DENSO TT spark plugs are a new advanced sparking technology. "Denso", spark plugs: characteristics, tests and reviews

Candle examinations are a signature dish of the magazine, but ... We never added one important component to this dish - as if by accident. But you are wondering how the characteristics of candles will change after long-term work in real conditions? The problem is that one extrapolation is not enough here: you need to torment them for at least 30 thousand km. And this is long, expensive and very dreary: for each set of candles, at least a month and a half of bench motor spinning! Nevertheless, identical engine stands were prepared.

We decided to take candles oriented to most of the eight-valve valves operated by us: on the “large” hexagon (size 21) and with a conditional glow number of 17. But we tried to take a variety of designs. But the price was limited: no more than 800 rubles per set. After all, launching iridium favorites with elegant thin electrodes into such a “run” is like bringing Real Madrid and a team from our second football league ...

As a base, we took ordinary single-electrode candles: European WEEN 370 and Japanese NGK BPR6ES-11. They were accompanied by three-electrode EZ-T17DVRM from Engels. For refractory materials and alloys, the cheapest option with yttrium electrodes "played": the Czech Brisk A-line LR15YCY-1. The positions of platinum were defended by Bosch Platinum WR7DPX with a thin central electrode. And finally, the DENSO W20TT with the original side and center electrodes made of chromium-nickel alloy. Special protrusions are pressed on them, organizing a spark gap - this is an attempt to realize the advantages of thin-electrode candles without any precious metals. We remind you: we compare designs, not brands!

The test procedure is obvious. First, all the sets were sequentially installed in the same bench engine - a VAZ injection eight-valve. We carried out a standard test cycle - we got a starting base. Relative to it, the deterioration of engine performance was further monitored as the candles aged.

Basic figures do not contain surprises. Simple single-electrodes performed smoothly: the differences only slightly got out of the measurement limits. But the three-electrode EZ-T17DVRM, the thin-electrode Bosch Platinum WR7DPX, and the DENSO W20TT gave a noticeable improvement in both power and engine efficiency. Although, of course, intentional 2-3% improvements will give a visible effect for the wallet only during long runs, when gas consumption is considered not in cans, but in barrels. But this is exactly what we originally wanted to clarify.

Of course, our neighbors in the workshop cursed us: with the roar of our stands, we got them a lot. From seven in the morning until nine in the evening - three months, three stands ... However, everything ends sometime: the motors are stopped, the candles are unscrewed. The electrodes and insulators turned black, covered with deposits, traces of metal erosion are visible in some places. But even the usual single-electrode sets, which we took as a base, passed all the laps with honor. Not a single candle had to be changed during the race: here you have a loaded test cycle on domestic gasolines. This means that the resource of at least 30 thousand km of run, declared by almost all manufacturers of even the simplest candles, is not just a marketing ploy.

And how much did the performance deteriorate as a result? Let's see ... To do this, in the control motor - the same one on which the initial cycle of comparative tests was carried out - they put sets beaten by life and repeated the measurements. The results obtained were compared with the initial data. Now you can safely compare the numbers.

Basic sets of candles retained their performance, but significantly reduced engine performance. Consumption increased by about 6%, CO and CH toxicity jumped by 8–10%. Why? Because, under pressure, gaps of sparking began to appear, and these are gaps of flashes! And the motor controller, catching excess oxygen in the exhaust pipe, enriched the mixture. Hence the extra expense, and high toxicity. The decrease in the parameters of Brisk A-line was less than that of the basic candles, but also noticeable.

The leader of the test supposed in advance - the “platinum” Bosch performed better, but the shape of the central electrode, completely recessed into the insulator, played a clearly negative role. At one time, we already noted this when we tested spark plugs on gasoline with metal-containing additives ( ZR, 2007, No. 1 ). The explanation is simple: a spark of a thin-electrode candle with a conventional central electrode extended from the insulator, as it were, licks its tip, cleaning it from deposits and deposits. But the Bosch Platinum candle is deprived of this advantage: as a result, the kit lost the palm to the domestic EZ-T17DVRM three-electrode electrodes and the Japanese DENSO W20TT. These kits showed a deterioration in performance in all respects, but it only slightly went beyond the measurement error. So for them 30 thousand km is only the heyday of life! Unless, of course, on the way you meet a gas station with a particularly vile gasoline that can kill anything.

