May issue of Hot Rod has at least two references in it, to using E3 Spark Plugs which I had never heard of before today.

Supposedly there's no reason to have to index plugs (if that's what you do; I do not) because the spark is evenly distributed. Are these things any good?

Currently I am using Autolite 3924's on my AFR195 aluminum heads. I have no problem with this setup but am always interested in new technology.

I remember in the '60s my dad used a plug he ordered mail order from Popular Mechanics Magazine. They had 8 electrodes evenly spaced around the outside, and the gap was fixed. No, they were not related to OctoMom, but they could have been called Octoplugs or something similar. At this time, I haven't seen them many years and I tend to think it was one of these ideas that made somebody a lot of money for a short period of time, and then they went out of business.

So is anyone using these E3 plugs? The green logo on the plug bothers me as I am very hesitant to put anything relating to being green under the hood of my C3

 

i have no first hand experience so I did some web surfing. Like anything new the comments are all over the place. Some people claim there was a measurable gas mileage improvement and a seat of the pants improvement in power. Others say they fouled out and one person claims he had to have his catalytic convertor replaced because of the plugs. They were originally developed for the small engine market, lawn mowers etc. So you could be the first and let the rest of us know!

 

I have to ask; What was it like living in a cave on the Moon?

 

If you have an essentially stock engine and stock ignition system, my own opinion is you'll gain nothing by using anything other than a stock spec spark plug...whatever brand with the correct heat range. The exotic plugs...if they truly work, are a waste of money if your car didn't specify them to begin with.

Indexing spark plugs is fine for race applications, but for street use, you'll never get the benefit. New technology is fine and a wonderful thing, but unless you have some real upgrades to ignition, cam, etc., you'll do just fine with the stock plugs.

Buy whatever brand plug you prefer and get the proper application.

 

I used E-3's in my 79, L-82. I didn't care for them as they carbon up and foul if you run a little on the rich side. I leaned my idle mixture as much as I could, but developed a miss about every 500 miles.

 

You need some real world testing. Theory is fine but put and ordinary set of plugs in a motor on a dyno and then put these plugs in. If more power is produced you have something.

Next put a normal set of plugs in an ordinary passenger car and run for 5000 miles and collect data such as gas mileage etc. Then put these plugs in and see if there is any difference.

Next put a normal plug in a race car and clock it in the 1/4 mile then put their Competitive plug in, my guess no difference.

This is the only way to find out if these plugs are any good.

 

These plugs are great. In fact they are nearly as good as 99 cent Autolites, which is what I run... Just my 2 cents.

 

Here, will this help?
http://www.e3sparkplugs.com/mediacenter.php

I have had them in mine for about a year and really like them.
I feel they made the throttle response a lot more crisp. My car
uses a multi spark system and seems to work well with the
E3 plugs.

Riggs.

 

Not really, I wouldn't say their own website is a very objective way of looking at a product

 

Did you click on the link? Its a couple videos from horse power TV.
I know, that doesn't bring any credit to the issue.

I know that there are a bunch of NAY SAYERS here on the forum
but these plugs weren't that expensive for me to try, and over other
plugs I have tried over the years, I like these. I felt that they added
to the performance of my car, but its hard to tell about fuel mileage,
I can't keep my foot off the go faster pedal.

These plugs don't cost that much, give them a try and post your results.

I do agree that if your car is mostly stock, you won't see much, if any
difference, except in maybe the fuel mileage.

Riggs.

 

horse power tv did the dyno comparison and they said they got better performance. I put a set in my 454, runs great on the stand, cant wait to get it in the car..

 

We run high compression, high horsepower, and long races, and use a stock style plug indexed. No trick anything. In my humble opinion, these new plugs, starting with Splitfire and now getting crazy with the number of electrodes, don't give you any advantage unless you have a basic problem. Then it's just a band-aid.

 

The EXACT same thing happened to me!!!

...went back to AC Delco plugs and haven't looked back!! Works & runs PERFECTLY!!!

 

this is what the inventor of the E3 plugs uses to light his stogies whilst making fun of all the people buying his 6 dollar spark plugs.


basically you are looking at no more then a 3 horse gain no matter what plug you use. Frankly that isnt enough to make me spend money, especially on those 25 buck "pulstar plugs". And no one is going to feel better throttle response or more power with 3 more horse power.



source.
http://www.sparkplugs.com/sparkplug4...fid=0&KID=3147

 

Wow that's cool - feelings are all over the map on this one! As per the last post with the chart, yes I think it's true that the plugs are only a small component compared to total horsepower.

As an ex service writer at a Dyno Shop, I have seen spark plug tests in action and the resulting numbers. We were testing ~brands~ of plugs to find the best numbers ... and the Accel Shorties came up on top along with the good ol' Autolites. Chumpions had the least amount of favor.

But in truth, as stated above the spark plug isn't going to change your HP numbers all that much. But my thoughts in years and years of engine work both as a mechanic, and building engines for myself is this: To get max performance it takes a collective effort of a lot of small things.

For instance, using 6-inch rods as I did is not necessary in a stroker build. But it's one tiny component that adds to the pie. Using Roller Rockers is not a big step, it's a tiny component. Making those roller rockers 1.6 instead of 1.5 is a small part too. I use a Mallory Billet distributor that comes with an extremely high voltage coil. Again, a small component.

But you put all these things together, and you get a seat of the pants feel that is different than just putting a bunch of parts together and driving a car with a 'rebuilt engine.'

 

all this is true, but i think the reason why a lot of people say the notice a "big difference" when replacing their plugs with a special brand is that they are replacing worn out, carboned up, out of gap old plugs with new plugs set to the proper gap. Regardless of brand or style they would notice a difference, i think they just attribute it to the fancy plugs.

 

3 hp difference is well below the margin of error for a dyno.

As stated above, I'll take the same angle, someone with a 30year old worn out Holley and his motor runs like crap and he buys a brand new Demon carb and now his motor runs great, crappy Holley ?

 

A "high voltage coil", or even an "extremely" high voltage unit does nothing.

 

Welcome to wishful thinking and the Placebo effect