Spark plugs in a gasoline engine play a huge role. In the process of fuel ignition, a spark is needed to ignite the gasoline mixture - it is in a stable spark that the main role of spark plugs lies.
Unlike diesel engines(in which the mixture is ignited by high pressure on it) gasoline engines need third-party support. In the event of a malfunction or the passage of a resource, the engine will not be able to start and move - there will be nothing to ignite the fuel mixture.
Right choice
That is why every motorist is obliged to monitor the optimal condition of the spark plugs and replace them in a timely manner.
The classic spark plug is one in design. Most often, as a type, two-electrode ones are found. At the end of the cone-shaped candle is the main electrode in the lower part is the side electrode. During the impulse from the engine, a spark passes between the electrodes, due to which the ignition process occurs. Over time, the action of the electrodes under constant influence weakens, due to which the spark either cannot appear, or gives a weak impulse.
On the video, which candles are better, iridium or platinum:
The process of wear and tear of the element leads to several unpleasant consequences:
All these reasons are manifested when using low-quality candles ignition or due to their natural wear. In the process of operating a car, each car owner has to face a difficult choice among various types.
Kinds
The most popular are three of these types:
average cost is about 600 rubles;
Platinum candles serve for 80-100 thousand km. As a result, the cost of the product has increased. Such candles cost an average of 1500 rubles, but due to reliability they fully cover the costs;
The cost of the kit will be about 1700 rubles.
The main manufacturers of all types of candles on the market are companies - Denso, Bosch, Philips. Candles from these manufacturers are distinguished by stable quality and high performance.
A couple of decades ago, the choice of spark plugs on the shelves of car dealerships was limited to two or three models that differed in glow number and length of the threaded part. Today, along with copper and chromium-nickel candles, products have appeared that are made using platinum or iridium. Let's try to understand their features and solve the dilemma: install on own car- iridium or platinum.
Advantages of platinum spark plugs and their difference from conventional ones
Don't think that individual elements Platinum spark plugs are entirely made from this noble metal. Of course, this is not true. Platinum is valued in the same way as gold, so manufacturers use only thin plates, which are mounted by sputtering on the working areas of thinner central and side electrodes. Otherwise, products with the proud Platinum label on the packaging are outwardly indistinguishable even from those products that are sold on market stalls “for a ruble per kilo”, not to mention high-quality products famous brands. As for the technical characteristics and operational advantages, here the differences from traditional spark plugs are more significant.
Platinum in spark plugs resists high temperatures and demonstrates high anti-corrosion resistance, thanks to which manufacturers can increase the life of the plugs and get a number of other benefits:
- the rate of electrode burnout is reduced;
- increases the power and stability of spark discharges, which improves engine response and reduces fuel consumption;
- when using platinum, occurs at a lower voltage, which allows for improved flammability fuel mixture during the start-up period - the engine starts better in hard frost and with a partially discharged battery.
If we talk about durability, then the resource of platinum spark plugs is 3-4 times longer than the service life of standard ones. Manufacturers guarantee their performance with runs of 50-60 thousand km, but, as practice shows, owners think about them when the odometer shows a run of more than 80 thousand km.
What is the difference between iridium and platinum spark plugs
When studying the dependence of the power of sparking on the size of the current-carrying elements, it was found that with a decrease in the thickness of the electrodes, a stronger arc discharge is formed. This affects the combustion efficiency of the fuel and its economy. However, this raises the following dilemma. The fact is that with an increase in the power of the spark, the temperature at the tip of the electrode also increases, which leads to its degradation. In order to use thinner electrodes, manufacturers have resorted to heat and corrosion resistant precious metals.
As is clear from the name on the packaging of candles, the difference between iridium and platinum candles lies in the use of one or another noble metal in the manufacture of their current-carrying elements. When using platinum, the minimum electrode diameter is 0.7-1.1 mm, and traditional copper-nickel products have a central rod with a cross section of up to 2.5 mm.
As for, they are completely leaders in terms of minimizing working parts. By reducing the thickness central rod up to 0.4 mm it is possible to improve sparking. It is difficult to fill such a candle, because on the one hand a drop of fuel cannot stay between thin electrodes, and on the other hand, its surface tension is not enough to stay in the gap between the skirt and the central electrode. For this reason, candles using noble metals make it easier to start a car even in the most severe frost.
