use a plug that will need changing as seldom
as possible (I see a bunch of300ZXTT owners nodding their heads!). Another factor in the
development and marketing of platinum plugs is that the car makers wanted to brag about how many
miles their cars would go between tune-ups and so pushed for long life plugs
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