Tune up with E3 Spark Plugs
04-30-2012, 12:52 PM
#21
- but that .0001 off your ET is caused by your wallet being a tad lighter. there use to be a guy over on the C5 forum that said when waxing his car, he would never put a sam's club MF towel to the finish on his corvette - only the hyped, high-dollar brands. then again, he washed his car with some old rags. go figure?
04-30-2012, 01:36 PM
#23
Race Director
OP, the reason your car ran better was because the plugs were worn out. ANY name brand plug would have produced the same result.
HP is correct....lighten up and thicken up and join the party.
04-30-2012, 03:51 PM
#26
Race Director
04-30-2012, 03:54 PM
#27
Race Director
... as for microfiber towels, I do personally feel that they remove wax with less effort than a traditional cotton towel does. It has nothing to do with spending more money, just experience from maintaining the fleet.
04-30-2012, 04:17 PM
#28
Le Mans Master
I have had my C4 for a month now and have been slowly working out the bugs. When I purchased it from the dealer it ran ok but I felt it was sort of sluggest. I have a Jaguar which was faster and had more punch. I changed the oil and added ZMAX engine with the Royal Purple 10w-30 motor oil. I Changed the wires, cap and rotor with MSD parts, I also changed the AC spark plugs with E3 plugs. Well I took it for a drive and wow what a difference. I punch it and the tires smoked and the rear fish tailed, gas milege jumped up to 27 mpg average. I have not put the Vortex Ram Air kit in the car yet but will do it by next week. the vette is giving the Jag a run for the money now. Those E3 plugs really make a difference!!!!! 
05-01-2012, 09:20 AM
#30
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A spark plug is just an air gap, that's all. Once the spark ignites the fuel/air mixture, the spark and spark plug have no influence on the combustion process. To say a spark plug gives more complete or cooler combustion (??!!) or more power, or more mileage is simply repeating marketing hype that has no basis in fact.
Larry
_____________________
not easily impressed....
05-01-2012, 10:07 AM
#31
Race Director
The point is, if changing those items made the car run better, then they would have improved the performance just as much if you'd put new, stock components in the car instead of aftermarket.
A spark plug is just an air gap, that's all. Once the spark ignites the fuel/air mixture, the spark and spark plug have no influence on the combustion process. To say a spark plug gives more complete or cooler combustion (??!!) or more power, or more mileage is simply repeating marketing hype that has no basis in fact.
Larry
_____________________
not easily impressed....
A spark plug is just an air gap, that's all. Once the spark ignites the fuel/air mixture, the spark and spark plug have no influence on the combustion process. To say a spark plug gives more complete or cooler combustion (??!!) or more power, or more mileage is simply repeating marketing hype that has no basis in fact.
Larry
_____________________
not easily impressed....
We're a bit of a cynical bunch in here. We want proof, not something dreamed up by some corporate marketing dept. Real proof, before and after, on a dyno.......with the plugs being the only thing changed. Brand new stockers vs {fill in the blank "performance" plug}Car manufacturers are in a perpetual hunt to find performance, low emissions, and higher fuel economy at a cost the market will bear. If a special spark plug did that, it would already be in the car.
05-01-2012, 10:46 AM
#32
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I installed E3 on my daily driver, I felt nothing different and honestly it ran better with the NGK.
05-01-2012, 11:48 AM
#33
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CI 5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12 Veteran
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Autolite 606's (regular Copper Core) in my '93. No difference between them and the stock plugs.
05-01-2012, 11:50 AM
#34
Race Director
Exactly!
We're a bit of a cynical bunch in here. We want proof, not something dreamed up by some corporate marketing dept. Real proof, before and after, on a dyno.......with the plugs being the only thing changed. Brand new stockers vs {fill in the blank "performance" plug}Car manufacturers are in a perpetual hunt to find performance, low emissions, and higher fuel economy at a cost the market will bear. If a special spark plug did that, it would already be in the car.
All of those tv shows like Horsepower TV are nothing more than infomercials to sell the latest greatest gizmo.
Sure they have some good points, and you'll see some good products too.
But you have to weed through all the "hype" and use some common sense before jumping on the bandwagon.
05-01-2012, 02:35 PM
#36
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Co-winner 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
2018 Corvette of Year Finalist
2017 C4 of Year
2016 C7 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17-'18-'19-'20
All of those tv shows like Horsepower TV are nothing more than infomercials to sell the latest greatest gizmo.
Sure they have some good points, and you'll see some good products too.
But you have to weed through all the "hype" and use some common sense before jumping on the bandwagon.
If E3 sends me some cash I will delete all my posts and start new one swearing they gave me 20 RWHP and a full second faster at the drag strip on a hot day.
05-01-2012, 11:32 PM
#38
Team Owner
Pro Mechanic
I have a friend who put E3's in his Volvo w/the T5 engine. Plugs fell apart w/in two weeks and the pieces jammed between the piston and valve(s). Bent the valves. $4000.00, it cost him, for a set of spark plugs.
I'll stick with basic ones that actually work.
I'll stick with basic ones that actually work.
06-20-2012, 08:34 AM
#40
Let's just say it was probably a combination of all the changes that resulted in the improved performance and be happy the OP now has a better running Vette. I'm sure switching to the MSD stuff and replacing plugs with a fresher set of stock plugs would have given the same outcome. Oil and plugs I always go with the stock stuff as that is what the engineers designed the car for.