Re: Spark Plug Voltage Firing Requirement

[jlandry@domain.elided (John A. Landry)]

The aliens commander decided Ted Borck <tborck@domain.elided> would make a
perfect specimen for dissection, and he yelled...

>IMHO the best thing you can do to upgrade your (point, solid-state)
>igntion system it to purchase a 
>*good*quality*set*of*solid*core*spark*plug*wires.*

I agree with you to a point Ted, but more specifically it's a *convenience*
factor really.  A *new* plain old inexpensive Autolite spark plug will
light off the air/fuel mixture in your truck (or that old two-stroke) just
as well as a new Bosch platinum plug.  But you're absolutely right about
the platinum plug far outlasting the plain style plug.  However, in most
cases a person still can change the plain plugs more often and get more or
less the same net performance in the long run.

When the convenience factor is completely disregarded, there comes a point
when something like a double platinum plug does not save any money and is a
waste.  For example, let's say one of those new Bosch double platinum plugs
which costs $5.99 each, lasts 50,000 miles.  If a plain old Autolite costs
only $0.79 each and lasts only 10,000 miles, you're still better off buying
the Autolites because for the same money as the Bosch plugs you can go over
70,000 miles.  Of course this is just a hypothetical example and your
mileage will vary. <grin>  I'm just making the example to point out the
marketing hype from the like of Splitfire and Bosch will actually cost you
money... not save it.  They may save you some time though... and depending
on your situation, that could translate directly into money.

Of course if convenience and reliability are important, I think regular
Bosch platinum plugs at today's street prices... usually with a rebate for
less than $2.00... are a good value.  The new $5.99 Bosch double platinum
plugs are *not*... unless of course an engine *needs* these wonderfully
designed plugs... which an otherwise stock IH engine does not.  I'll wait
until the price drops to less than $2.00 when the next generation of plugs
come out in 5 years.

Raining on everyone's parade...

John L.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
jlandry AT halcyon DOT com      | 
Conservative Libertarian        |  "The road to  tyranny, we must never
Life Member of the NRA          |   forget, begins with the destruction
WA Arms Collectors              |   of the truth."
Commercial Helicopter - Inst.   |                     William J. Clinton
http://www.halcyon.com/jlandry/ |    10-15-95, speech at the Univ. of CT