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Which Spark Plugs Wires Are Best?

M

Myrosia

CEG'er
Joined
May 27, 2003
Messages
171
Location
Shelby Twp, Michigan
1999 Contour
2.0L, DOHC

I need to replace my spark plug wires.

Went to O'Reilly auto and they told me there are several to choose from:

OmniSpark - Limited Lifetime Warranty
GP Sorensen
Bosch - Limited Lifetime Warranty
BWD - Limited Lifetime Warranty
Motorcraft - 1 Year Limited Warranty
BWD
Standard
GP Sorensen

I want to get better fuel economy. I am considering the OEM Motorcraft although, only 1 Year Limited Warranty and the others marked have Limited Lifetime Warranty?

Which one do you guys suggest?

Also, need new plugs. Should I go with Motorcraft or something like the E3?

Thanks
 
plug wires are not going to improve the fuel economy unless there was an issue with the current set.

I would pick motorcraft, check out rockauto ...
 
BrApple said:
plug wires are not going to improve the fuel economy unless there was an issue with the current set.

I would pick motorcraft, check out rockauto ...
Click to expand...

Thanks.

Would plug wires cause increase horse power?

Also, which spark plugs to go with...Motorcraft or something like the E3?
 
Myrosia said:
Thanks.

Would plug wires cause increase horse power?

Also, which spark plugs to go with...Motorcraft or something like the E3?
Click to expand...
again, unless the plug wires are bad you wont see any gains from them.

go with autolite plugs, cant remember what the number is but get the double platinums.
 
motorcraft are fine as well but the autolites are generally cheaper.

the E3s cant be gapped, and just like the Bosch +2/4 the spark is still only going to jump to one point. all your doing by adding the extra grounding straps is shrouding the spark and actually making it more difficult to get a good burn.
 
To rephrase, you're not going to make more HP than stock, but you may regain lost power if your current plugs are quite worn or your wires are weak.
 
What's the difference using 8 mm vs 8.5 mm wires? Would I get more spark?

Also, what about the E3?

I read in this forum:

"if a spark plug will create a hotter spark, this will create a hotter, more rapid burn. This will in turn create better fuel economy and a higher cylinder pressure, putting more force on the piston. More force on the piston creates more horsepower."

ref:

http://www.contour.org/ceg-vb/showthread.php?t=50448&highlight=spark+plug+wires
 
Read the whole thread. Hotter spark =/= hotter burn. Hotter BURN will get you better mileage and horsepower, but different spark plugs can't do that. Hotter spark will actually induce detonation, meaning the combustion will occur before the piston reaches its apex, which puts much unnecessary stress on the pistons/rods. This is also called "pinging."
 
zorrex said:
Read the whole thread. Hotter spark =/= hotter burn. Hotter BURN will get you better mileage and horsepower, but different spark plugs can't do that. Hotter spark will actually induce detonation, meaning the combustion will occur before the piston reaches its apex, which puts much unnecessary stress on the pistons/rods. This is also called "pinging."
Click to expand...

Ok then..what about using 8 mm wires vs 8.5 mm?
 
not going to make a difference.

No plug or plug wire is really going to improve your performance, though some can hurt it. What you are seeing with 8mm or 8.5mm wires is a difference in the size of the insulating jacket. The size really doesnt matter in this case (no size jokes). The material that makes up the insulating jacket is much more important. Basically what you are looking for is RF suppression.

E3 is snake oil. Their claims defy physics, and their descriptions of how their plugs work rely on descriptions of ignition systems that are nothing like what cars actually use.

I dont know about the OmniSpark wires, I have never tried them, but any of the wires you listed are good. If you plan on keeping your car for more than 5 years, get a lifetime warranty wire, then you can return them in 5 or 6 years when they start building resistance. But.... good luck with that, might be pretty hard convincing them the wires are bad.

As far as plugs go.... Autolite double platinum or XP plugs are good enough. Any other single electrode plug will perform pretty much the same. Doesnt matter if they use some type of patented v-groove or some alien mad science spark increasing voodoo power. A spark is a spark. Gap the plugs properly and they will all work the same.

