For the correct operation of a gasoline engine, the condition and quality of the spark plugs play a decisive role. For example, an unstable spark will give a misfire, which will not only give itself out as shaking at low speeds and driving under tension, but will also lead to the ingress of a combustible mixture into the catalyst - and this is already a risk of overheating and failure. It is not in vain that, starting from the Euro 3 economy standards, the injection ECU programs of domestic cars provide for diagnostics of uneven crankshaft rotation and shutdown of the fuel supply to failing cylinders.
Design features of spark plugs
- heat number characterizes the rate of heat removal from the electrodes to the skirt of the candle. During operation, the candle should be heated to such a temperature that the carbon deposits on it oxidize without having time to grow, but overheating is dangerous for it: glow ignition may occur, the electrodes themselves will begin to rapidly collapse. The problem is that the heat load on the candle itself is uneven - when driving at low speeds, the heating is much less than when driving “pedal to the floor”. Candles with a regular glow number in both of these cases will work at the extreme point of the optimal mode - under- and overheat, respectively.
- spark gap depends primarily on the power of the standard ignition system and the maximum pressure in the cylinder at the end of the compression stroke: it must be such as to ensure a confident spark breakdown even at low mains voltage (scrolling with a starter on a dead battery). And the difference in this case is obvious: usually the transformation ratio of the ignition coils is about 2000, that is, when the generator is running, they can produce up to 28 kilovolts, but at startup - only 14! Therefore, the purchased set of candles must have exactly the gap that is set by the car manufacturer: an increased one means the risk of misfires (but within the capabilities of the coil it will provide a more powerful, better igniting spark mixture), a reduced one guarantees the possibility of starting with a dead battery, but is fraught with interruptions already from - to reduce the energy of the spark.
- Departure of electrodes also means a lot for the performance of the candle in a particular motor. For example, on eight-valve engines, where the spark plug is on the side of the combustion chamber, increasing the reach optimizes the ignition of the mixture: the area adjacent to the walls of the combustion chamber is less ventilated, while the removal of the electrodes further ensures that there will be a high-quality, flammable mixture in the spark gap. For VAZ eight-valve engines, where the ventilation of the combustion chamber is structurally degraded (the inlet and outlet channels are located in the same direction, and not opposite each other), this is quite sensitive. Candles with buried electrodes are used, as a rule, on multi-valve engines with a minimum volume of the combustion chamber, otherwise they may collide with valves or a piston.
- Number of electrodes in real operation is of little importance. Multi-electrode spark plugs theoretically have an increased resource - when erosion destroys one of the side electrodes, a spark begins to strike the other (in contrast to a common misconception, a spark does not occur simultaneously between several electrodes). In practice, the spark usually “floats” (which is why it seems that there are several of them) - in conditions of poor distribution of the mixture over the cylinder, the spark can move from the working area to the “shadowed”, that is, contaminated with residual exhaust gases. As a result, instead of improving the resource, we will get a deterioration in the operation of the engine, which, again, is fundamental for the VAZ eight-valve engine, which is already disgustingly idling with the lean mixture prescribed by the current economy.
Video: Spark plug test on the stand.
Something else useful for you:
Noble metals: the practical meaning of the application
As we said in the last paragraph, the transition to a multi-electrode circuit did not bring much practical benefit in increasing the resource of candles. In fact, at the same time, the fight against the very cause of the natural wear of candles, that is, the erosion of contacts, was replaced by a palliative - the substitution of "spare" ones. To directly increase the reliability of the electrodes, the design of the candles was significantly reworked.
In "platinum" and "iridium" spark plugs, the main feature that catches the eye is a very thin central electrode that accurately locates the point of origin of the spark - opposite it, a plaque of the corresponding metal is soldered on the side electrode, and the central electrode is also covered with it.
The advantages of such candles are obvious: the electrodes have a service life that, under normal conditions, is two to three times longer than that of conventional candles. The thin central electrode is perfectly self-cleaning, which also contributes to reliable operation.
The cons, alas, are also significant. The first is the price: a set with the inscription Platinum or Iridium will cost at least two to three times more than ordinary candles. The second, oddly enough, is tenderness: non-burning soot instantly kills such candles, and mechanical cleaning is contraindicated for them, like the old-fashioned burning with a burner. First of all, we are, of course, talking about the infamous ferrocene, which is still not uncommon to run into.
