E3 spark plug cleaned up over NGK 55s
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: charlotte north carolin
E3 spark plug cleaned up over NGK 55s
I have two C5's
Both needed plug changes
One had been recently switched to NGK 55R's when previous owner added cold air intake (just bought this car)
Car idled for crap. E3's were a vast improvement. Smoothed it right out...
Other car had old spark plugs....so no comparison to be seen, there.
Regardless, very happy with these E3 spark plugs. And cheap, too.
Not happy with the NGK 55's (car had an awful stumble to it at idle...plug looked a little hot - thinking predetonation)
Even had a check engine code misfire because of the NGKs
Just a note for others searching...that i liked the E3's
(couldn't find much info when I searched on here)
Both needed plug changes
One had been recently switched to NGK 55R's when previous owner added cold air intake (just bought this car)
Car idled for crap. E3's were a vast improvement. Smoothed it right out...
Other car had old spark plugs....so no comparison to be seen, there.
Regardless, very happy with these E3 spark plugs. And cheap, too.
Not happy with the NGK 55's (car had an awful stumble to it at idle...plug looked a little hot - thinking predetonation)
Even had a check engine code misfire because of the NGKs
Just a note for others searching...that i liked the E3's
(couldn't find much info when I searched on here)
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 10,554
Likes: 33
From: Not on either liberal coast.
Don't worry about what other people think of E3 plugs (or any other product). Most have probably never personally used them anyway.
You've got positive personal experience to base your opinion...
You've got positive personal experience to base your opinion...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: charlotte north carolin
I think the 55 is too hot for a stock car (my stock cars, at least)
54 might have been a better choice
I didn't know of the bad press on the E3
My local mechanics liking them
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Drifting
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From: Katy TX
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,375
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From: CA.
St. Jude Donor '13-'14-'15
My opinion if an engine ran better with E-3's then most likely the car would have ran better with ANY spark plug change --It just needed plugs period---
25 years of racing ( both drag and endurance) most all racers seem to use NGK--as they are easy to read and burn more evenly--Even in Nascar where Champion is major sponsor--If you loook closely they all use NGK !! and we used to get the champions for FREE---
IMHO----
25 years of racing ( both drag and endurance) most all racers seem to use NGK--as they are easy to read and burn more evenly--Even in Nascar where Champion is major sponsor--If you loook closely they all use NGK !! and we used to get the champions for FREE---
IMHO----
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: charlotte north carolin
My opinion if an engine ran better with E-3's then most likely the car would have ran better with ANY spark plug change --It just needed plugs period---
25 years of racing ( both drag and endurance) most all racers seem to use NGK--as they are easy to read and burn more evenly--Even in Nascar where Champion is major sponsor--If you loook closely they all use NGK !! and we used to get the champions for FREE---
IMHO----
25 years of racing ( both drag and endurance) most all racers seem to use NGK--as they are easy to read and burn more evenly--Even in Nascar where Champion is major sponsor--If you loook closely they all use NGK !! and we used to get the champions for FREE---
IMHO----
The NGK55's looked pretty new.
I used to run a turbo car at the track....I know my spark plugs. I know that NGK's are good plugs.
But, sometimes...you find your application between their heat ranges and a different plug can sometimes fit better
These NGK 55's looked a little hot and lean. I assumed the previous owner went to a hotter plug...didn't know 55's were stock
No misfire codes with the e3's. Smooth idle and not complaining...but wondering if a different plug would improve even more
I see that the e3's are not gappable. Are the people that don't like them...the people with not so stock cars? That need a tighter gap? Bigger cams, nitrous or forced air?
For a stock car, might the E3 work pretty well? (as advertised?)