The melting point of iridium is much higher than that of platinum, and in addition, this metal is characterized by increased strength. Therefore, candles with iridium electrodes are more resistant to wear and remain operational at runs of 100-120 thousand km. If we talk about the price, then everything depends on the manufacturer and the design of the candles. The cost of spark plugs with the addition of iridium is higher, which is explained both by the higher price of the metal itself and by the lower prevalence of this chemical element in nature. Even the fact that very little is consumed in the manufacture of iridium electrodes does not save the situation. On average, the cost of iridium candles exceeds the price of platinum ones by 30-40 percent.
What to consider when choosing
Given all of the above, the question of which candles are better, iridium or platinum, can be answered in favor of the former. However, this statement is only partially true. When deciding what to use in the ignition system, it is imperative to take into account the type of engine, its wear and condition. cylinder-piston group. So, there is no point in putting expensive candles in ordinary carbureted engine with a low compression ratio. There they will not be fully revealed, so there is no reason to pay more.
Video: Spark plug test on the stand
If at the same time, then we can completely assume that the money is thrown to the wind. In this case, it accumulates on the electrodes, so they will work no better than copper ones. The situation is complicated by the fact that if it is necessary to clean the candles, the owner will not be able to use either mechanical or by chemical means- This can only be done by calcining on fire. Using low quality to boost octane number contributes to the formation of hard-to-remove scale on the current-carrying parts of the most technologically advanced candles. For this reason, there can be no talk of any 100 thousand kilometers of run - in best case candles "depart" 30-40 thousand km longer than usual.
But on high-tech engines with a displacement of more than 2,000 cubic meters. see iridium and platinum candles ignition will show everything they are capable of. More high speed sparking is the best suited for working on high speed motors. Heat resistance minimizes electrode wear even when spark plugs are used in propane engines. This gas burns at high temperature than gasoline, so ordinary candles cannot work out even the small resource that the manufacturer lays down.
Due to their ability to effectively ignite even the leanest hot mixture, platinum spark plugs are indicated for engines with turbochargers and intercoolers. In this case, the owner will receive a gain in efficiency, power increase and reliability. Traditional candles are simply not designed to work with such loads and such complex temperature regime, so they can refuse at any time. But products made of precious metals can easily cope with overloads and justify every ruble invested in them. You can verify this by looking at the figure below, which shows the ignition rate of the fuel mixture when using candles. ignition of three types.
Car owners are interested in the question of which manufacturer's candles to give preference to. It is difficult to make a choice today, because the distribution network presents the products of many famous manufacturers. Choose platinum first. spark plugs, BOSCH, DENSO, BRISK, CHAMPION and other famous brands. They are the "golden mean" between price and operational benefits. More expensive iridium products will only justify the investment when installed on powerful modern motors, and even when refueling with high-quality fuel. Only if these conditions are met can one rely on them. efficient work and estimated durability. In other cases, they will work no better than platinum ones, so why pay more?
Iridium spark plugs are a serious competitor to platinum devices. The technical characteristics of the car can be significantly improved if the set of conventional elements is replaced with a set of iridium. Such candles are stronger, therefore they last longer than ordinary ones.
Properties of iridium as a material
Innovative igniters air-fuel mixture are made by laser welding of iridium electrodes. The melting point is about 2500 degrees. Since the beginning of the 21st century, iridium has been used in industry for the production of igniters.
In the industrial industry, not pure iridium is used, but alloys. It is impossible to work with the material in its pure form - it is too fragile, its electrical conductivity is low. But alloys improve the quality of the final product many times over. Alloys are used to make electrodes with much thinner tips. With such components, the motor runs more smoothly, the car accelerates faster.
What is the difference between iridium spark plugs and regular spark plugs?
The main difference between iridium candles and ordinary ones is in the material. It is iridium that spark plug electrodes owe their unique properties that distinguish them from classical devices.
Since the melting point of iridium is high, the electrodes on which the material is deposited do not fail for a long time. The iridium candle differs in appearance from the classical one - the central electrode is slightly smaller in diameter, and the side electrode has a wedge-shaped shape. This results in a stronger spark. The use of rare earth material improves the operation of the engine system - in cold weather the engine starts faster.
