Candle
The employer of the Pushkin Baldy was seriously hurt in the pursuit of cheapness. Nevertheless, we decided to devote the next examination of spark plugs to inexpensive products, analogues of our A17DVRM. After all, it is precisely such candles with a hexagon "at 21" that set fire to the mixture of the VAZ eight-valve engine family, as well as many foreign cars of not the first freshness. And buying something refined-iridium for such cars is irrational. Therefore, they decided to limit the costs to a round amount: not more than 100 rubles per candle.
Surprised by the diversity in this price segment - a lot of not only brands, but also design options. And the purchase price, even with a strict restriction from above, differed almost threefold. Well, that's even more interesting.
Classic and original
We purchased two sets of each type. The bulk were classical single-electrode candles: domestic ones - Tsitron brands, “Japanese” NGK and Denso and “Europeans” (judging by the inscriptions on the packaging) BERU, Ween, HOLA. But, under our price criterion, several not quite ordinary designs came up.
Firstly, it is almost the only Russian multi-electrode - “EZ-Standard T17DVRM” of the Engels plant, with three side electrodes. Secondly, for the indicated amount we even managed to buy candles with platinum electrodes - Bosch Platinum WR7 DPX, the most interesting scheme: with a thin central electrode, completely recessed into the insulator body. This company also included the Czech yttrium Brisk - with a cone ground on a cone.
How much such candles are better than ordinary (and is it better?), An experiment will show. As a benchmark for conducting motor tests, we took the "classics of the genre" - single-electrode "EZ-Standard T17DVRM". We will carry out a comparison according to four indicators: stability of design parameters, the result of complex motor tests, ecology, and work in emergency situations.
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Clearances and resistances
To begin with, the candles were measured, having received the values of the predefined spark gaps and electrical resistances. What for? To immediately weed out unusable samples. There were no such ones this time (although before the marriage came across). In addition, it is interesting to assess the uneven design parameters for each brand: the lower it is, the higher the level of production.
The best were NGK, Denso, as well as Bosch. Unfortunately, Tsitron showed low stability, especially against the background of leaders.
Having finished with probes and ohmmeters, we shuffled the candles and formed new sets for each brand: we will call them conditionally “good” and “ordinary”. The first is from those candles whose parameters are closest to the average in the sample. The second is from what remains. Two sets of single-electrode candles “EZ-Standard A17DVRM” will set the reference level during motor tests.
Power, Consumption, Toxicity
To what extent can the quality and characteristics of candles affect the performance of the engine? It will take a few percent to catch, so bench conditions are needed so that the effects do not eat up the measurement error. We sequentially put each set on the VAZ-2111 injection engine and in fixed modes evaluate the change in power, fuel consumption and exhaust gas toxicity relative to the EZ-Standard A17DVRM.
First, the “good” sets were driven out on the motor, then the “normal” ones. The final result consisted of the achievements of both sets. A scatter of the results was to show the degree of dependence of engine performance on the stability of the parameters of the candles.
STABILITY CHECK RESULTS OF STRUCTURAL PARAMETERS
Among the classic candles from “good” sets, the spread in power and efficiency is relatively small - up to 2 … 3%, in ecology - a little more: up to 7 … 9%. But the "originals" gave a noticeable improvement in the parameters. The most effective were platinum Bosch, the second came to the finish line - attention! - domestic three-electrode "EZ-Standard"! The principle of an open spark, realized in multi-electrode circuits, has clearly worked out, as we have written about several times (for example, ЗР, 2006, No. 10).
Brisk was only the seventh in terms of engine performance.
The highlight of these candles is the yttrium alloy, but it mainly extends the life without any special impact on the quality of sparking. Having sharpened the side electrode on the cone, the designers, in our opinion, were mistaken. A similar shape is appropriate when it ends above the central electrode (as in NGK and Denso). In this case, a zone of local increase in the intensity of the electric field is formed and, therefore, the conditions of spark formation change. And in the variant proposed by Brisk, the side electrode far extends beyond the central one - and therefore the conditions for the formation of sparks here practically do not change.
By the way, pay attention: when checking "ordinary" sets, the advantage of leaders is more pronounced! Therefore, the advice: even while saving, take a closer look at the leaders. The less the parameters of the candles differ, the better your car will go!
When the candles go out …
The following two tests. We always emphasize that for a limited time it is almost impossible to simulate in full all the troubles of a real engine - deposits, wear of candles, cold starts, etc. But you can indirectly assess the stability of the operation of candles in extreme conditions by the way they behave at low voltage in the on-board network. For example, at 9 V instead of the usual fourteen. Of course, we will not scoff at the fuel pump and electronics: we are only interested in the difference in the behavior of the candles. Therefore we pass to the stand with the carburetor engine.
Tables open in full size on click:
INTEGRATED MOTOR AND ENVIRONMENTAL INDICATORS
The "best" are participating in these trials. The results confirmed the results of the previous series - Bosch platinum thin-electrode candles and domestic three-electrode ones were more successful than others. Moreover, the spread between the leaders and outsiders has increased significantly, especially in terms of exhaust gas toxicity.
Last test. We check at what minimum voltage the spark plugs continue to sparkle. The bench engine is brought to stable temperature parameters, and then gradually lower the voltage until the sparking stops completely. The best indicator for this parameter was again given by Bosch, which surrendered only at the turn of 5.88 V. And Tsitron capitulated first: 7.88 V.
