can sparkplugs make your engine run hotter?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Fresno Ca.
can sparkplugs make your engine run hotter?
Do sparkplugs having anything to do with tempature levels?
Just changed plugs and wires on a 2002 Z06. (stock plugs / wires replaced) Plugs are ACDelco iridium left pre-gapped . I notice my temp runs a little hotter than before. Temps area still in the normal range. While driving the temp remains the same temp as before 190 +-. although, at idle or stop and go traffic, it runs +- 220 - 225 maybe slightly higher, where it didnt before. fans working, nothing blocking air flow etc.. Is there anything I need to consider doing....?
they were one of the plugs listed for the make, model, yr. the plugs are ac-delco iridium 41-985. should i be concerned about these plugs?
Just changed plugs and wires on a 2002 Z06. (stock plugs / wires replaced) Plugs are ACDelco iridium left pre-gapped . I notice my temp runs a little hotter than before. Temps area still in the normal range. While driving the temp remains the same temp as before 190 +-. although, at idle or stop and go traffic, it runs +- 220 - 225 maybe slightly higher, where it didnt before. fans working, nothing blocking air flow etc.. Is there anything I need to consider doing....?
they were one of the plugs listed for the make, model, yr. the plugs are ac-delco iridium 41-985. should i be concerned about these plugs?
Last edited by nighteu4ia; Jan 15, 2008 at 12:06 PM. Reason: additional info added
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
Yes, spark plugs can affect engine operating temperature. However, if the plugs you installed have the same heat range as the ones you removed, you should see no difference in engine temperature.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,290
Likes: 0
From: Willow Springs IL
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Internal combustion temperatures are controlled by engine coolant, and heat exchange, fuel mixture, proper tune , fuel trims, and ecm input.
Plug heat ranges are there to tolerate a specific engine design, not the other way around... when you modify and re tune and increase combustion temps, you want to reduce the heat range of the plug.
Bill aka ET
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Jan 15, 2008 at 01:11 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
A cold plug conducts heat away from the spark plug tip and cools its temperature. However, a "cold" plug will not measureably affect the overall engine temperature.
But, too hot a plug may lead to a pre-ignition condition, which can noticeably increase engine temperature.
The AC 41-985 plug should be the proper plug and heat range for a 2002 Z06.
But, too hot a plug may lead to a pre-ignition condition, which can noticeably increase engine temperature.
The AC 41-985 plug should be the proper plug and heat range for a 2002 Z06.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
The AC Delco 41-985 IS the CORRECT plug for your LS6 engine.
See this AC Delco bulletin for confirmation of the change to this plug for the Corvette .....
http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pd..._03D-J-171.pdf
See this AC Delco bulletin for confirmation of the change to this plug for the Corvette .....
http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pd..._03D-J-171.pdf
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Every 2027 Corvette Engine Explained
Joe Kucinski
Designer Imagines A Corvette That Looks More Like a Corvette Than the Corvette
Verdad Gallardo
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Fresno Ca.
The AC Delco 41-985 IS the CORRECT plug for your LS6 engine.
See this AC Delco bulletin for confirmation of the change to this plug for the Corvette .....
http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pd..._03D-J-171.pdf
That's good info.. thanks
See this AC Delco bulletin for confirmation of the change to this plug for the Corvette .....
http://www.acdelcotechconnect.com/pd..._03D-J-171.pdf
That's good info.. thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
Yes, spark plugs can affect engine operating temperature
You and people like you are the reason your guessing and now your back peddling has cause many members to cause damage to their car...
first you said that plugs can change engine temps, and now you are back peddling.
OMG means OH my God... I dont know what type of engineer you claim to be but I will tell you that with my 40 years of automotive engineering my last seven in the development of the C5 platform.. I can tell you first hand that many people like you have come and gone from here.... if you want to be a hero here you need to know alittle about the car.
But in this case, this is very basic automotive technology. To which you failed miserably.. and yes an OMG is appropriate
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Jan 15, 2008 at 04:02 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 129
Likes: 1
From: Houston, Texas
I may be a lot of things but back peddling I'm not; nor am I trying to be a hero.
My second statement: "Too hot a spark plug may lead to a pre-ignition condition, which will cause an increase in engine temperature." seems to be consistent with my earlier statment about spark plugs affecting engine temperature. Doesn't it?
Moreover, an increase in engine temperature due to pre-ignition was basic automotive technology as I understood it some years ago. Now if I'm incorrect, I'm willing to take my licks, but back pedelling I'm not.
My second statement: "Too hot a spark plug may lead to a pre-ignition condition, which will cause an increase in engine temperature." seems to be consistent with my earlier statment about spark plugs affecting engine temperature. Doesn't it?