Iridium igniters contribute to economical fuel consumption, increase power power unit. But if simple candles can be used with fuel of any quality, only a mixture with premium characteristics is suitable for iridium. More fuel is consumed during ignition. In a conventional spark generator, the fuel is located in a small gap between the electrodes, and the spark is formed at the edge of the central one. In the iridium version, the spark creates a funnel that expands from one electrode to another.
The difference is also in the price. Iridium candles are much more expensive.
Which spark plugs are better: iridium or platinum?
There are 3 types of spark-forming elements:
- copper (variations - chrome, nickel);
- platinum (PS);
- iridium (IS).
The last 2 options are best performance. The fact that platinum elements are inferior to iridium is true, but only in part. It is necessary to take into account the manufacturability of the power unit. If the best iridium spark plugs are installed on an old-style engine with a slight measure of compression, this will not greatly affect engine power, as well as fuel consumption. Therefore, it is not worth putting iridium devices on old motors.
There is a myth among drivers that the elements with iridium sputtering on the electrodes are not flooded. This is not so, because if fuel or other working fluid gets into the combustion chamber, this will not save them from flooding either. Devices coated with rare materials must not be cleaned in the usual mechanical way.
Using low-grade fuel and driving on bad roads they do not allow spark generators of any type to work out the entire period declared by the manufacturer - even on a serviceable motor. Modern devices must travel 100,000 km - in practice, it turns out no more than 70-80 thousand km. This applies to both platinum and iridium elements.
Platinum and iridium-coated candles have almost the same technical characteristics, but there are still differences. The diameter of the electrode on the PS is 0.7 mm, on the IS is 0.4 mm. This indicates greater efficiency and functionality of the latter.
The thinner the electrode, the more stable the spark formation even under reduced voltage conditions. And since iridium is much more refractory than platinum, ICs can withstand much higher loads. Their specifications are also improved by using not a pure rare earth element, but its alloys - rhodium is usually used as an anti-oxidation additive.
Conclusion: IP is somewhat better than platinum elements, but these advantages can be nullified by Russian realities. ICs are a bit more expensive.
Pros and cons of iridium candles
When choosing spark generators, do not be guided by price. Buying ordinary items, you will save, but it can "go sideways." It is better to look at the pros and cons of the options.
The main advantage of IS is efficiency. Due to the use of a thin thread in them, the contact area between the electrode and the flame core is reduced. By the way, in classic candles, the spark gap is almost 3 times larger.
Excellent flammability and modest voltage requirements are another couple of pluses. Thanks to a more complete burnout, the efficiency of the engine is increased, productivity is increased by 6-8%. Fuel consumption is lower by 6-7%. Exhaust toxicity is less - that's why iridium candles are better.
Among the disadvantages are the high price and the fact that ICs can only be used on modern motors. It is better to put classic spark generators on ordinary models.
One of the most promising areas in the production of spark plugs is the use of the rare earth metal iridium. Its use allows you to increase the resource of the candle up to 100 thousand kilometers, while standard products work at best up to 30 thousand, after which they need to be replaced with new ones.
In addition to durability, iridium spark plugs have a number of other operational advantages, including the following: facilitated sparking, stable spark discharge, low power consumption and no need for after-sales service. Statistics show that when using iridium candles, the service intervals, and the electrical equipment of the car does not require frequent maintenance.
What do iridium spark plugs look like?
Despite the fact that the candles are called iridium, this rare metal is used only in a small component of the device. It is made from the top central electrode. It is this element that experiences the greatest destructive loads in the process of sparking.
First, it is damaged by high temperature. Secondly, the electrode suffers from electrical erosion, literally tearing the atoms apart. In addition, the effect of a spark provokes oxidation of the metal, therefore, in typical candles, it is necessary to periodically clean the spark gap with a needle file or a piece of sandpaper-zero.
Due to its exceptional physical and chemical properties, iridium is inaccessible to competing metals, even to platinum of similar quality, which is also often used in the production of spark plugs. The list of the main characteristics of iridium includes the following.
- Infusibility. The melting point of iridium is 2700 °C. The refractoriness of the iridium electrode is the key to the absence of its deformation during the passage of a spark discharge. Due to this, the spark plug gap remains unchanged, and this component car engine withstands without degradation a large number of work cycles. This indirectly ensures the stability of the spark as on idling motor, and when accelerating.
