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What is the Determinator What is the Heat Range Correct Heat Range Why use it? Distributors Environment
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The Heat Range is the function of the spark plug that regulates the temperature of the combustion chamber by its ability to maintain or to remove the heat produced by the combustion process and to take the excess of heat toward the cylinder head that will then transfer it to the cooling system.

There is no direct relationship between the spark plug heat range and the spark voltage.

 

 

Each spark plug is manufactured with its own predetermined and specific heat range. They exist different spark plugs brands and each one of them manufactures its different series or models with a large variety of heat ranges.

Owed that all the engines are differents, they require spark plugs with different Heat Range. All the engines, whether in a family car or in a racecar, should operate at an optimal temperature in the combustion chamber, which must be between 840ºF. to 1560ºF. (450ºC. and 850ºC), what means that the heat range of the spark plug to be installed should be cool enough to avoid pre-ignition, but hot enough to prevent fouling.

This is why the vehicle manufacturers define a spark plug with a specific heat range for the power level and operating conditions that supposedly is going to demand the end user of each model of vehicle. This selection must be precise.

Today, Professional Mechanics, Do-It-Yourselfers, and Spark Plug Vendors have Application Charts available in Spark Plug or Auto Part Catalogues, as a guideline to identify the adequate spark plugs for a vehicle, whether as printed material or modern computerized version. Such application charts only indicate the adequate spark plugs for vehicles under standard operating conditions.

Users are therefore quite familiarized to the idea that is enough to follow the catalogues suggestions, however, during the useful life of a vehicle many different conditions that affect engine performance may occur, as for example:

 

 

  • Different driving conditions,
  • different traffic conditions,
  • different load conitions,
  • different engine maintenance,
  • different high performance modifications,
  • different weather conditions,
  • use of LPG natural or propane gas as fuel.

Moreover, these conditions may combine in endless ways.

And when such different conditions do occur, vehicles no longer operate under standard conditions, and the heat range of the stock spark plugs stop being the adequate for this particular conditions, being done necessary to install spark plugs with a Heat Range different from the original stock suggested in the catalogues by the manufacturers, and therefore catalogue´s Application Charts can not continue indicating which one is the spark plug that must be installed in a vehicle to best match each one of these conditions or the different combinations thereof.


If the stock spark plug heat range results colder than neccesary due to the actual operating conditions, the air/fuel mixture will not burn completely creating carbon deposits that will not burn and will stick to the spark plug, fouling it; and since carbon is an conductor of electricity, it would deflect the electricity to the ground instead of creating the spark, resulting in engine misfiring and malfunctioning. When this problem exists, the installed spark plugs shows unburned fuel. Then the spark plug appearance looks similarly to a reach mixture.

 

And if the stock spark plug heat range results hotter than neccesary due to the actual operating conditions, the engine would overheat and the installed spark plugs looks with overheating, similarly to a lean mixture.

 

When an engine is modified for high performance and its power is increased, the stock spark plugs very often result hottest than neccesary due to the new power achieved at higger RPM and the gasoline would end up pre-igniting or detonating without the need of an electric spark, creating an uncontrolled explosion that would severely damage the engine.

Be aware that never! never a high performance modified engine, can continue using the stock spark plug, because more power is more energy, and more energy always is more heat.

 

Unfortunately, even very experienced mechanics have difficulty in detecting the differences in this situations that are very often misunderstood, misleading them to search the origin of the troubles that the spark plugs are showing, in the supposedly wrong air/fuel mixture, cooling systems troubles or other mechanical failures.

It is absolutely clear that is doing lack more information about the true one and trascedental importance of the the heat range of the sparkplugs.
This exact selection is critical!

Only with the proper Heat Range will spark plugs sustain the perfect combustion process that keeps your engine's top efficiency and functional reliability.

But only a few of the most selected and experienced engine tuners know how to select the spark plug with the proper heat range best suited to match these differents conditions, or the specific engine's level of modification, but them reach it only after long hours of expensive and difficult testing by trial and error with differents spark plugs sets of different heat ranges.

 

Now, only with the Spark Plug Heat Range DETERMINATOR® you can easily overcome the difficulties of diagnosing properly your vehicle; according to the combination of your own specific, individual and particular driving habits, traffic, weather, engine operating conditions, fuel quality, that can be affecting your engine performance; and you can Tune-Up your vehicle by yourself, tailoring it exactly for you, simply by selecting the spark plug with your own customized heat range.

 

The Spark Plug Heat Range DETERMINATOR® is also the unique and best help to achieve unbelievable levels of power in your high performance modified engine, because allows you to push to the edge, as never was possible before: the modification level, the timing advance, the turbo or supercharger pressure, and the nitrous oxide flow; while keeping the engine totally free and safe from overheating, pre-ignition, or detonation, and its harmful effects, simply by selecting accurately the spark plug with the customized heat range to remove absolutely the heat excess of the combustion chamber. No matter how heavily the engine is modified and how much the engine is stressed.

This is the only way that guarantees to achieve the peak power, performance, endurance, better mileage and the lowest emissions.

You don´t have to take our words. Spark plug manufacturers have never failed to explicitly acknowledge that:

 

"Owing to different driving conditions and/or engine conditions a hotter or colder spark plug may be required"
NGK Sparkplugs

"bad plugs cause overheating, rough running, power loss and even engine failure"
AUTOLITE Sparkplug

"Wrong choice of spark plugs can cause an engine to go on strike"
BERU Sparkplug

"This is reflected in the increased importance assigned to precisely adapting the spark plug to engine. Customized solutions are the order of the day"
BOSCH Sparkplugs

“These application list is to be used only as a guide, owing to different driving conditions and/or engine conditions a hotter or colder spark plug may be required".
NGK Sparkplugs

"The spark plug application for racing engines is very individual and requires good experience in identifying appropriate heat value. Failure to meet these requirements may cause extensive engine damages".
BRISK Sparkplugs.

"For racing, the spark plug recommendations listed should be considered only as the initial guide. Final heat range selection must rest with the racing participant.".
AC DELCO Sparkplugs.

 

 

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©Copyright 2004 All rights reserved by John H. Orsos & Elena Maria Delgado de Orsos
Smart Racing Tools USA LLC 2043 Shadow Brook Henderson NV, 89074.
No part of the content of this publication, may be reproduced, stored or transmitted by any means including
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