[Healeys] Spark plug gap

Thu May 4 08:27:58 MDT 2023

Chris,
Seriously, here in Europe we have Shell V-Power (100 octane), or ARAL 
Ultimate (102 octane). I usually fill up  with Shell V-Power at our filling 
station round the corner. I recommend to use either Shell or ARAL all my 
friends and customers.

Btw. I have Dunlop and Avon crossply tyres on my 100 and 3000. I love 
crossplys on Healeys, as they give a nice soft ride.
Here its not very pleasant to do long trips on motorways in a Healey, as 
traffic is enormeous and lots of congestions and plenty of lorries.

Josef

-----Original-Nachricht-----
Betreff: Re: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
Datum: 2023-05-04T15:22:10+0200
Von: "Chris Dimmock" <austin.healey at gmail.com>
An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de" <josef-eckert at t-online.de>

Josef
Seriously?
What octane leaded fuel are you running in your engine?
100 octane 5 star leaded as per the owner’s manual?
A lot has changed in the last 60is  years mate. 
Fuel octane. Lead in fuel. 
Do you run your modern radials at the same pressures as 60 year old 
crossply tyres?
The owner’s manual is irrelevant with regards to spark plug gaps with 
modern fuels. Or modern tyres. 
Sincerely 

    On 4 May 2023, at 9:45 pm, josef-eckert--- via Healeys
    <healeys at autox.team.net> wrote:

    Sorry, I am out here. This guy wants to play till the engine is shot.

    -----Original-Nachricht-----
    Betreff: RE: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
    Datum: 2023-05-04T12:45:37+0200
    Von: "simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com"
    <simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com>
    An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de" <josef-eckert at t-online.de>

    Thanks for that. I’ll certainly bear it in mind. Likewise, I’ll keep a
    close eye on my engine’s temperature. The latter is quite well
    protected with a modern rad, all the correct baffles, 5 blade fan plus
    electronic fan. But, as I said, I’ll keep an eye on it.

    Someone mentioned that he used “Iridium” plugs from NGK. I googled
    them….horribly expensive. Can they be worth it in our old cars?

    Simon

    From: josef-eckert at t-online.de <josef-eckert at t-online.de>
    Sent: 04 May 2023 07:06
    To: simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com; Healey, Forum
    <healeys at autox.team.net>
    Subject: AW: [Healeys] Spark plug gap

    For me, i prefer Champion plugs plugs to NGK, but that´s a matter of
    taste. I think both, Champion and NGK, are of similar quality. Matter
    of taste, as I wrote. But NOT the car manufacturer determines the plug
    gap, its the plug manufacturer. Definitely the car manufacturer takes
    this for his specs in the workshop manual.
    There is to much hype about plugs anyway. I am working as a
    professional, Elecrtonics and Elecrtrcian engineer, at a big classic
    car parts supplier here in Europe and I never go away from the given
    plug gap as set by the plug manufacturer. Austin-Healey engines  are
    not high tech, they are tractor engines and can take a lot of misfit,
    but anyway BMC knew at the time what´s best to do with them, even its
    printed 60 or 70 years ago.
    Some people try to adjust the fuel mixture with a CO-tester. You can do
    that, but it doesn´t give best results for road use, especially in
    hotter climates and high above sea level.
    When you are very good in engine engineering and have all the tools you
    can try to find some more horsepower in your engine, but you always pay
    that with some more heat produced, which is not at all good for our old
    BMC engines.

    Josef

    -----Original-Nachricht-----
    Betreff: RE: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
    Datum: 2023-05-04T00:06:58+0200
    Von: "simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
    <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> " <
    simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
    <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> >
    An: "josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> " <
    josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> >

    You may be right. Not sure.

    Actually I thought that the gap was determined by the car’s
    manufacturer ie one could expect to find the same plug in two different
    cars and to find that the recommended gap was not the same for each
    car.

    Likewise, the BMC manual suggests Champion plugs at 0.024” to 0.026”
    and that was some 60+ years ago. I’ve always been told that Champion
    plugs aren’t the best in the world and I’m sure that a modern NGK can
    stand a little more heat than the Champions that were around 60 years
    ago.

    Anyhow, I’ll keep an eye on them. I’m a pretty tame driver so there
    won’t be undue stress under the bonnet.

    Simon

    From: josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> <
    josef-eckert at t-online.de <mailto:josef-eckert at t-online.de> >
    Sent: 03 May 2023 20:56
    To: simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com
    <mailto:simon.lachlan at alexarevel.plus.com> ; healeys at autox.team.net
    <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net>
    Subject: AW: [Healeys] Spark plug gap

    Spark plugs are designed and tested to be used with the gap given by
    the producer of the spark plug.
    When you widen the gap the plug gets hotter as it is designed for and
    the electrode can melt or wear very fast.
    Its a very short win you gain modifying them.
    I never understand why people think they are better engineers and know
    better than the designers of the system they use.

    Josef

    -----Original-Nachricht-----
    Betreff: [Healeys] Spark plug gap
    Datum: 2023-05-03T21:39:57+0200
    Von: "Simon Lachlan via Healeys" <healeys at autox.team.net
    <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> >
    An: "'Healeys'" <healeys at autox.team.net <mailto:healeys at autox.team.net> 
    >

    I run my MkII BT7 on NGK BP6ES which were recommended by some of the
    wise ones on this list.

    The car has a “Sports” coil and a 123Ignition distributor. DW fast road
    cam…etc

    Now, talking of “recommended”, the rolling road guys told me to set the
    plugs at 0.028” and pooh-poohed anything bigger when I suggested that
    I’d heard of much greater gaps with my approximate setup.

    So, I went with 0.028.

    The other day, I decided to experiment and set my spare set at 0.032”.
    Same NGKs, no mileage on them..decent plugs. Anyhow, it made a very
    surprising difference. All round performance is much enhanced.

    Despite it’s 3:54 diff and 28% OD, it was never sluggish on our local
    hills. But now it fairly zooms up them.

    To be frank, all a bit of a surprise.

    Not boasting…just putting that out there in case anyone else is
    thinking of going up a few thou…..

    When I asked about gaps a few years back, some of the suggestions were
    near 0.040”. Surely that a bit much?

    Simon

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