Non-traditional schemes
Part of the design solutions in spark plugs of an unconventional scheme can be called conditionally working - improving one thing, they worsen the other. The simplest example is the NGK V-Line series of candles: their central electrode has a groove, respectively, a spark always jumps between the edge of the electrode and the side one. In theory, this improves the ignition of the mixture by moving the spark to a better ventilated space and stabilizing the sparking point, but the erosion of such a central electrode is also accelerated.
Part of the candles on the market cannot be attributed in any other way than to the “herbalife” from the car market: all kinds of “pre-chamber”, “torch” and so on candles, at best, work no better than standard ones, at worst, they are rapidly destroyed. For example, in the infamous “Bugaets” candles, the soldered skirt not only worsened the ventilation of the spark gap, but also burned out, and sometimes went into “free flight” into the combustion chamber. Of the structures that are workable, but useless in the practice of an ordinary motorist, we note only candles that do not have a side electrode at all - they were originally created to work in ultra-high boost motors in order to avoid overheating of the protruding side electrodes, in a normal urban cycle on a motor of a “civilian” degree of boost they disgustingly self-cleaning and guarantee interruptions at idle even on ideal quality gasoline.
Choosing spark plugs for VAZ
Let's talk about spark plugs using a specific example - the 16-valve VAZ-2110 engine, which is equipped with A17DVRM spark plugs from the Engels plant from the factory. The same plant, by the way, produces original candles for other Russian conveyors: the EZ marking can be seen on Renault Original candles, for example. For convenience, we will focus on these candles.
EZ A17DVRM
The main advantage of these spark plugs is the stability of quality: it is difficult to find a large discrepancy in resistance or the size of the spark gap in the original kit. It was not in vain that we mentioned the word “original” - alas, the market is flooded either with fakes, or with rejection that goes into free sale. Candles have a good margin for stopping sparking, with a standard ignition system, withstanding scrolling when the voltage drops to 6V without stopping sparking. They also work stably at maximum load modes - misfires that can be “caught” by a sensitive gas analyzer are minimal.
As for the resource, they answer their task - to work out from maintenance to maintenance - with confidence. Given the low price and prevalence, they are clearly worthy of recommendations.
A three-electrode version of the already familiar A17DVRM. The theoretical gain in the resource brought here its minus: the parameters of the candles “float” more strongly, and this is primarily an unstable gap, hence some deterioration in motor characteristics. But it should be noted that this deterioration can only be "caught" on a measuring stand, in real operation it cannot be said that three-electrode candles from Engels will be worse than single-electrode ones.
Excellent candles from one of the world leaders in their production: high and stable workmanship, confident operation in any mode and a good resource. Candles confidently withstand a voltage drop at startup up to 6.5 V (unexpectedly losing to domestic ones!), Misfires with them are minimal.
Their design uses the same solution as NGK in the V-Line series, but exactly the opposite: the groove is stamped in the side electrode. This is definitely more profitable in terms of production, since it is not necessary to strictly orient the side electrode relative to the central one, but there is obviously less practical benefit from such a design.
Spark plugs with an extended central electrode reach, as expected, did not show an increase in motor performance on a 16-valve engine: this solution would be more “working” on an eight-valve engine. In all respects, this is a strong "middle peasant", but the price is significantly higher than that of competitors with the same qualities. We only note a good result for starting on a dead battery: 6.2V is an excellent result ... but original candles from Engels are cheaper, and, oddly enough, better than Czech ones.
The company's marketers were clearly mistaken in referring these candles to the V-Line series: their central electrode is devoid of a groove. Let's say right away: the original kit is a strong "middling", which does not stand out in any way, but also does not fail the test. I definitely don’t like the noticeable roughness of the workmanship - even the Made in France marking is always unevenly packed, the side electrode is usually soldered unevenly. One gets the impression that the manufacturing technology was deliberately coarsened for the sake of low cost, but these candles could be better.
The main disadvantage of NGK is not themselves, but a monstrous number of fakes on the market. It is enough to type “spark plug” in the search on Ebay or AliExpress without specifying the brand, and a multi-page list of “NGK type” from China will immediately appear.
Bosch WR7DPX
We will leave these candles out of the rating, given how much the Platinum series is more expensive than their counterparts that do not contain precious metals. However, it is these candles that demonstrate the best results in all motor tests - this is primarily played by a thin central electrode, completely hidden in the insulator: the motor starts when the voltage in the on-board network drops below 6V, which is not available to other candles, the minimum toxicity clearly indicates the least amount misfires.
You will have to try to overheat the central electrode at maximum loads - the design guarantees the reliability of heat transfer from it to the insulator and further to the skirt. This means that this candle can be advised both to owners of traveling cars and lovers of aggressive driving. Unless, of course, the price stops.
