Which Spark Plug Material is the Best?
1 Answers
Spark plugs generally come in the following four materials: 1. Nickel Alloy: Nickel alloy is an excellent material for spark plug electrodes due to its strength, hardness, electrical resistance, melting temperature, and corrosion resistance. However, nickel alloy tends to accumulate carbon deposits easily. To extend its service life, the electrode surface is usually made larger, which increases the time before it gets covered by carbon deposits, thereby prolonging its lifespan. 2. Iridium: Iridium spark plugs have high arc intensity, high temperature, and fast response, making them less prone to carbon buildup. This allows the electrodes to be made much smaller than those of ordinary spark plugs. Therefore, iridium spark plugs have significant advantages. Their high melting point enables them to be used in various high-power engines, tolerating higher temperatures without electrode melting or burning out. 3. Platinum: This type of spark plug is a balanced option, with performance similar to iridium spark plugs. However, its lifespan is slightly longer, typically lasting 50,000-80,000 kilometers. 4. Iridium-Platinum: This is the best material among single-electrode spark plugs, with performance surpassing both iridium and platinum. Also known as double iridium, its stability is more outstanding than platinum, and it has the longest lifespan among the four materials, lasting up to 100,000 kilometers.