HOW TO: Index Your Spark Plugs

[kevo]

I was thinking about this topic, I had a brand new set of BKR6E-11 and planning to replace it on my day off, could you use the washers attached to the old set of sparks?

[Vadim]

The original washers should technically be the same thinkness, so that wouldnt do any good.

In my personal Opinion, it's not worth to spend $20 on those indexing washers, just try pick out the best spark plug thread per cylinder.

[kevo]

Originally Posted by Vadim

The original washers should technically be the same thinkness, so that wouldnt do any good.

In my personal Opinion, it's not worth to spend $20 on those indexing washers, just try pick out the best spark plug thread per cylinder.

They're the same thickness but I meant to use some extra washers (the ones from old sparks) until fit, may be in piston #1 would be @ 9 o'clock and using 1 extra washer would be near 6 o'clock

Is that posible?

[MR-4Door-SR20DET]

So you just keep putting washers on the end of the spark plug until the black mark is facing towards the front, with the mark on front side?

What about the guys comment about using the other side as the guide?

[kevo]

Originally Posted by MR-4Door-SR20DE

So you just keep putting washers on the end of the spark plug until the black mark is facing towards the front, with the mark on front side?

What about the guys comment about using the other side as the guide?

If you use the other side as guide you will have to index at 12 o'clock, the point is to keep the 'arc' side of the flug pointing the admision valves

[Vadim]

Originally Posted by kevo

They're the same thickness but I meant to use some extra washers (the ones from old sparks) until fit, may be in piston #1 would be @ 9 o'clock and using 1 extra washer would be near 6 o'clock

Is that posible?

The problem here is, the washers will lift the spark plug out of the cylinder too much. Thus keeping it out of where it needs to be

The way to go is by having the ground electrode facing 6 o'clock. This way it would block the flame from going into the exhaust valves instead of intake valves.

Originally Posted by MR-4Door-SR20DE

So you just keep putting washers on the end of the spark plug until the black mark is facing towards the front, with the mark on front side?

What about the guys comment about using the other side as the guide?

This really depends on where you decide to put the black mark. If you decide to put the black mark where the ground electrode is at then, it needs to face the exhaust valves.

If you put the mark where the spark plug gap is at, then you would need to face the intake valves.

I personally prefer using the first method. Because its easier to determine where to face the ground electrode.

[MR-4Door-SR20DET]

What should be the max amount of washers that you would have to put on one plug? I don't want it lifted to much.

[Vadim]

Originally Posted by MR-4Door-SR20DE

What should be the max amount of washers that you would have to put on one plug? I don't want it lifted to much.

Depends on the size of the washers and what washers you use. If use use the indexing washers, they come in 3 different thicknesses, so that you wouldn't have to use more then one.

[kevo]

I changed the sparks and tried indexing, after a lot of combinations I had this:

#1 ---> 8 o'clock
#2 ---> 6 o'clock
#3 ---> 6 o'clock
#4 ---> 6 o'clock

I changed the sparks, just bought the car and was using some Denso (PK20R11), I sticked some NGK copper BKR6E-11, didn't notice any difference or change in power

[MR-4Door-SR20DET]

Originally Posted by kevo

I changed the sparks and tried indexing, after a lot of combinations I had this:

#1 ---> 8 o'clock
#2 ---> 6 o'clock
#3 ---> 6 o'clock
#4 ---> 6 o'clock

I changed the sparks, just bought the car and was using some Denso (PK20R11), I sticked some NGK copper BKR6E-11, didn't notice any difference or change in power

^Hmmmm............It might be a waste of time.

[Vadim]

You won't feel it, but it adds up!

This is why I said don't use washers, just use what you got and adjust them to the best that you can.

This should give you better MPG's though

[Benito Malito]

Originally Posted by Vadim

You won't feel it, but it adds up!

This is why I said don't use washers, just use what you got and adjust them to the best that you can.

This should give you better MPG's though

Do you have any data to isolate the influence of indexed plugs? Usually you are pretty careful about documenting these things.

[Vadim]

Originally Posted by Benito Malito

Do you have any data to isolate the influence of indexed plugs? Usually you are pretty careful about documenting these things.

Yep sure do, it's not the most accurate because the BHP readings are coming from the ScanGauge, but its better then nothing

Few posts back I posted this...

Originally Posted by Vadim

....
Conclusion
Just by doing a little simple index, it looks like I saw about a 10 BHP increase at the same intake air temperature

[Fernando Alday]

Originally Posted by Vadim

You won't feel it, but it adds up!

This is why I said don't use washers, just use what you got and adjust them to the best that you can.

This should give you better MPG's though

i think KEVO didn't use any washers at the end... i guess he didn't feel any difference in power and probably most of us wouldn't because we don't have the scan gauge to tell us the gain... the real test will come when KEVO takes it to the track and lays down a new personal record for his super stock b13!

[Vadim]

Originally Posted by Fernando Alday

i think KEVO didn't use any washers at the end... i guess he didn't feel any difference in power and probably most of us wouldn't because we don't have the scan gauge to tell us the gain... the real test will come when KEVO takes it to the track and lays down a new personal record for his super stock b13!

Oh I know he didn't, I was just saying that the washers are a waste of $20 , well at least for our cars (since our pistons will hit the spark plugs if the spark plug is too low).

I doubt gains will even be as high as 10 BHP on a stock car...

Now since my Bosch +2 plugs finally took a dump, started getting bad MPG and terrible power (but thats only in the temperatures below 90*, the Bosch plugs seemed to get the HP back when it was hot outside, which is really weird!)

Anyway back on subject, I picked up my old BKR6E-11's, and side gapped them, then indexed them. I was able to get 188 BHP at 78* incoming air temp.

Thats pretty good compared to before, now this is on my older BKR's not the newer ones that I did the tests with couple posts back.

Once I get my grinder, I will make some good side gapped plugs, a How To following it, and will post some results