As for the resource, the picture here is quite simple - at first the spark works with one contact that has minimal resistance, then as it wears out, the resistance begins to grow, so the spark goes to another contact and continues to work steadily smoothly. Thus, the resource, as practice shows, can increase two to three times. On some cars, such options go for 100 - 120,000 kilometers.
YES, and the formation of caviar is a little different here, look at the pictures.
The only weak link is the central electrode, it also wears out and as it wears out, the candle starts to work worse.
My review
Unfortunately, I don't have photos and videos of material from testing such candles. But I had experience. On a working VAZ 2111, multi-electrode options (three contacts) were purchased from BRISK, the name is if EXTRA memory serves me right. The issue price is about 180 - 200 rubles - a piece, they did not buy expensive NGKs, for our old working VAZ, this is too much. The car moved with them for about 40,000 kilometers, then it was taken by another unit and I could not track it. According to the driver, starting in cold weather has improved (not even on a new battery), throttle response has slightly increased, consumption has fallen, slightly, but it has fallen - according to the on-board computer, this figure is about 0.3 - 0.4 liters, which is about 4% savings. After 20,000 kilometers, we unscrewed a couple of pieces and looked at what happened to them and, you know, everything was in order, I know the mileage is small, but the first impressions have already been formed. Therefore, they really have an effect. Also watch the video I shot just for you, I found a worn version from BERU.
Test
ON the Internet, I have accumulated information about testing multi-electrode candles, I want to offer you the best five.
Manufacturer - FRANCE. By far the best of all. Issue price - 600 - 700 rubles a piece.
Structure - 4 electrodes, paired with different gaps to the central contact, two electrodes - 0.8 mm, two more 1.2 mm. Thus, suitable for many cars, whether it is a carburetor or an injector.
After testing: engine power increased by 3.7%, consumption fell by 4.2%, toxicity by 4.5%
Manufacturer - JAPAN. They take second place, slightly inferior to BERU, the issue price is 500 - 550 rubles / piece.
Three electrodes that have the same gap of about 1.1mm making them the preferred choice for injector applications. Sufficiently high quality, inferior only in fuel economy - here only 3.9%, but the rest of the characteristics are almost the same power - 3.7%, toxicity - 4.5%
Manufacturer - EUROPE. Third place, issue price 400 - 450 rubles / piece.
Three pins, about 1.1mm gap. Made with high quality, consumption fell by 3.5%, power increased by 3.4%, toxicity decreased by 4.0%
Manufacturer - CZECH REPUBLIC, 4th place, price about 700 rubles / piece.
We used a new technology in the structure, where the side 4 electrodes are lowered lower than the central one. That is, the spark, as it were, “slides” over the insulator, as it seems to me, because of this, the resource will be slightly reduced, however, in our test, it ranks fourth in terms of consumption (decrease - 3.1%), increase in power - 3.0%, toxicity (3.5% reduction)
According to the technical regulations, spark plugs in engines 21116 and 21126 should be changed during TO-2, that is, after 30 thousand kilometers. In fact, this period can be extended one and a half times, if we are talking about a gentle mode of operation. But you should not do this if the car is under warranty (then the replacement is carried out according to the regulations). Here we list which spark plugs are suitable for each of these engines. We will assume that the owner of Kalina-2 uses the catalogs of the following companies: BERU, CHAMPION, NGK, DENSO, BRISK, BOSCH.
- OJSC ZAZS (Russia) - AU17DVRM, A17DVRM;
- BERU (Germany) - 14FR-7DU, 14R-7DU;
- CHAMPION (England) - RC9YC, RN9YC;
- NGK (Japan) - BCPR6ES, BPR6ES;
- DENSO (Japan) - Q20PR-U11, W20EPR;
- BRISK (Czech Republic) - DR15YC, LR15YC;
- BOSCH (Germany) - FR7DCU, WR7DC.
On the left is the brand of the product suitable for the 16-valve engine, on the right - for. You may notice that candles with a thin electrode, iridium, etc. were not listed here. A thin electrode is then used to ensure ignition reliability at high speeds (7,000, 8,000 rpm or more), but cutoff is triggered for VAZ engines above 6,000 rpm. Iridium plugs have a thin center electrode in their design, but as we have already found out, the transition to the use of such parts is a waste of money, and nothing more. The durability of iridium candles approximately corresponds to the value of the "lifetime" of a candle with a standard section copper electrode. The choice is left to the owner.
A ceramic coating has appeared - we change the candles immediately!
