Candles for gasoline engines are a fairly conservative product that has not undergone any fundamental changes in the last few decades.
Manufacturers only experimented with the geometry and number of electrodes, which had a very insignificant effect on the final result — the ignition quality of the working mixture. But, finally, a certain “breakthrough” was outlined — iridium spark plugs appeared.
The ignition of the mixture in the combustion chamber directly depends on the miniature electrode electrodes. Because the thinner the central electrode, the lower the voltage required to break the gap between it and the side electrode, and the narrower the side electrode, the less it affects the flame propagation in the combustion chamber. But a reckless decrease in the electrodes leads to their rapid burning, the candle breaks down ... The dilemma is solved by introducing a technology of spraying a layer of precious metal onto the electrodes . And the most meeting all the requirements was iridium.
Iridium candles have a diameter of the central electrode 4-5 times smaller than ordinary ones, and a side electrode made of nickel alloy tapered under the cone.
This provides a powerful arc of the white spectrum (the most stable and hot). At the same time, minimizing the linear dimensions of the electrodes not only did not lead to a reduction in the working life, but also sensitively increased it. If ordinary candles (with electrodes made of nickel alloy) with an average mileage of the car need to be replaced every 2-3 years, then iridium candles serve almost the entire life of the machine from one owner! Therefore, their high price is more than justified. The “set and forget” principle is one of the main
competitive advantages of this product.
What other advantages do iridium candles give their lucky owner, in addition to their service life:
- reduction in fuel consumption (6-7% for engines with injection and 2% for carburetor);
- increase in engine power by 2-3%;
- “soft” engine start even in winter time;
- more complete combustion of fuel, and, as a result, cleaner exhaust.
If we add to this the improved dynamics and “throttle response” of the engine while driving, there is no doubt: Iridium candles must be put immediately. The price of 2.5-3 thousand rubles per set against the background of 300 rubles for ordinary ones should not stop, the difference in gasoline savings alone will pay off in six months. Owners of "sophisticated" foreign cars, in which access to candles is difficult, especially should not be afraid of prices. After all, the cost of
replacing candles in a service center is almost higher than the cost of candles themselves.
So to summarize. Pros: the engine starts and works better in every way; it became more comfortable to operate the car; the fact that candles at the most inopportune moment can fail, you can forget with a light soul (which means that you don't need to carry a spare kit in the trunk). Cons: no. We don’t put a high price in the negative, because we pay today so that tomorrow we don’t pay more. Conclusion: the iridium candles - the unconditional "yes"!