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Ethanol and Sparkplugs

1

1948man

Forum Sage
Past Site Supporter
Poking around the web, I find a lot of people saying to use the next colder plug for a vehicle and a gap .010" narrower. Anybody have any opinions about this. I just googled "ethanol spark plug gap."
 
Poke around more and you will find no bike manufacture will reccomend that crap.
 
For what it's worth, I run 10% eth in TT/XT 500 Yamahas and Suzuki GR 650 all summer and never have any problems of any kind. No manipulaton of the plugs or carbs. I also run 70% booze in my gas watercooled VW Jettas and Golfs (plastic fuel tank)....been doing it for over two years....with no problems! Well...yes, there is one problem....they tend to run so damned well that I have to be careful not to get tickets!!!
 
sharpy said:
Poke around more and you will find no bike manufacture will reccomend that crap.
Click to expand...

Care to elaborate? What "crap" are you referring to--the ethanol blend gasoline or the running a colder plug with less total gap?

As much as I don't like ethanol gasoline blends, I can't escape it unless I move out of region (Midwest). All of our gasoline is blended.
 
http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2007632
Here's a link I found from NGK. Since there's a colder and hotter plug specified by Suzuki for our bikes, it wouldn't be a totally reckless move to try the colder specified plug. For the time being, I have narrowed my gap to the lowest end of the range, .024". There's no disputing, gas has changed since 1983.
 
1948man said:
http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2007632
Here's a link I found from NGK. Since there's a colder and hotter plug specified by Suzuki for our bikes, it wouldn't be a totally reckless move to try the colder specified plug. For the time being, I have narrowed my gap to the lowest end of the range, .024". There's no disputing, gas has changed since 1983.
Click to expand...

Yes, the fuel is different but what specific issue are you concerned with?
 
The issues discussed in the above link. I realize that discussion was more about cars but wanted to get some opinions from members here about older motorcycles. I found other info about the way the colder plug supposedly resulted in more complete combustion but can't find that link now. I'll post it if I can find it.
 
Okay, I realize this is anecdotal but it is pasted from the bottom of the page of the above link.......

"guess you dont knowhow a spark plug works. A colder plug wont burn the fuel/air as fast so the flame front is more even, slow burning, and more complete. This gives you more power, less emissions, and better fueleconomy. __________________"

Not my words.
 
Spark plugs ignite the air/fuel mixture. They don't effect combustion speed, temperature, or anything else. If the plug is too hot it will melt the electrode, and too cold will lead to fouling. Just as long as the correct heat range plug is used to assure it's own long life, there is nothing more to discuss. In terms of the gap, just leave it in the stock range and call it done. High power coils can jump a larger gap but I doubt you will ever notice from the saddle.
 
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