Date: Thu, 20 Feb 2003 18:39:23 -0000
Reply-To: Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Clive Smith <clive.harman-smith@NTLWORLD.COM>
Subject: Re: Correct Gap of Sparks
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Ah! Just found Mathews response, which is much the same as mine but a bit
less shirty, and worth reposting, so we don't get 20 posts on this aspect of
spark plug gap again:
>
No flames here, but the below explanation is purely imaginary poppycock.
Plug gap has absolutely no bearing on timing. None whatsoever.
A lightening bolt can jump several MILES in a hundredth of a second. The
distance of .6mm versus .4mm versus 1mm make not a lick of difference in
WHEN the spark fires. Okay, theoretically, there is a difference but
there is no device, and hardly a calculation that could measure the
difference in time that light (the speed a spark jumps) takes to travel
.6mm versus .8mm. the difference is infinitesimal, nearly nil.
Spark gap is related to spark kernel size, which is one of the
determinants of the size of the primary flame front in the combustion
chamber. Chamber design requires a specific size and placement of the
initial flame front to minimize pinging under load.
From Chevey Chase, MD,
G. Matthew Bulley
<
> > If gap is too short, spark happens early; if too long, spark happens
late.
>
> Sorry to be negative... but WHAT ABSOLUTE TWADDLE -
> the spark plug gap does not affect the timing one jot - weak spark,
splashy
> spark, no spark, good spark, but as for when it comes, no. The fact that a
> weak or poor spark might take longer to get a good burn going is another
> matter. The juice either jumps the gap or it doesn't .
>
> I think whoever said this might be thinking of the points gap, but then
> thats the other way around, bigger gap advances the timing.
>
> Clive
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "developtrust" <developtrust@COX.NET>
> To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Saturday, February 15, 2003 1:49 AM
> Subject: Correct Gap of Sparks
>
>
> > So what is the correct gap of spark plugs. I want to take mine out and
> > check. When I put mine in I assumed they were pre set correctly.
> >
> > William
> >
> >
> > > If gap is too short, spark happens early; if too long, spark happens
> late.
> > > In either case it will affect timing and combustion. I believe it
will
> > also
> > > tend to shorten the life of the electrode on the plug, but I'll let
the
> > EEs
> > > chime in on that.
> > > tx,
> > > bmc :)
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