Spark Plug Gapping Question

[Clean_5oh]

93 Cavalier 2.0

what should the gap be set to?


cheers

[ringsincorona]

I think its 3.5mm

[noshun]

Originally Posted by ringsincorona

I think its 3.5mm

0.045" or 1.1-1.2 mm

3.5 is HUGE!!! I don't know of anything that has a gap that big! You'd probably snap the electrode before you got to that!

[ringsincorona]

i guess its .35, been awhile.

[Swizzles]

Get Bosch plat 4+'s No gapping required! They are fantastic Ran them in my 97 Saturn SC (sold), our 99Cav and the Benz. More power and last longer than a conventional plug.

[noshun]

Originally Posted by Swizzles

Get Bosch plat 4+'s No gapping required! They are fantastic Ran them in my 97 Saturn SC (sold), our 99Cav and the Benz. More power and last longer than a conventional plug.

But due to the Resistance Values of these plugs and usually any Bosch they can screw up your PCM. NGK are the better plugs and their Iridium plugs don't need gapping!

[Swizzles]

Originally Posted by noshun

But due to the Resistance Values of these plugs and usually any Bosch they can screw up your PCM. NGK are the better plugs and their Iridium plugs don't need gapping!

Could you back that up with a couple of links with some stats? The bosch's have been fantastic but i've never run the NGK's. If the main factor of getting good plugs is resistance value they should make plugs out of Silver. The lowest resistance value of conventional metals!

Not flamin ya just convince me!

[noshun]

Originally Posted by Swizzles

Could you back that up with a couple of links with some stats? The bosch's have been fantastic but i've never run the NGK's. If the main factor of getting good plugs is resistance value they should make plugs out of Silver. The lowest resistance value of conventional metals!

Not flamin ya just convince me!

Actually Gold has a lesser resistance than silver hence gold plated terminals on amps etc also more resistant to heat. I see what I can dig up on Bosch!

[Swizzles]

Originally Posted by noshun

Actually Gold has a lesser resistance than silver hence gold plated terminals on amps etc also more resistant to heat. I see what I can dig up on Bosch!

Actually that is just Wrong! Here are the top 6 conductive metals in order with specs.

In OHM CM

Silver 1.59X10-6
Copper 1.68X10-6
Gold 2.24X10-6
Aluminum 2.65X10-6
Nickel 6.84X10-6
Platinum 10.6X10-6

(if you don't know a lower resistance number is better)

Iridium is slightly more conductive than platinum but will corrode way faster. Life of an iridium plug is prob. 15,000-20,000KM VS 100,000-160,000KM for platinum. Plus you will only get about 5000K before the corrosion causes the iridium plug's slight conductivity edge causing it to be on par with a platinum plug. After that the resistance will actually EXCEED the platinum plug.

[noshun]

Originally Posted by Swizzles

Actually that is just Wrong! Here are the top 6 conductive metals in order with specs.

In OHM CM

Silver 1.59X10-6
Copper 1.68X10-6
Gold 2.24X10-6
Aluminum 2.65X10-6
Nickel 6.84X10-6
Platinum 10.6X10-6

(if you don't know a lower resistance number is better)

Iridium is slightly more conductive than platinum but will corrode way faster. Life of an iridium plug is prob. 15,000-20,000KM VS 100,000-160,000KM for platinum. Plus you will only get about 5000K before the corrosion causes the iridium plug's slight conductivity edge causing it to be on par with a platinum plug. After that the resistance will actually EXCEED the platinum plug.

Where did you get that information? If it wasn't 24 Karat gold the resistance would be lower but I am 100% certain that 24K Gold is the least resistant metal. I have and English College 'a' Level in Physics and thsi was just basic knowledge. I would like to check this source as the only time you would get a resistance like that would be if it was about 10k Gold!

In addition If copper had such a lower resistance why would anyone bother making gold terminal on electrical equipment when according to you copper is better and about a 1/4 of the price. This is nosensical!!!!!

[Swizzles]

Originally Posted by noshun

Where did you get that information? If it wasn't 24 Karat gold the resistance would be lower but I am 100% certain that 24K Gold is the least resistant metal. I have and English College 'a' Level in Physics and thsi was just basic knowledge. I would like to check this source as the only time you would get a resistance like that would be if it was about 10k Gold!

In addition If copper had such a lower resistance why would anyone bother making gold terminal on electrical equipment when according to you copper is better and about a 1/4 of the price. This is nosensical!!!!!

There are millions of sources for that information... In fact here it is on the Denzo Iridium spark plug page...

http://www.nbt-brunei.com/part/parts/denso_plug/

Copper is used on the inside of most wires but the interconnects are Gold because of copper’s susceptibility to oxidization which reduces its conductivity. When copper (or iridium) oxidizes it increases it’s resistance past that of Gold (or platinum).

As far as a reliable source I used google and found hundreds. However off my shelf of many.. many physics and management books I pick....Douglas C. Giancoli's PHYSICS Third Edition 1991. P 465 Table 18-1. I'm not such a supergeek that I know the resistances off the top of my head

You should have paid a little more attention in your physics classes.


Here's a site that addresses most of your confusion around metals and spark and resistance.

http://www.nology.com/silverquest.html

Companies use GOLD connectors because many people (even some physics majors) believe that GOLD is the best conductor. They are praying on the ignorance of the masses to sell their products for mass profits.