- chemical inertness. Another valuable property of iridium is its chemical inertness. Of all the gases, the metal more or less "willingly" reacts only with fluorine. With oxygen, even at high temperatures, iridium hardly interacts. Thus, when a spark passes through the electrode, no oxides are formed on it that prevent the burning of the spark discharge. That is why, during the operation of spark plugs, it is not necessary to clean the spark gap between the side and central electrodes with the sandpaper mentioned above.
- Facilitated electron emission. A feature of iridium is that, when exposed to an electric field, it relatively easily gives up its conduction electrons. This results in less electricity being needed to create a spark than with standard spark plugs. This factor also determines the stability of spark discharge combustion under conditions of strong compression of the air-fuel mixture in the cylinders. The facilitated emission of electrons explains another advantage of iridium spark plugs - the absence of damage from electrical erosion. For getting required amount electrons, the spark does not need to destroy the iridium atoms. There are plenty of free charge carriers in the conduction band.
Pros and cons of iridium spark plugs
The main advantage of iridium spark plugs is their increased resource, which exceeds the resource conventional candles 2-3 times. Also, when using iridium candles, it is easier to start the engine in cold weather, fuel consumption is slightly reduced, engine power is increased and environmental performance is improved.
The key disadvantage of spark plugs with iridium electrodes is not related to the functional, but to the economic aspect. This is a high price, which is due to the significant price of raw materials. The cost of iridium in the world commodity market is about $40 per 1 gram, which determines the rather high price level of products that use this metal.
Sometimes the lack of iridium spark plugs is taken as the instability of the spark discharge, due to the poor condition of the motor. In fact, the iridium electrode reveals its excellent potential only when used in new or completely serviceable engines. In the case of low compression and the presence of other defects in the power unit, iridium candles are no different from ordinary ones.
The reason for this is the deterioration of the state of the spark gap due to the deposition on the electrodes of compounds formed during incomplete combustion of the fuel and the evaporation of oil penetrating into the combustion chamber through worn piston rings and cylinder walls. If the motor is serviceable, then the car owner will not notice any functional shortcomings of iridium candles.
How to distinguish iridium candles from ordinary ones
Iridium and conventional spark plug.
In conclusion, let's touch on the most interesting and topical issue. How can you tell an iridium spark plug from a fake? There are two known methods, visual and hardware.
The visual method consists in examining the central electrode. If the shape of the central electrode is needle-shaped, then you are most likely holding an iridium product. Of course, it is possible to give such a look to an ordinary copper-nickel electrode, but this is due to certain labor costs, which will not give the counterfeiter a price gain. That's why this method, in principle, allows you to reliably distinguish a genuine product from a fake one.
The hardware method involves checking the candle using a generator. Many retailers have such display equipment and use it to enhance the attractiveness of their products. Connect the spark plug to the circuit and apply ignition voltage to it. An iridium candle gives a spark of pure white color, while in a spark discharge that occurs between ordinary steel or copper-nickel electrodes, there are red and yellow inclusions.
If the center electrode in the spark plug is needle-shaped and the spark is pure white, then you can be sure that this spark plug is iridium.
Related video
Every car owner wants his car to run for a long time and reliably. So that you don’t have to look for the causes of problems and spend a lot of time in car services. To do this, it is necessary to service the car in a timely manner, do technical inspections, change Consumables such as: oil, filters, brake pads, spark plug. Often, when replacing candles, car owners do not pay for them special attention, replaced, work - and excellent! But in last years even in the field of spark plugs, new products have appeared that significantly improve the performance of the car. One of them - iridium spark plugs.
The spark plug has not changed much structurally since its inception. This is still the same device with a housing, an insulator and a central conductor, which serves to generate a spark and ignite the fuel mixture. On the one hand, there is a contact terminal on the candle, where it is inserted high voltage wire, on the other - the central and side electrode, between them - a special ceramic insulation.
What is the difference between iridium spark plugs and regular ones?
Practically nothing, except for the reduced diameter of the central conductor, a smaller gap between it and the side electrode, as well as the material from which the electrodes are made. It is an iridium alloy that is sometimes combined with platinum.