In terms of their operational parameters, including durability, all components of the listed items almost do not differ from each other. This is confirmed by the reviews of car owners expressed on various forums, etc. Perhaps there are more expensive components, the use of which will allow a banal replacement to increase power, engine torque, or some other characteristics. But having installed such candles in the 21126 motor, most likely, you will have to forget about the guarantee for the box. With technology, it’s always like this: you need to imagine what exactly we are doing and what we want to achieve as a result.
The choice of candles for modern VAZ enginesIndications for replacing candles:
- If black soot (“suede”) is present on the insulator cone and electrodes, then cleaning or replacement can be performed. Cleaning is carried out, including by heating. When replacing, it is better to use candles with a slightly lower glow number than before;
- If the surface of the insulator looks like a yellowish glossy ceramic, then the spark plug needs to be replaced. In this case, a vitreous glaze is formed. It is electrically conductive.
In the first of the cases considered, carbon deposits are formed because not all elements of the candle are heated sufficiently, and self-cleaning does not occur. This can happen when the car is used for short trips with low speeds, frequent starts and stops. The same effect is typical for the operation of the motor at low temperatures. Logically, in such situations, the recommended replacement would be a candle with a lower glow number than was provided by the manufacturer. You can try to install candles A14DVRM instead of A17DVRM in an 8-valve engine, and so on. Only now, such a replacement must be discussed with the dealer.
Comparison of analogues A17DVRM, released under different brands
One of the online publications conducted a comparative test of spark plugs designed for the VAZ-21116 engine. Analogues of the A17DVRM candle supplied by the following companies were tested:
- APS, Bosch, Brisk - Russian production;
- Bosch Platinum, Beru, Finwhale - Germany;
- NGK, Denso - Japan;
- Eyquem - France;
- Champion - "Made in the European Union".
Note that testing was carried out on an 8-valve VAZ-2111 engine (injectors, lambda probe, without catalyst, "January-5.1"). All measurements were carried out on the stand.
Spark plug selection for 8-valve engine 21116 The result of the performed tests is presented in the photo in the form of graphs. As you can see, it still makes sense to buy imports: the use of Bosch spark plugs, as well as products from the Finwhale, Brisk and Champion brands will provide a noticeable increase in power. If you want to save on fuel, then ask NGK products in stores. Additional comments are unnecessary here.
Forced engines are characterized by an increased compression value, and VAZ engines. By installing Brisk spark plugs, you can not worry about the presence of a spark at high pressure. But note that NGK candles have similar characteristics. It turns out that it is NGK products that should be considered the best choice, however, fakes under this brand have recently appeared. And the "remake", it seems, is now coming from France, as described in the film.
Kalina 2 after 100 thousand km. run. Is it worth…
There are many systems used in engine design. One of these is the ignition system. It consists of coils, armored wires and candles. The latter play a significant role in the operation of the internal combustion engine. The resource of the engine depends on their quality and serviceability. Experts recommend replacing them every 30-40 thousand kilometers. What candles are suitable for Priora and how to put them? Let's try to understand this issue.
Classification
The choice must be approached as responsibly as possible. It is worth deciding which type of candle is best suited for the car.
So, these elements have their own classification according to:
- The number of electrodes: two- and multi-electrode. The first type consists of several elements. This is the side and central electrode. These are installed regularly on the Priora. As for the second type, they have one central and three side electrodes. According to reviews, these candles have a longer resource and are more reliable.
- The type of material. Often candles are equipped with copper electrodes. What is better to choose candles on Priora? Judging by the reviews, they have a small resource - up to 30 thousand kilometers. But recently, more "tenacious", iridium analogues have appeared on the market. Their resource is about 60 thousand. By the way, such candles have a slightly smaller diameter of the central electrode. If on copper it is 2.5 mm, then on iridium it is 0.7 mm.
- thread diameter. When buying, check with the seller for which engine you need candles. So, 16-valve valves are equipped with elements with a smaller head size and thread diameter. Candles from an 8-valve engine in Priora 16v simply will not work.
- Heat number. This parameter means the pressure at which the candle is easier to heat up. There is a cold type and a hot type. The heat number of these candles is 20 and above for the first and 11-14 for the second. What candles are better for Priora 16 cells? There is no single answer to this question. But there are also universal options. In this case, the glow number is from 11 to 20. It is these candles that many motorists take. They do great both in summer and in cold weather.
Regularly, the Volga Automobile Plant uses candles marked AU17DVRM.
