What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Yeah, consider this a poll. Give the brand and part number of your plugs. Are you happy with them?

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Champion 429 Spark Plug AKA Champion 3X

Very happy with the 3X

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Ditto, Originals and Reproductions

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Running original 1930's vintage Champion 3X plugs. They run great. Wouldn't consider anything else!!!

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

W18s, happy with them, 3076 were too cold.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Champion W16Y. The car runs good, but do have some fouling. We're working on it.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

What does it mean when you said they're to hot/cold plz. I really don't understand.
Thanks

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Just installed Champion 3X’s last week - very happy so far with them.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Spark plug heat range is the measure of how fast the spark plug tip dissipates combustion heat. It must do this in a precise and controlled manner so the spark plug will:
Stay cool enough to avoid pre-ignition and/or electrode destruction due to detonation.
Run hot enough to burn off combustion deposits that would otherwise collect on the sparkplug insulator tip and cause fouling, that leads to misfire.
Adapt to specific engine characteristics and widely varying driving/load conditions.

"Hot" spark plugs remove heat from the combustion area relatively slowly. They have a longer insulator tip and they achieve a temperature higher than the deposition zone relatively fast.
"Cold" spark plugs feature a relatively short insulator tip and they remove heat from the combustion area quite fast, in order to avoid advanced ignitions.
The choice of a proper heat range is very important. But even a spark plug featuring a properly selected heat range, is influenced by the processes of fouling and self-cleaning of the insulator tip. The setting of combustion deposits on the insulator tip is caused by an imperfect combustion due to a "rich" air/fuel mixture. On the other hand, the combustion deposits previously set will burn if the insulator tip temperature rises above 475 °C.
Zones of spark plug fouling and self-cleaning zone depending on the air/fuel ratio and on the spark plug insulator tip temperature.

https://www.briskusa.com/spark_plug_...at_range_chart

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Internal combustion engines run at different temperatures. If more specific power, the combustion chamber gets hoter temperature. (Very simplified explanation.)

Simply explained: The hotter engine burns needs the colder the ignition plugs must be. (This interpretation is unfortunately not uniform; in Japan, the standard designation, for example, vice versa. I do not know USA.

Rule of thumb: Hot engine need 'cold' plug. Cold engine 'hot' plug.

For me, the global standardization of of the interpretatin "a plug is hot or cold" is difficult to explain.


If the spark plug does not get hot enough, it will become sooty. If it overheats, there is dangerous high speed knocking!

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Champion W18's with a Pertronix FlameThrower coil!:cool:



Bob-A:D

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

3077 Autolite. Been using them for probably 30 years, wish I could still find them.

There was a recent similar thread.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

The current 3X’s I’ve seen have dual grounds (I think that is what they are called). Is that an improvement/. Are they good for our Model A’s?

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Pictures of them, both styles can be seen in the Restoration Guidelines..

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Interesting, I have not seen a dual ground 3X.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

That is because their is none....

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

I have been running original champion 3X`s in my Victoria for over 25 years. and I also run repro, 3X`s in the 160A. with unleaded fuel the plugs last a lot longer, the 16Y`s are to cold for me.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Champion 3X

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Boy, Am I red faced. 😱. I was mistaken. The online photos have a shadow which makes it appear as though there is a second ground. I apologize for the oversight.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

I run original Champion 3X plugs in all of my Model A's and have never had problems with them.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Same set of 3X for 35 years see no need to change

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Motorcraft TT10 for me. They run well but sure don’t look like the 3x’s.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Champion W18 set at .035 with a Snyder's 6:1 head. Just pulled them after the first 2000 miles, looked great... Chap

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Motorcraft TT10

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

I hear ya Bob , Same here !!!

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

W-18 champion, they perform well for my original model A...

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Autolite 3076

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Ac 77l com

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Always 3X in my Model A’s.......

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Is anyone using Champion C-4's?

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

I have used Champion C-4 with good results . The Champion C-4 plugs haven't been offered in many years . I like the look of the two piece Champion spark plugs. Most comment on the two piece plugs and think that they are original . There is a huge difference in the price of of The Champion 3- X and C-4 spark plugs . The C-4 plugs don't seem to be too cold and run clean in the model A's that I use them in. I sometimes buy new old stock C-4 spark plugs when I can find them . Champion W-18 spark plugs are readily available and are thought to be the same heat range as the original 3X but aren't two piece spark plugs like the 3-X .

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Back in the day (50's-60's), C-4's were considered the standard plug. How times change!! I had never heard of a 3-X until last year when I got back into the Model A world.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

The first set of spark plugs that I bought for my model A was Champion C-4 . This purchase was over the counter at Thomasville Auto Parts in 1960 . The metal part of these spark plugs was zinc or some such silver colored plating like modern Champion spark plugs . These spark plugs cost maybe sixty something cents or less each . I decided to try these old used spark plugs again after all of these years . I cleaned and gapped the plugs and installed them in the same model A that I got them for 59 years ago . The model A cranked right up and seemed to run pretty good . I decided to remove and replace the C-4s with Champion W-18s . I think I'll try the C-4s again if I need Them . I think that most of us change the spark plugs way too soon in our model A's .

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

If you all make any big changes to your spark plug choice please let us know why. I think this thread has given me a little insight into spark plug selection.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

This is like many Model A subjects. Since it is not fuel injected, no sensors, not electronically controlled, what works best for one car is not what is needed for another Car. So you tune/adjust the best you can, and choose a plug that works best for you.

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

That's a very sharp statement from 30 CCP!


The low compression and the coarse carburetor as well as the rarely optimal ignition point result in never optimum stoichiometric combustion.

Even the unregulated huge cooling water system and oil volume can not run the engine in the favorable operating temperature. Therefore, sooty spark plugs, once brighter, sometimes darker, are just as normal as a clutch that jerks something, a gear that sometimes scrapes and a wobbly steering.

This is normal for a 90-year-old car, so it pardons many of the mistakes, that modern engines would kill if they did not have 1000 electronic guards.

You have to drive with it, you have to be generous and tolerant like with your beloved old frail dog who does not hear well anymore and sees and hobbles.

That's life with our old iron car "Model A"!

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

Re: What spark plugs are you currently using?
 

YUP !! The Dog Did It !!