And one more thing: as usual, we conducted a test cycle, which we call emergency. The regular generator is disconnected from the motor, an “empty” battery is placed, and the on-board network is powered from a laboratory current source. This allows you to track the reaction of candles to a decrease in voltage in the on-board network. This is where the differences between the kits - both new and used - came to light most clearly. And again, the leaders are products declared as especially long-playing - DENSO W20TT, Bosch Platinum and our multi-electrodes. And what the candles looked like after the tests, the photos show. Race participants are listed alphabetically.

In conclusion, a little arithmetic. For 30 thousand km, the average "Vazik" eats about 2500 liters of fuel, taking about 65 thousand rubles from the budget. If we take into account the average increase in consumption, then, taking into account the initial differences, the savings from the use of long-playing candles will be a couple of thousand re. Estimate the usefulness of a real increase in power and reduce emissions for yourself.

DETAILS

The German kit with a thin platinum center electrode was within our price range. Bosch Platinum WR7DPX:

However, the ingenious design with a recessed electrode proved to be average, yielding to the three-electrode from Engels.

For refractory materials and alloys "played" and the cheapest option with yttrium electrodes - Czech Brisk A-line LR15YCY-1:

Visually, by design, these candles do not differ much from conventional single-electrode wires, only the tip of the side electrode is “sharpened” on a sharp edge. And that helped them outperform the base candles.

Japanese candles DENSO W20TT:

Here, on the side electrode of a special chromium-nickel alloy, a protrusion is pressed, forming a zone of increased intensity of the spark discharge. As a result, these “Japanese women” outplayed everyone.

European WEEN 370 - the simplest single electrodes:

On the whole, they passed the test, although the resulting increase in consumption by almost 6% suggests that they were practically leaving theirs.

Japanese NGK BPR6ES-11 - single electrodes are more expensive than European ones:

5

The results are about the same: they did not give up, but, judging by the deterioration of the parameters, they had to live ...

Set of three-electrode candles EZ-T17DVRM originally from Engels promised an increased resource:

Well, by the end of the run, multi-electrodes really looked better than their “single-headed” counterparts.

WHY CANDLES AGE

What happens to candles during their operation? Why do their scores change?

There are several factors. The most important is the erosion of the metal of the electrodes under the action of a repeated intense spark discharge. As erosion processes develop, the size and geometric shape of the spark gap change. With an increase in the gap, the intensity of the discharge decreases, up to its complete cessation in some operating modes, in which the conditions for sparking and initial ignition of the mixture in the cylinder are difficult. This is idling, maximum loads, cold start.

In addition, while working in the cylinder, the surfaces of the insulator and electrodes are covered with a layer of soot - under certain conditions, conductive. In the extreme state, it can form the so-called soot bridges that shunt the spark plug group.

Under the influence of high temperatures, the destruction of the protective coating of the candle insulator (glaze) is likely - ceramics begin to be saturated with sediment particles. The breakdown resistance of the spark plug decreases.

Finally, thermomechanical cyclic stresses in the insulator can also lead to its destruction.

QUESTION ANSWER

- What do the terms "dry" and "crude toxicity" mean?

These are engine slang terms. Raw toxicity - the one immediately after the engine, before the converter. Dry - after the converter: what goes to the outlet.

- Why do we need different candles if the converter burns out the unburned mixture anyway?

It burns out far from everything (according to CH and NOx - up to about 30-50%). Therefore, the greater the raw toxicity, which is affected by suppositories, the greater the dry toxicity. Moreover, the neutralizer does not successfully extinguish toxicity in all modes: in particular, when the mixture is enriched, that is, during acceleration, start-up, heavy loads, it also works inefficiently. And the converter does not affect the power, start-up and fuel consumption at all.

- A modern controller reacts to missed flashes by igniting the Check Engine. And how does the neutralizer respond to this?

The neutralizer does not react to flash passes in any way. At least you won't see it in diagnostics. If the process is too run, then we get a decrease in its service life and, possibly, an early failure. The residual oxygen sensor responds to gaps: it catches excess oxygen not used in the cylinder and gives a signal to enrich the mixture.