Moreover, an increase in engine temperature due to pre-ignition was basic automotive technology as I understood it some years ago. Now if I'm incorrect, I'm willing to take my licks, but back pedelling I'm not.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
I may be a lot of things but back peddling I'm not; nor am I trying to be a hero.
My second statement: "Too hot a spark plug may lead to a pre-ignition condition, which will cause an increase in engine temperature." seems to be consistent with my earlier statment about spark plugs affecting engine temperature. Doesn't it?
Moreover, an increase in engine temperature due to pre-ignition was basic automotive technology as I understood it some years ago. Now if I'm incorrect, I'm willing to take my licks, but back pedelling I'm not.
My second statement: "Too hot a spark plug may lead to a pre-ignition condition, which will cause an increase in engine temperature." seems to be consistent with my earlier statment about spark plugs affecting engine temperature. Doesn't it?
Moreover, an increase in engine temperature due to pre-ignition was basic automotive technology as I understood it some years ago. Now if I'm incorrect, I'm willing to take my licks, but back pedelling I'm not.
FYI, too hot a spark plug will over time melt the porcelain insulator and create what is the equivalent of a glow plug in a diesel, and this is what would cause detonation. Even if you used the hottest plug in the given reach and thread it would not cause detonation immediately, the plug range is designed to protect the plug....
As I mentioned earlier.. tuning ( which includes timing ) engine coolant, heat transfer, fuel trims, and ecm inputs all effect combustion temps.. Octane and engine temps effect detonation. I made no mention of plugs, anywhere in the combustion temperature equation.
Bringing up pre-ignition Now is just back peddling... this is three more post than I wanted to place in this thread... Bottom line here is
"Be careful who you listen too on this forum"
With Love Evil-Twin aka ET
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 455
Likes: 11
From: Clovis CA
a 'hotter' plug won't/can't raise engine temps. at worst, you could get some pinging, which in turn will cause the ecm to pull timing and slow down the car.
run hot? no. and 30 degress hotter....impossible
run hot? no. and 30 degress hotter....impossible
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,052
Likes: 20
From: boston mass
Originally Posted by j curtiss
Yes, spark plugs can affect engine operating temperature
You and people like you are the reason your guessing and now your back peddling has cause many members to cause damage to their car...
first you said that plugs can change engine temps, and now you are back peddling.
OMG means OH my God... I dont know what type of engineer you claim to be but I will tell you that with my 40 years of automotive engineering my last seven in the development of the C5 platform.. I can tell you first hand that many people like you have come and gone from here.... if you want to be a hero here you need to know alittle about the car.
But in this case, this is very basic automotive technology. To which you failed miserably.. and yes an OMG is appropriate
Yes, spark plugs can affect engine operating temperature
You and people like you are the reason your guessing and now your back peddling has cause many members to cause damage to their car...
first you said that plugs can change engine temps, and now you are back peddling.
OMG means OH my God... I dont know what type of engineer you claim to be but I will tell you that with my 40 years of automotive engineering my last seven in the development of the C5 platform.. I can tell you first hand that many people like you have come and gone from here.... if you want to be a hero here you need to know alittle about the car.
But in this case, this is very basic automotive technology. To which you failed miserably.. and yes an OMG is appropriate
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 25,060
Likes: 1,265
From: Virginia
St. Jude Donor '11
Bill hits another grand slam...and its out of the park
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
first thing I would check is coolant level.
My Z06 started over heating for no reason at all. I was wondering why. Coolant went missing when I cracked the resiviour open.
I topped it off and have not had any problems in over a year.
I have no idea where it went. still dont.
My Z06 started over heating for no reason at all. I was wondering why. Coolant went missing when I cracked the resiviour open.
I topped it off and have not had any problems in over a year.
I have no idea where it went. still dont.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 256
Likes: 0
From: Fresno Ca.
first thing I would check is coolant level.
My Z06 started over heating for no reason at all. I was wondering why. Coolant went missing when I cracked the resiviour open.
I topped it off and have not had any problems in over a year.
I have no idea where it went. still dont.
My Z06 started over heating for no reason at all. I was wondering why. Coolant went missing when I cracked the resiviour open.
I topped it off and have not had any problems in over a year.
I have no idea where it went. still dont.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 4,933
Likes: 30
From: San Rafael CA
While you said you had checked, I just want to be sure you looked carefully under the front of the vehicle into the "plenum" where air from the road is drawn up and through the A/C condenser and radiator. These cars are "bottom breathers" and love to suck paper/plastic bags, leaves, and other trash off the road and into the A/C condenser, which then blocks cooling air to the radiator. A paper bag from MickeyD's will substantailly raise your coolant temperatures ..... 