My quest for 30 MPG - Ford Explorer Gas Mileage Tips

[Burns]

You should be getting more than 200 miles a tank out of your first gen.

I am getting around 265-280 every tank.

 

[aldive]

The next project in my gas mileage bag of tricks will be indexing the spark plugs.

 

[joefnh]

Indexing the Spark Plugs??


What is that Al

--Joe Funk

 

[aldive]

Indexing the Spark Plugs??


What is that Al

--Joe Funk

Generally speaking, the idea of indexing is to position the spark plug so that its gap is facing the center of the cylinder, angled slightly toward the exhaust valve—the most common arrangement. (Some engines work better with other gap locations.) This is important because, as the piston approaches TDC, the air/fuel charge is being compressed. The charge or "mixture" is being forced toward the area of the spark plug—and normally, the exhaust valve. The true speed of this force inside the combustion chamber is extremely fast. Some experts speculate that it surpasses supersonic speeds.

Because of this, the spark generated from the plug should be in a "position" to create the best possible flame front. Looking at a typical side-gap spark plug, you'll note that the electrode can actually block the flame process. On the other hand, if the electrode gap faces the on-rushing air/fuel charge, it stands a much better chance of igniting a flame front.

 

[Flandry]

Interesting. Do you plan to try multiple spark plug sets to find plugs with the threading that'll allow this?

 

[aldive]

Interesting. Do you plan to try multiple spark plug sets to find plugs with the threading that'll allow this?

No, I will be using indexing washers.

http://www.jegs.com/webapp/wcs/stor...allany&searchTerm=spark+plug+indexing+washers

 

[Flandry]

Didn't know they made such a thing. I see it's a set of thirty. I guess they're different thicknesses and you test fit the the plug with them until you find the one that puts the plug in the correct orientation?

 

[aldive]

Its gonna be a PIA project, but I will try almost anything for better mileage.

 

[BrooklynBay]

What about the idea of the Split Fire plug? The front is open like a "V" shape so that it doesn't block the spark. Would this kind of plug further enhance this project?

 

[pauley]

i have a 93 explorer with a 4.0 liter sas and 33"S and no over drive so im happy as a pig in sh#t if i can get more than 11mpg.

 

[Turdle]

Splitfires SUCK!!!

However-indexing plugs is an old school trick which does work-by pointing the electrode into the oncoming intake charge. It should yield positive results.

 

[aldive]

Splitfires SUCK!!!

Couldn't have stated it better, Jon.

However-indexing plugs is an old school trick which does work-by pointing the electrode into the oncoming intake charge. It should yield positive results.

I had good sucess with it back in the late 60's with our racing 'stang. Though, at that time, we wanted power not mileage.

I do expect positive results.

 

[BrooklynBay]

So the Split Fire plug is out. What about the 4 electrode Bosch Platinum plug? I think it's called +4.

 

[CDW6212R]

The Split fires were a low quality plug when they began, and the highest cost. That put them on my black list to begin with.

The Bosch plugs are a quality part, and the special multi electrode plugs have been around for over 20 years before Split fire jacked the price up. Find an old 30+ year old J.C. Whitney magazine, they're in there for about $1 a plug.

Good luck with the indexing, I've wanted to have something worth the effort. Hopefully the time has come.

 

[aldive]

I run nothing but Motorcraft plugs. Gimmick plugs are just that.

 

[BrooklynBay]

My Grandfather once had an old JC Whitney catalog I remember reading when I was a kid. There was something in there called a fire injector plug. It basically has a non adjustable set of 2 rings (one around the other) pressed into the ceramic plug. The spark would jump from one to the other, and didn't have any front restriction. I've never seen this plug anywhere else other than in that advertisement. Did anybody else ever hear or see something like this?

 

[Turdle]

Off topic-
I had a set of Splitfires once-when I first broke in my new engine-
they fouled in 1 week,
One day my truck would not start-period. You can imagine how long it took me to suspect the new plugs for this. How could they all be bad? but they were. It wouldn't even sputter.

Changed to autolite's and it fired right up.
Don't fall for the multi electrode gimmicks.

Carry on,

 

[CDW6212R]

My Grandfather once had an old JC Whitney catalog I remember reading when I was a kid. There was something in there called a fire injector plug. It basically has a non adjustable set of 2 rings (one around the other) pressed into the ceramic plug. The spark would jump from one to the other, and didn't have any front restriction. I've never seen this plug anywhere else other than in that advertisement. Did anybody else ever hear or see something like this?

That's likely what I am referring to. I recall the plugs having a normal center electrode, and a group of six protrusions from the perimeter main shell. They were an easier plug to make than normal plugs, why didn't they gain acceptance then?

 

[aldive]

They were an easier plug to make than normal plugs, why didn't they gain acceptance then?

Simple.

You can't make chicken salad out of chicken sh**, no matter how much mayonnaise you use.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Here's something interesting: WWW.ExtremeSpark.Com