Tables open in full size on a mouse click:

(SZ) are an integral element of the ignition system of any car. Accordingly, if you want them to last for a long time, the choice of these components must be approached with all responsibility. In this article, we will talk about what Denso spark plugs are, what features they have and how the selection is made by car.

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SZ features

So, if you decide to purchase Denso ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt, then before you make a selection for your car, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with the features of the product. It should be noted that the Japanese brand Denso is the first to patent the TwinTip technology used in the TT line with a central nickel electrode with a reduced diameter of 1.5 mm. In addition, the size of the ground electrode was also reduced to a diameter of 1.5 mm.

So, let's move on to the features that the original iridium spark plugs Denso ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and others with different glow ratings have, unlike fakes:

1. SZ models ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and others with improved sparking actually achieve the maximum efficiency of iridium candles. However, the production of such SPs takes less money, since they do not use precious materials.
2. According to the manufacturer, the SZ ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and other models are characterized by improved performance at significantly lower costs.
3. Nickel TT devices ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and others require less voltage to start the power unit. Accordingly, the engine can be started much faster even at the lowest temperatures.
4. As a result, the models ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and others have a thin central electrode with a diameter of 1.5 mm (standard - 2.5 mm). Accordingly, the resulting spark is more powerful, the efficiency of its work is higher. And this, you see, is very important, especially at low temperatures.

Range

The Denso range includes many products with different heat ratings.

We are talking about both iridium and platinum, as well as nickel SZ:

• Nickel (Nickel) TT;
• Iridium TT;
• Standard;
• Platinum Longlife;
• Iridium Power;
• iridium racing;
• Iridium Tauf.

Advantages and disadvantages

Below are the main advantages and disadvantages of iridium and nickel SZ models ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and others with excellent heat rating. The information below is based on official data as well as consumer reviews.

Advantages that will allow you to make a choice:

1. Reducing the level of emissions into the atmosphere. As a result of the improved sparking in ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and other models, the combustion process itself is more stable. Accordingly, the operation of SZ ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and other options can reduce fuel consumption, as well as reduce CO and CH emissions into the atmosphere.
2. Due to the improved sparking of CZ with a good glow number, the ignition index is improved. As a result, candles ik20, k20tt, w20tt, k16tt and others from the Denso brand allow you to ignite even the most lean combustible mixtures. Accordingly, misfiring in the system will occur much less frequently when compared with other SZ or fakes.
3. If you choose originals with an excellent heat value, instead of a fake or standard SZ, then during normal operation of the sludge unit, you can save five percent on fuel consumption - gasoline, diesel or natural gas.
4. If your car runs on natural gas, then Iridium candles with a high glow number of the Tauf (Tough) line will suit you. Such SZ are equipped with an additional platinum tip on the side electrode. In addition, they are characterized by high wear resistance, which is especially important for power units operating on gas. It should be remembered that the temperature of the internal combustion engine on gas is higher. Accordingly, if the engine runs on gas, then the fuel mixture will burn at elevated temperatures.
5. Possibility of self-cleaning. The use of modern technologies allows candles to be cleaned on their own during long-term operation, so the problem of soot is no longer terrible (the author of the video is Hands in Oil).

Flaws:

1. Lots of fakes. In fakes, the glow number differs from the original. Accordingly, the owner of a car running on any fuel, including gas, will not be able to experience all the benefits of a Denso product.
2. If the product itself is not original, its service life will be lower. However, car owners of cars running on diesel and gas periodically write in reviews that the service life of the originals is less than stated.
3. High price. But in most cases, this is due to high quality.
4. On some new SZs, the gap was not initially set to work. This is confirmed by the reviews of motorists.

Marking

If you want to make the right selection of iridium candles for your car, it will be useful for you to familiarize yourself with the marking and decoding of the symbols, which are given in the table below:

Marking and interpretation of the designations of Denso spark plugs

How to distinguish the original Denso from a fake?

So, in order to purchase original SZ for your car, you need to know exactly how not to fall for a fake. There is a method of checking in appearance, as well as the internal structure of the device.

