Save Gas And Incerase Horsepower By Side Gapping Spark Plugs

Step 5 Video

Here is my VIDEO please view it and rate it if you like. Thanks for your time and I hope you find my instructable useful.

Comments

[Detroit wagon]

This hack leaves less surface area to conduct a spark at the correct gap distance, the result of which means more frequent regapping and/or spark plug replacement. If it does work as described by providing better combustion, it's great for racing but less practical for your average driver. I second the request for numbers. Less blurry pics would be awesome too.

[mpikas]

Wear is not really a concern, the fact is that conventional plugs are "worn out" before you'll see significant gap erosion, at about 10-15K miles.  Secondly, when I side gap plugs, typically I leave a slight bit of overlap over the edge of the center electrode so worst case, I can take a file and give it a nice, sharp edge.

I've tested this on a couple of engines, and will suggest that you will have a very hard time showing a measurable improvement without other changes.  What this does accomplish is that the same ignition system will fire a significantly larger plug gap reliably and will expose more of that spark to the chamber, and there taking advantage of that you will see a measurable improvement.  For example, a vehicle I did this on about 15years ago had specified a .036" gap, and would start having a noticeable miss with gaps in the .042" range with the rest of the ignition optimized.  With side gapped plugs with sharp edges, the ignition ran reliably with .065" gaps, where I was able to document a significant increase.

[kudoskun]

This instructable is quick and simple.....but why dont you show some numbers and graphs....Otherwise, you could just as well be plugging the VORTEX air filter insert. It spins air!!!! Seriously though. Get some numbers and graphs with before cut / after cut under various loads (easy driving...heavy...etc. ) then this will make the project more believable.