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Champion Technical Tips

 

Champion Spark Plugs FAQ

 

• How do I find a colder or hotter plug?
  
• How can I figure out what the numbers mean on my spark plug?
  
• How do I cross reference a spark plug from another brand into Champion?
  
• How can I find a high performance equivalent to my regular plug?
  
• What is the torque setting for my plugs?
  
• Can old spark plugs be cleaned?
  
• Can I use a standard spark plug if my vehicle manufacturer recommends a high performance plug?
• Common Problems

 

How do i find a hotter or colder plug?

First, consult the Champion numbering system, (listed on the bottom left of the 411 info page). You should be able to see which digits identify the heat range for your spark plug.
EXAMPLE: The heat range for a RV15YC6 is the "15" (ignore the 6, it is the gap).
After you have identified the numbering system for your plug, merely raise or lower that number to change the heat range.
Remember, CHAMPION PLUGS GET HOTTER THE HIGHER THE NUMBER, COLDER THE LOWER THE NUMBER.

Say you are starting with a RCJ7Y
if you want a colder plug, you would use RCJ6Y
if you want a hotter plug, you would use RCJ8Y

Once you have decided on a number, test to see if it exists by typing that number in the part# search box.

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How can I figure out what the numbers mean on my spark plug?

Consult the numbering chart listed on the bottom of the 411 plug info page.

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How do I cross reference a spark plug from another brand into Champion?

Type the part number you wish to cross-reference into the PART NUMBER/CROSS-REFERENCE.
DO NOT include the manufacturers name in the part #.
In other words, if you are crossing over an AC MR43T, you would put in MR43T, NOT ACMR43T.

You will be supplied with the equivalent part number, or if the part number you selected is common with more than one manufacturer, you will be asked what brand you are crossing from.

You can also contact one of Component Distributors' technical specialists on (01) 820 8860 (ROI) or (028) 9034 1999 (NI), or email us at info@cd-group.com.

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How can I find a high performance equivalent to my regular plug?

The best way to find a high performance plug is by using the application search, your look up results will be divided and rated from performance to standard. Much of the information you will need to help you decide on which plug you want is in the "More Info" button.

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What is the torque setting for my plug?

Plug torque settings

It is essential to tighten a spark plug to the specified turning angle or torque setting. This is for a number of reasons, over tightening can cause;
1) Damage to the threads in the cylinder head (especially aluminum heads).
2) Damage the threads of the spark plug.
3) Damage the internal seal of a spark plug allowing combustion chamber blow-by.
Under tightening of the spark plug can cause plug overheating and possibly pre-ignition. This is because one of the primary purposes of the spark plug is to remove heat from the combustion chamber, it does so by transferring that heat to the engine head. If the plug is not properly tighten it will not have sufficient contact with the head to transfer that heat. Proper tightening procedure is described below.

Screw in the spark plug finger tight until the gasket meets the cylinder head. Then seat the plug/gasket with a torque or turning angle wrench as specified in the chart below.

 

 

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Can old spark plugs be cleaned?

Yes, you can clean spark plugs, but in most cases its not worth it.
We do not recommend it for a number of reasons. In short, you will not get the same performance from a cleaned plug as a new plug. This is because electricity likes sharp edges to discharge from. A used plug will already have wear, and cleaning may contribute to that wear even more (depending on the cleaning method used). If you want to try it, the below cleaning procedure was supplied to us by an old motor head. Good luck!

If the firing end is wet, make sure you clean the spark plug with a quick drying cleaner. (Examples: contact cleaner or brake cleaner).

Sand blast the spark plug using low air pressure and use a dry compound.

Completely blow all the sand from the spark plug.

Using a wire brush clean the threads and re-gap.

NOTE: Insufficient cleaning of the spark plug may lead to spark plug failure in a very short period of time. Clean the spark plug thoroughly to avoid problems later. Remember, if a spark plug is fouling it's usually a result of engine side factors or incorrect heat range selection.

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Can I use a standard spark plug if my vehicle manufacturer recommends a high performance plug?

Due to advancements in spark plug designs, precious metal spark plugs are becoming increasingly common as original equipment in newly manufactured vehicles.
In the past, most vehicle manufacturers have installed traditional nickel spark plugs and consumers have had the choice of using the standard OE part, or a more expensive precious metal plug for enhanced performance and life gains. As vehicle manufacturers decide the advantages of higher performance plugs are worth the extra cost, these high performance plugs are coming standard in more and more vehicles.

 

When these vehicles are due for a tune up, owners may wonder "Can I substitute the precious metal plug for a less expensive standard nickel or single platinum, etc. spark plug?"

 

While vehicles that have OE standard spark plugs will benefit from the advantages of high performance plugs, replacing an OE high performance plug with a lower performance standard spark plug can result in loss of performance or even severe engine damage. While some vehicle manufacturers are installing high performance plugs OE simply for the performance advantages, other vehicles require high performance plugs due to the advances in technology that place a strain on traditional spark plugs. The attached link contains a list of possible design characteristics and problems that can result if the recommended plug is not used. When you are viewing the list of spark plugs that fit your vehicle on SparkPlugs.com, the plugs are ranked in order of performance and quality, with the highest quality plugs starting at the top. As a good rule of thumb, when you find the plug that comes OE in your vehicle, anything listed in the categories above could have positive performance benefits, while using anything listed in the categories below could potentially create problems and decrease engine performance.

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Spark Plug Problems

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