A visual aid - what is the difference between Denso originals and fakes

Of course, when buying, you will make a visual inspection:

1. On fakes, the contact terminal of the candle has a glossy surface, while on the originals it is more matte.
2. Unlike originals, Denso branded print on fakes can be easily scraped off. It is very difficult to erase this text on the original.
3. As for the case itself, on fakes it is made of less quality, in particular, we are talking about a low level of surface treatment.
4. The quality of threading, as well as the electrode itself, is lower in fake SZ, this can be seen with the naked eye.
5. When using a fake, you will notice how the power of the power unit begins to decrease on climbs, as well as at high speeds.
6. Fuel consumption can be increased, this must be monitored.
7. Over time, the side electrode SZ will begin to melt, periodic diagnostics will help to understand this.

The Japanese Denso Corporation is one of the world's largest players in the automotive aftermarket, operating as an OEM supplier for automotive assembly lines and as an aftermarket manufacturer of spare parts, from to high pressure pumps. The company began in 1953 a close collaboration with Bosch, spreading its branches to 22 countries around the world.

Technologies Denso

In the huge catalog of spare parts manufactured under the Denso brand, a considerable part is occupied. The reason for this is the quality and constant work of engineers who improve products. It was Denso who introduced innovative iridium plugs capable of creating a powerful and stable spark in harsh conditions, while maintaining a huge resource by the standards of traditional spark plugs.

More also has its own "highlights". Thus, the U-shaped groove in the side electrode, patented by the company 30 years ago, serves as a spark stabilizer - a decrease in the electrode area as close as possible to the central one increases the electrostatic field strength between them, and the breakdown of the spark gap occurs at a lower voltage. A spark occurs at the edges of the electrodes, in a better ventilated space, which reduces the effect of aerodynamics on ignition stability - it would seem that these are trifles, but on modern engines running on lean mixtures, even this can significantly affect the operation of the motor. The heat loss at the moment of the flash also decreases - the flame front at the moment of occurrence, when it is the weakest, has to be in contact with the narrow edge of the side electrode, and not with its entire plane.

It is curious that one of them, the Japanese company NGK, applies the same idea, but mirrored: a V-shaped groove in the V-line series plugs is cut into the center electrode. It is clear that this was done to comply with copyright, but as a result, NGK loses: if the side electrode with a groove can be welded to an arbitrary place relative to the central one, then for V-line candles it is necessary to accurately position the side electrode relative to the groove in the central one so that they are parallel. Hence the complication of production, an increase in the percentage of defects (moreover, crookedly welded NGK V-line candles can also be found on sale).

Video: Denso ik20TT iridium spark plug

Denso iridium spark plugs

The creation of iridium spark plugs made them the "face" of the company. The Denso range now includes several series:

1. OEM spark plugs supplied to automotive plants have an unconventionally thick (0.7 mm) iridium center electrode and a platinum-coated ground electrode. This is done to ensure compliance with the declared resource of 120 thousand kilometers, although it reduces work efficiency (the thickness of the electrode affects).
2. Iridium Power - candles with an ultra-thin (0.4 mm) central electrode, and a U-shaped groove is made in the side electrode. For a long time, these plugs were the most effective in the Denso Iridium line, until they were supplemented by new series.
3. Iridium Tough candles are a hybrid of the two previous ones: a thin central electrode is combined with a platinum-plated side electrode. These candles are close in resource to OEM candles, but work much better on natural gas, which is gaining popularity in Europe.
4. SIP plugs are a miniature masterpiece of technology: opposite the central iridium electrode, an equally thin platinum pin is soldered to the side electrode. This gives perfect spark stabilization, ease of ignition at high rpm and powerful boost. SIP plugs are Denso's most economical spark plugs, and you can feel the effect even on the least fancy engine. The development of SIP technology has become Iridium TT candles, which still have no analogues among competitors.
5. Iridium Racing are designed for ultra-tough operation in engines of the maximum boost level. They do not have a side electrode at all - the spark hits right at the edges of the skirt. There is no side electrode - there is no risk of its overheating, leading to detonation, for highly accelerated motors, fatal.

In the age-old confrontation with NGK, it is iridium spark plugs that bring Denso leadership - holding 55% of the iridium spark plug market in general, in the field of SIP spark plugs Denso is actually a market monopolist (90%).