I'm interested in thoughts. And already thinking about a different plug swap (iridium ac delcos)
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
What was the 55 plug gap? I've read a service bulletin here that GM moved to a 0.040" gap from the early cars with 0.060" gap and the larger gap sometimes caused misfires and rough idle. I believe all the C6's run the smaller gap too. There's a different plug P/N that come pre-gapped with the smaller gap.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
TR5 has the smaller gap. The second "5" denotes the gap specification. NGK used to have a really nice catalog you could download that explains their part numbers and gave the specs on each plug. The web site also provides the specs. I went with TR6 with the last H/C setup as NGK also recommends you drop one heat range for each increase in 100 hp.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 8,580
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From: Communist Colorado
Maybe you (OP) had a crack in one of the ceramic insulators causing the stumble from the NGK's. If your not looking hard you can miss one. Over tightening the plug is usually the cause. Not trying to tell you that you dont know what youre doing.... just adding from my own experiences.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Long Sault Ontario
Maybe you (OP) had a crack in one of the ceramic insulators causing the stumble from the NGK's. If your not looking hard you can miss one. Over tightening the plug is usually the cause. Not trying to tell you that you dont know what youre doing.... just adding from my own experiences.
Have you ever seen how these warehouse, and delivery guys handle the pacages they are delivering. They just throw the stuff around. It's not an impossibility to get a plug or two with a non visible crack in the insulator.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 306
Likes: 0
From: charlotte north carolin
I appreciate the thoughts. If I should have kept with the NGK's, i'm interested to know it
TR5 instead of the TR55? TR5 has the smaller gap, while the TR55 has the larger gap?
The gap looked to be about .060" I never mentioned...but remember thinking it looked a bit big
The problems (miss at idle) with the NGK were definitely spark plug related. None were fouled. But, a crack could be the culprit. the E3's cleaned it up, but you have me wondering if a new set of NGKs would make a further beneficial difference
TR5 instead of the TR55? TR5 has the smaller gap, while the TR55 has the larger gap?
The gap looked to be about .060" I never mentioned...but remember thinking it looked a bit big
The problems (miss at idle) with the NGK were definitely spark plug related. None were fouled. But, a crack could be the culprit. the E3's cleaned it up, but you have me wondering if a new set of NGKs would make a further beneficial difference
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
From NGK:
TR55
V-Power Plug, 14mm Thread Size, 17.55mm (.691") Reach, 5/8" (16mm) Hex Size, Tapered Seat, Resistor, Solid Terminal Nut, Projected Tip, V-Power (V-Grooved Centere Electrode), .060" (1.52mm) Gap, Heat Range 5
TR5
V-Power Plug, 14mm Thread Size, 17.55mm (.691") Reach, 5/8" (16mm) Hex Size, Tapered Seat, Resistor, Removable Terminal Nut, Projected Tip, V-Power (V-Grooved Centere Electrode), .040" (1.02mm) Gap, Heat Range 5
Here is the NGK numbering system: Link to NGK Numbering System
TR55
V-Power Plug, 14mm Thread Size, 17.55mm (.691") Reach, 5/8" (16mm) Hex Size, Tapered Seat, Resistor, Solid Terminal Nut, Projected Tip, V-Power (V-Grooved Centere Electrode), .060" (1.52mm) Gap, Heat Range 5
TR5
V-Power Plug, 14mm Thread Size, 17.55mm (.691") Reach, 5/8" (16mm) Hex Size, Tapered Seat, Resistor, Removable Terminal Nut, Projected Tip, V-Power (V-Grooved Centere Electrode), .040" (1.02mm) Gap, Heat Range 5
Here is the NGK numbering system: Link to NGK Numbering System
Racer
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: Tampa Florida
E3 Rough idle and dies after rev
I just put them in my C5 running LPE CNC Heads, hot cam, etc. running NGK R TR55 gapped at .060. It's a 520+ HP at the crank motor that I have tuned to run rich at idle (actually too rich). The E3 immediately caused poor idle and revving caused the engine to die every time rather than returning to idle. It just doesn't want to run with these plugs.
Anyone have any ideas? I hate to scrap these and call them junk for performance applications but just in over my head on this one.
Thoughts?