Producer - "APS Priority". Judging by the reviews, the resource of these candles is 25 thousand kilometers. This is quite good, given the low cost - 400 rubles per set. But products with this marking do not perform well in cold weather. What candles to put on Priora 16 valves for winter operation? Here it is better to use "Priority A 15 WWDR". These candles have a lower glow number. They are easier to ignite at low temperatures.
Analogues
What candles are better for Priora 16 cells? For those who do not want to buy factory candles, there is a huge selection of analogues:
- Products from the British manufacturer "Champion". What candles are better for Priora 16 cells? For such an engine, it is worth purchasing the "Champion" RC9YC.
- Candles from the German manufacturer "Beru". They are not very popular, but they are distinguished by a high resource. Marking for "Priora" - 14FR7DU.
- Japanese candles NGK. Perhaps the most popular analogue of factory products. For the 16-valve Priora, NGKs marked BCPR6ES are ideal.
- Denso. This is also a Japanese manufacturer. The cost is on a par with NGK, the quality is also not inferior. For Priora, you should buy Denso Q20PR-U11.
- Brisk (Czech Republic). Another popular manufacturer of spark plugs. The manufacturer offers products with different incandescent numbers and the number of electrodes. For "Priora" candles DR15YC-1 are suitable. The same ones are used on Kalina engines of the first and second generation, with a 16-valve timing mechanism. But judging by the reviews, the products are of poor quality - the electrodes are strongly offset from the center, which is unacceptable for such products.
Which candles are currently better for VAZ 16 cells? When choosing, you should give preference to the original - AU17DVRM. By the way, the inscription “BOSCH Group” appears on the packaging, but the products are made in Russia. For those who want to use an analogue, NGK candles are suitable. They are distinguished by a good resource and low cost.
How to replace? Cooking Tools
So, we decided which candles are better for Priora 16 cells. Now you need to prepare the tools for replacement, namely:
- Candle key on "16" (preferably with a powerful handle).
- Slotted screwdriver.
- In the absence of a key, a “16” socket with an extension cord will do. It is desirable that it has a magnet or an elastic band at the end - it will be easier to remove the candle from the well.
Getting Started
So, for starters, open the hood and remove the decorative engine cover.
Note! When removing the high-voltage wire, do not hold the cord - it may be damaged. You only need to grab the rubber tip. If the element is damaged, misfiring is possible. The motor will start to triple, and the car itself will consume a lot of fuel (since it needs more energy to push the idle piston in the cylinder).
Now let's move on to the candles themselves. We lower a specialized key into the shaft and begin to unscrew the candle counterclockwise using the handle.
It must be taken out very carefully - it must not be allowed to fall into the well. Otherwise, part of the insulator may break off and fragments will fall into the cylinder.
Useful advice: in the absence of a key with a magnet, you can use the ignition module itself - install it on the end of the candle and pull it back out. So we can carefully and without damage get the old element.
Installing new
How are spark plugs replaced? Before installing new ones, check the gap between the side and center electrodes. It should be about one millimeter. The parameter is checked using a round probe. It is shown in the photo below:
If the gap is in order, we put a candle on the tip of the ignition module and lower it into the shaft. Next, turn it with a key until it stops. You don't need to pull hard. The recommended tightening torque is 25 to 30 Nm. At the next stage, we fasten the coils and insert the terminals.
Testing the work
So, we start the car and listen to its work. The motor should not troit and shake. If so, check that the spark plugs are installed correctly. Often motorists confuse the position of armored wires. Because of this, the engine cannot start at all. To prevent this, each of the ignition modules is pre-signed.
If soot appeared
After 15 thousand kilometers, it is recommended to re-examine the condition of the candles. Sometimes brownish-yellow soot can be observed on the surface of the electrodes. This indicates the use of fuel with an octane rating that is not suitable for the car. When the candle is overheated, the soot will turn white. Erosion is not ruled out. The reason may be early ignition timing. Sometimes the spark plug is just loose. Also, with early ignition, the electrode itself melts. This spark plug is for replacement only. Which candles are better for Priora 16 cells, see above.
If the car is troit, you should check the part with a tester for performance. Usually, a gun with a metal tip and a cap is used for this. The tip is touched and the cap is put on the outlet for armored wires. When you pull the trigger, a spark should go between the electrodes. If not, the element is to be replaced.
Finally
So, we found out which candles are better for Priora 16 cells. choose and how to replace them. In the course of work, it is advisable to check the candle well for the presence of oil. If it is there, the cylinder head gasket may have burned out in the engine. As for the issue of choice, many advise taking factory candles. They work no worse than analogues, and their cost is acceptable to buyers. Candles with a resistor showed themselves well - breakdowns in them are reduced to zero.