Marking candles Denso

Video: Candles in Japanese cars: Denso, NGK candle marking

Each manufacturer uses its own coding scheme for candle parameters. Denso has adopted the following for new series:

For Iridium TT candles, the scheme is different:

Old marking system:

For example, let's find an analogue of our classic candle A17DVRM. Here the difficulty is only (Denso does not provide a comparison with the domestic standard), but from the catalog of analogues it can be concluded that Denso will become the analogue of the Russian "17" "20". Since we need a 14x19 threaded shank, and the candle key used is 21, we need to look for candles with a prefix W20 in the "old" series (since VAZ candles have been exchanged for more than a dozen years) - for example, W20EPR-U, candles with a 19 mm shank ( E), protrusion of the central electrode ( R), built-in resistor ( R) and a U-groove on the side ( U). If there is a desire to put iridium candles, then IW20TT will do.

Comparison with competitors

Strict quality control and positioning in the world market in leading positions make it possible to consider Denso spark plugs as one of the favorites when choosing a new kit - indeed, in most cases, in terms of price / quality ratio, they will beat their counterparts. If the car initially uses iridium candles, especially with a rare shank size (for example, 10x19), then in fact the choice remains only between Denso and NGK. In this case, sympathy can also be on the side of Denso, as their range allows you to choose a more suitable type of candle - long-lived Iridium Tough, high-performance Iridium TT or Iridium Racing, if you plan to squeeze everything that it is capable of out of the engine.

The main advantage of Denso is a relatively low percentage of fakes, which distinguishes them favorably from NGK, which have become almost synonymous with counterfeit goods (it is enough to fill in a spark plug on the same Ebay to see a huge number of offers “NGK type” at penny prices from China).

How to distinguish a fake?

Unfortunately, counterfeit products are also found under the Denso brand, and, knowing a number of design features of the original candles, it can be easily distinguished:

1. The contact cap must be smooth, nickel-plated. On fake candles, it is rougher, sometimes oxidized (black coating)
2. The logo print on the insulator is applied either with small dots or with solid paint, but always neat (no distortions, smeared paint)
3. Soldering on the side electrode opposite the central one is clearly different in color
4. The sealing washer is firmly in place, cannot be moved up and down
5. The model marking (alphabetic and numeric code) on the already printed cardboard packages of each candle is applied with separate stamps in different parts of the conveyor, therefore it always has an offset relative to each other. In clandestine productions, the packaging is printed in its entirety at once, on all boxes from the set it is the same in location.
6. On single-electrode spark plugs, the side electrode is always precisely oriented along the central one.

DENSO TT spark plugs produced using the patented "Super Ignition (SIP)" technology. They provide longer life, reliable starting in all weather conditions, low emissions and better fuel efficiency. The versatility of this type of spark plug makes it possible to cover a large fleet of modern cars with a limited number of articles.

In 2010, the serial production of Nickel TT spark plugs began, which is based on an innovative technology that is the result of many years of research and development carried out at the DENSO engineering center in Japan. The research was aimed at solving the dual problem of protecting the environment and achieving high technical efficiency.

Nickel TT spark plugs– the world's first spark plugs with thin electrodes without the use of precious metals. Center and ground electrodes with a diameter of 1.5 mm - thinner than standard nickel candles. As a result, DENSO's Nickel TT spark plugs exhibit more stable and consistent sparking and more efficient ignition of the air-fuel mixture.

Nickel TT spark plugs outperform standard nickel spark plugs in terms of ignition performance and provide greater fuel efficiency. This is achieved by complete combustion of the mixture in the cylinder, which increases the efficiency of the engine and prolongs its life.

Specifications:

Features of candles Denso Nickel TT

• fuel efficiency. Exceptional flammability ensures better combustion, even with leaner mixtures, which reduces misfiring compared to standard nickel spark plugs.
• Emission reduction. Stable sparking and fast flame front propagation lead to more complete combustion and lower fuel consumption, significantly reducing CO, CO2 and HC emissions.
• Consolidated assortment. The versatile Nickel TT range includes a limited number of SKUs that still cover the vast majority of the most popular vehicles.
• Designed specifically for starting the engine at low temperatures. For the formation of a spark, a lower electrical voltage is required due to lower heat losses on thin electrodes. This reduces the load on the ignition coil and on the engine's electrical system as a whole, providing faster, more powerful starts even in cold weather.