RELIABILITY CHECK RESULTS
Balda is not quite right
The results are in the tables. Surprise, and pleasant, one: long ago, Russian products did not win our tests. And here, three-electrode and at the same time inexpensive candles took the second place, wedging themselves in the group of recognized masters between Bosch and the "Japanese".
RESULTS OF TESTING OF CANDLES OF IGNITION
Even inexpensive candles can change the behavior of the car
And Balda, imagine, was not quite right! In the pursuit of cheapness, sometimes it is possible to find something worthy …
Terminology and Methodology
External speed characteristic. It characterizes the change in engine power (or torque) depending on the number of revolutions of its crankshaft with a fully open throttle (for a gasoline engine).
Power parameter. It is calculated as the average increase (decrease) in power at all measured points of the external speed characteristic with respect to the base set.
The toxicity parameter (separately for the components of CO, CH, NOx). It is calculated as the average increase (decrease) in the content of these toxic components relative to the base at all points of the load characteristics.
Profitability parameter. It is calculated as the average increase (decrease) in specific fuel consumption at all measured points of the load characteristics in relation to the base set.
The average motor indicator is emergency. It is taken equal to the parameter of profitability.
Averaged motor performance. It is calculated as a weighted sum of power and economy parameters.
The average rate of toxicity. It is calculated as a weighted sum of toxicity parameters for all components.
As a base set was selected "EZ-Standard A17DVRM". Before calculating the final quality indicators, the measurement data were brought to standard conditions and approximations of the dependencies were constructed, which made it possible to use the same points of comparison for the load.
In each type of test, participants received coefficients on a five-point scale: 5 points for the best result and 1 point for the worst. The rest were evaluated in proportion to the position in the table. Based on the results of four types of tests, the sum of the coefficients (constructive, motor, environmental, emergency) was determined, which was taken into account when allocating seats.
Test subjects
9th place: TSN, TSITRON, country not specified
TSN, TSITRON
A17DVRM
Clearance - Not Specified
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 140 rubles.
Candles sold in plastic bags, that is, almost in bulk, - this is now not everywhere! The low hexagon, fuzzy marking, a large spread in resistance and clearances immediately aroused concern for the result. Applicability is indicated on a paper sticked on a bag. The result - alas, an obvious outsider …
TSN, TSITRON
+ The motor works, the price is the lowest.
- Lost to everyone and in everything.
8th place: HOLA, Netherlands
Hola
S14
Clearance - 1.1 mm
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 175 rubles.
The cheapest among imported candles. A detailed description, a bunch of certificates - all this is good. Especially not flashed, but will be just right if you want to please the machine with something imported and inexpensive.
Hola
+ Low price, accurate execution.
- Not the highest stability of design parameters.
7th place: BRISK A-LINE, Czech Republic
BRISK A-LINE
13 LR15YCY-1
Clearance - Not Specified
Estimated price - 230 rubles.
Yttrium candles with a side electrode sharpened on a cone and an enlarged protrusion of the central electrode. They should serve for a long time, but in our tests they didn’t show anything “like that”. And the price is not the most attractive.
BRISK A-LINE
+ Famous brand, neat manufacture.
- Lack of any tangible benefits.
6th place: BERU, Germany
Beru
14R-7DUX
Clearance - 1.1 mm
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 280 rubles.
Normal candles of a classic design with a big name, but not the highest price. The results are as if in the shadow: no failures, no leadership in any of the nominations. Honestly, the brand taught us to see it in the winners, but we specifically sought out what is cheaper.
Beru
+ Smooth performance at all stages.
- I would like to be cheaper …
5th place: WEEN, the Netherlands
WEEN
121–1370
Clearance - 1.1 mm
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 210 rubles.
Dutch candles, little known to our customers, turned out to be exactly in the middle of the table, overtaking much more famous names. By the stability of design parameters, these candles are the fourth.
WEEN
+ Good value for money.
- Not a word in Russian on a blister.
4th place: DENSO, Japan
Denso
W20EPR-U11
Clearance - Not Specified
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 380 rubles.
Japanese candles proved to be leaders in a group of classic colleagues. However, there is a certain originality in them: on the side electrode there is a U-shaped recess, which, according to the company, stabilizes the discharge. It seems so.
Denso
+ High stability of design parameters.
- Only Bosch is more expensive.
3rd place: NGK V-LINE, France
NGK V-LINE
No. 13 BPR6ES-11
Clearance - Not Specified
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 360 rubles.
The French "Japanese" behaved well. First place in the structural stability of parameters, third in all other nominations. That's just the question: why classify ordinary, classic candles into the V-Line category: there we are used to seeing a groove in the central electrode …
NGK V-LINE
+ High results in all categories.
- One of the most expensive among the classic candles.
2nd place: EZ STANDARD, Russia
Ez standard
T17DVRM 1.0
Clearance - 1.0 mm
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 230 rubles.
The only representative of multi-electrode candles that fell within the established price limit turned out to be Russian. For an affordable price, he showed his best sides, taking second place in three of four nominations!
Ez standard
+ Steady place in the first three.
- If not for the scatter of parameters, they would turn out to be leaders.
1st place: BOSCH PLATINUM, Germany
BOSCH PLATINUM
WR7DPX
Clearance - 1.1 mm
Estimated price (for 4 candles) - 400 rubles.
This company has always been able to make decent candles. The best in three categories out of four - as a result, gold! Only one thing was a little surprised: why did the “Germans” turn out to be only third in terms of parameter stability? But we will not cling to the winners.
