Indexing Spark Plugs
Zen Vet Master Level VII
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 5,218
Likes: 1,174
From: Southlake, TX
Nah, you did nothing to hurt your effort, but I Really don't know if there is any measurable gain.
I remember when I was a teen I read an article in CAR CRAFT magazine about indexing my plugs. I did a set for my 71 roadrunner. I thought I was "on to" a speed secret my friend didn't have. The big Block Nova's still beat me.
I remember when I was a teen I read an article in CAR CRAFT magazine about indexing my plugs. I did a set for my 71 roadrunner. I thought I was "on to" a speed secret my friend didn't have. The big Block Nova's still beat me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
I've done it before. Did it help anything? Heck if I know. But if its easy to in the stand than why not? Took me hours to do from under the car and over the fenders. I just bought a full extra set of plugs, marked the insulator side with the ground electrode using a permanate marker and found a plug that would seat where it should instead of using the little ring spacers they sell.
Good luck.
Ooops I see your already there with the marker and extra plugs. Congrats.
Good luck.
Ooops I see your already there with the marker and extra plugs. Congrats.
Last edited by cardo0; Jul 28, 2018 at 11:40 PM. Reason: Ooops!
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 4,430
Likes: 608
From: Minneapolis Mn
I suspect that unless you are using domed pistons or have something shrouding the spark plugs you'll likely not see much if any advantage to index plugs in your engine.
It won't hurt but I don't think you're going to see any improvement.
It won't hurt but I don't think you're going to see any improvement.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,485
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 6,485
Likes: 566
From: Clearwater Florida
Nah, you did nothing to hurt your effort, but I Really don't know if there is any measurable gain.
I remember when I was a teen I read an article in CAR CRAFT magazine about indexing my plugs. I did a set for my 71 roadrunner. I thought I was "on to" a speed secret my friend didn't have. The big Block Nova's still beat me.
I remember when I was a teen I read an article in CAR CRAFT magazine about indexing my plugs. I did a set for my 71 roadrunner. I thought I was "on to" a speed secret my friend didn't have. The big Block Nova's still beat me.
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Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 4,648
Likes: 1,059
From: N.E. Ohio OH
Finalist 2020 C4 of the Year - Modified
Can't hurt and better balances out each cylinder as they are firing the same. Will it be a huge amount, no, but as you yourself know, each incremental improvement adds to the whole.
Here are some takes on it:
https://www.enginelabs.com/news/gett...-indexing-101/
http://www.eatonbalancing.com/2009/0...plug-indexing/
The one from Eaton Balancing evens shows how to make a little tool for future aligning. In the Eaton one, the author even discusses how detonation can be effected by electrode alignment and how the electrode can split the flame front. It was kind of interesting.
Thanks for bringing this up. I had to go out and do some searching and reading. That is how I found the above links.
Here are some takes on it:
https://www.enginelabs.com/news/gett...-indexing-101/
http://www.eatonbalancing.com/2009/0...plug-indexing/
The one from Eaton Balancing evens shows how to make a little tool for future aligning. In the Eaton one, the author even discusses how detonation can be effected by electrode alignment and how the electrode can split the flame front. It was kind of interesting.
Thanks for bringing this up. I had to go out and do some searching and reading. That is how I found the above links.
Last edited by drcook; Jul 29, 2018 at 09:32 AM.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 336
Likes: 93
From: San Antonio TX
I'm a skeptic. The effect would be theoretical, and so small as to be unmeasurable. The way to test would be to install all plugs in the most 'disadvantageous' position (ground electrode toward the intake) and dyno the engine, then index all of them and retest. You can't reliably measure less than a 10 HP difference on sequential dyno runs, and I would anticipate that if there is a difference with indexing, it would be on the order of 1-2 HP at most.
But, hey, if your hobby is working on engines...
Steve
But, hey, if your hobby is working on engines...
Steve