Date:         Fri, 11 Jun 2004 21:33:54 -0700
Reply-To:     Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Karl Wolz <wolzphoto@WORLDNET.ATT.NET>
Subject:      Re: vanagon single electrode plugs
Comments: To: David Brodbeck <gull@GULL.US>
In-Reply-To:  <40CA6C6E.5010809@gull.us>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"

That was Eric.

I read your earlier post today but was unable to respond due to my not
being subscribed there.

It was explained to me that the triple electrode plugs made by Bosch
work more efficiently than a single electrode plug because the spark
ends to rotate around the plug (actually random motion is probably more
accurate) due to the resistance of the electrodes increasing as they get
hotter.   When resistance increases in one electrode the path is shunted
to another till it gets real hot.  This tends to decrease erosion of the
electrodes and consequently leads to longer plug life.  I've put well
over 100,000 miles on a set of them and the engine ran fine when they
were finally replaced.

The only plugs which I've used that I noticed were different were Bosch
platinums, which basically fell apart.  I may try the +4s next time.

Karl Wolz

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of David Brodbeck
Sent: Friday, June 11, 2004 7:38 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: vanagon single electrode plugs

Chris S. wrote:
> I put single electrode plugs in my Vanagon - engine runs OK.
> I put Bosh +4 plugs in there - engine runs wonderfully (much better
than
> just OK)

I won't argue with you about that.  I just refuse to believe, as someone
claimed earlier, that single-electrode plugs will cause the ignition
coil to fail, seeing as the system was designed when they were the only
type of plug available!

--

David Brodbeck, N8SRE
'82 VW Diesel Westfalia
'86 Volvo 240DL wagon