Those plugs with multiple electrodes can shroud the spark, and they are harder to maintain a proper gap in, or set a proper gap in for that matter. plus, no matter how many electrodes you have, you are only going to have one spark. The advertising they do showing a spark jumping to all the electrodes is misleading, they supply a higher amount of voltage to the plugs and shorten the gap.
 
FIND said:
not going to make a difference.

No plug or plug wire is really going to improve your performance, though some can hurt it. What you are seeing with 8mm or 8.5mm wires is a difference in the size of the insulating jacket. The size really doesnt matter in this case (no size jokes). The material that makes up the insulating jacket is much more important. Basically what you are looking for is RF suppression.

E3 is snake oil. Their claims defy physics, and their descriptions of how their plugs work rely on descriptions of ignition systems that are nothing like what cars actually use.

I dont know about the OmniSpark wires, I have never tried them, but any of the wires you listed are good. If you plan on keeping your car for more than 5 years, get a lifetime warranty wire, then you can return them in 5 or 6 years when they start building resistance. But.... good luck with that, might be pretty hard convincing them the wires are bad.

As far as plugs go.... Autolite double platinum or XP plugs are good enough. Any other single electrode plug will perform pretty much the same. Doesnt matter if they use some type of patented v-groove or some alien mad science spark increasing voodoo power. A spark is a spark. Gap the plugs properly and they will all work the same.

Those plugs with multiple electrodes can shroud the spark, and they are harder to maintain a proper gap in, or set a proper gap in for that matter. plus, no matter how many electrodes you have, you are only going to have one spark. The advertising they do showing a spark jumping to all the electrodes is misleading, they supply a higher amount of voltage to the plugs and shorten the gap.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that description.

I think I am going with Motorcraft wires. I know they are only 1 year warranty although, they are specific for that make.

Thoughts?
 
By the way, I have another issue..

I have a slight rough idle. Sometimes the idle increases slightly then back to normal.

Also, whenever I put the headlights or heat, the engine runs rough.

In addition, when I start the car then put it in reverse, I get an increase in the idle.

Any ideas what to check?

Thanks

PS, I replaced the spark plug wires and still have these issues which I had previously.
 
The idle is supposed to move around as the PCM makes up for you throwing loads off and on it. New engines make the difference seem less but older engines it shows up more. Similar to a 70 year old man lifting 50 pounds versus 35 year old. I say that from personal experience LOL. The E3 plugs are a gimmick similar again to the old 'fire injector' plugs my Dad was suckered into buying in the early '60s. Garbage then, same now. He made sure I learned that, if he didn't. A spark is a spark, can only make your stuff run well but not increase power unless not running right to begin with. 8 mm. wire fine. Look at the core of the wire, if carbon string they are not lifetime despite what ANYBODY tells you. Simply removing the wires once can greatly compromise their effectiveness since they fracture internally with any tugging on the cable. Only solid metal core externally wound monel type can be lifetime and those are expensive as hell. I do not use double platinum plug either, single lasts 50K, why bother? You should know that half the plugs in these Contours fire backwards, i.e., the spark jumps from outer to inner point regardless of what all the supertrick artwork says. I always get a laugh outta that one, like to see the E3 people's take on that........

Remember Splitfire plugs? Where are they now? Last year's old dog since someone trumped their 'trick' electrode design with a fancier one. You can put whatever trick wire electrode onto the end you want, still only one spark like the man says unless you are running MSD. Thanks to these people for taking a $1 part and convincing the masses that they are worth $6-$8. You can take that idea and throw it in the same garbage can that holds the $175 alternators and starters. Pure bull.
 
amc49 said:
The idle is supposed to move around as the PCM makes up for you throwing loads off and on it. New engines make the difference seem less but older engines it shows up more. Similar to a 70 year old man lifting 50 pounds versus 35 year old. I say that from personal experience LOL.
Click to expand...

and this is the first image I got when I read that.

537.jpg
 
Unless I'm wrong, it's old fart wrestler Rick Flair, drool coming from the mouth. Probably partly brain dead from all those hits to the head............
 
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