Even 30-40 years ago, professional racers noticed that a decrease in the diameter of the central electrode led to an increase in engine power. Therefore, they made it in the form of a pointed cone, turning it with a needle file, manually. True, such candles failed very quickly. The addition of an iridium alloy to the tip of the center electrode made it possible to significantly increase the life of the spark plugs.
What are the advantages of iridium spark plugs?
The fact that with a decrease in the diameter of the central electrode, the quality of the resulting spark is significantly improved. In addition, the voltage required for this can be about a quarter less. In some independent tests you can see that the spark from ordinary candles could be reddish or yellow. A iridium spark plugs always gave intense white light sparks. This means that it is of the highest quality.
As a result, the ignition front of the fuel mixture is larger and more uniform. This leads to improved combustion and an increase in engine power. This process also has pleasant side effects: fuel consumption is reduced, the exhaust becomes cleaner, and the engine is more stable. According to various sources, one can expect an increase in power of about 4-5%. Fuel consumption is reduced by up to 5-6% compared to conventional spark plugs.
Which iridium spark plugs to choose?
On sale you can find products from several manufacturers that produce iridium spark plugs. These are candles famous companies, such as: NGK, Bosch, Denso and not so popular, for example, Pulstar.
Usually the word "iridium" is present in their name, for example: Bosch Platinum Iridium, Pulstar be1i Iridium, NGK Iridium, Denso Iridium.
Without a doubt, the most famous are the iridium spark plugs from NGK and Denso. The latter have several types of iridium candles:
- Denso Iridium long life,
- Denso Iridium Power,
- Denso Iridium Tough,
- Denso Iridium Racing,
- Denso SIP.
Type Long Life designed for modern gasoline engines. In such candles, a compromise is reached between durability and reliability. They have a lifespan of about 100 thousand kilometers, high resistance to wear, melting and serious efficiency.
Denso Iridium Long Life
The tip of the central electrode in the Long Life candle consists of iridium, with a diameter of 0.7 mm, the material of the ground electrode is nickel. Such candles are not only sold separately, but also supplied to the conveyors of many automakers.
Iridium candles Power used in gasoline engines latest generations who are able to work on high revs. The diameter of the central electrode made of iridium is a record 0.4 mm.
Denso Iridium Power
The side electrode has a U-shaped groove with pointed edges. All this improves the quality of the spark, reduces the voltage requirements that are supplied to the candle, and improves the ignition of the fuel mixture.
Candles Iridium Tough combine high efficiency And long term service, 100,000 km or more. The design of the product makes it possible to increase the time between inspections and replacement of candles, guarantees a smooth and smooth operation engine.
Denso Iridium Tough
Such candles are perfect for cars running on gas. They also improve the flammability of the gasoline mixture, reduce fuel consumption and reduce exhaust emissions.
SIP candles, or super ignition plugs, are products that are regularly installed on many cars that are produced by world leaders in the automotive industry. They represent latest developments using iridium-platinum technology for the manufacture of candles.
Such iridium spark plugs contain not one, but two electrodes: ground and central. They allow you to get an exceptionally high-quality spark and can work even in poor fuel mixtures.
Candles Iridium Racing. The most advanced type of iridium spark plugs Denso ignition, this is Iridium Racing. They are intended for use in racing cars. It is these candles that allow the engine to fully reveal and realize its potential, working in extreme conditions racing track.
Denso Iridium Racing
Should I buy iridium spark plugs?
At a higher price, and iridium spark plugs are two to three times more expensive than conventional ones, these products are quite capable of paying off in a short time. If we assume that conditional car consumes about 150 liters of gasoline per month, and the installation of iridium candles will save 5-6% of fuel, then they will pay off in 6-7 months.
And that's enough good result. If you use a different amount of gasoline, just take a calculator and calculate how profitable it is. In addition to increased power, you will also receive other small bonuses, such as easy starting in cold weather and environmental friendliness.
It should be noted that a more significant reduction in consumption can be obtained by injection engines. On carburetors, it will not be so impressive, about 2%. Also, the engine power increase is not so noticeable.
Not so profitable will be the installation of iridium candles on old cars. Of all the benefits, you can only get more stable work engine at idle and improved engine start in the cold. Therefore, weigh the pros and cons well before buying iridium spark plugs.
