For a gasoline engine to work properly, the spark plug must generate a powerful spark. If the ignition is not optimum, the ignition of the air/fuel mixture may be incomplete. The unburned mixture is then evacuated into the exhaust system and can clog or damage it.

Ignition at the right time

The ignition system must generate a powerful spark just before the piston reaches top dead center: this is the precise moment when the compression of the air/fuel mixture is maximum. If ignition is done too early or too late, the operation of the engine is impaired, performance drops, fuel consumption increases as well as polluting emissions.

Combustion by local heating

The ignition spark does not directly ignite the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber. Its passage through the gas mixture causes the creation of intense local heat which then causes the combustion of the mixture. When building a candle, it is important to ensure that this precious heat does not escape too quickly. At the same time, the spark plug also plays an important role in conducting heat into the cylinder head to maintain good operating conditions.

The spark plug subject to increasingly stringent requirements

The conditions under which spark plugs must operate are becoming increasingly difficult and demanding. It is also expected today that the useful life of a spark plug will be considerably longer. To overcome these difficulties and meet increasingly demanding expectations, NGK has invested in research, technology and development. The results are there: new materials and new production techniques that result in a more powerful and longer lasting candle than ever before.