Design and labeling of spark plugs: overview, models, manufacturers and reviews

The spark plug is an important component that determines the operation of the internal combustion engine. It depends on the timely start of the engine, stability at idle, power, efficiency and throttle response. Candles work in extreme conditions. Periodically, they require replacement. Let's find out how these parts are arranged, and also consider how the identification of spark plugs is decoded.

How does it work

The part consists of a body part, a contact rod, electrodes and an insulator made of ceramic materials. Also in the device there is a special ceramic insulator. The body is threaded. With its help, the element is installed in the holes in the cylinder head. These holes are called candle wells. The case is equipped with a special hexagon for a standard candle key. Also on the element there is a special nickel coating. It protects the spark from corrosion. The device and the marking of the spark plugs are discussed in detail below.

Reference plane

The body of the candle has a special support plane. It helps to seal the hole. On different types of candles a flat and conical support is used. In the first case, a special O-ring is used for additional sealing. The tapered surface itself seals well the junction of the workpiece and the cylinder head.

Insulator

These candle elements are made from special very strong ceramic materials. On the surface of the insulating part there are special grooves. They protect the item from electricity leaks. One of the parts of this element has a conical shape. This is the so-called thermal cone.

Electrodes

If you cut a candle, you can see the central electrode, as well as the contact rod. These elements are made of special high-temperature resistant alloys. The material for making the central electrode is two kinds of metals. So, the central part is made of copper alloy. Then it lies in a shell that withstands high temperatures. A special resistor is installed in the new candles. It is needed to suppress electromagnetic interference. In products of the old type, there is no such element. Therefore, when the engine is running in the engine compartment, you can hear a characteristic crackle.

Characteristics

Candles have different properties. Each model is prepared for certain types of modern ICE. The main characteristics of candles are encrypted in the symbol. Below we will consider the marking of spark plugs.

dimensions

Candle wells in motors have different sizes. Hence the different diameters of the elements. The size of the candle is its diameter, thread parameters, length, as well as the size of the part for the key.

Calle number

The marking of the spark plugs contains a glow number that can be decoded and read. It denotes the thermal characteristics and properties of the element. The candle, in which the ignition is small, is called hot. The thermal cone of such an element can be heated up to 900 degrees with relatively low loads. Such elements are installed on weakly-rooted motors, where the compression ratio is low. There are also cold spark plugs. Marking them is different and depends on the manufacturer: abroad, unlike domestic manufacturers, there are no scale grades. "Cold" elements are installed on high-powered engines. A glow ignition occurs at high thermal loads. As long as the cone of the candle is not heated to 400 degrees, a deposit is formed on it. It leads to a leakage current. Because of this, the process of spark formation is significantly disrupted. At temperatures close to 400 degrees, the burn burns. This is normal. Thus, the candle is self-cleaning. Domestic manufacturers produce elements whose gauges are equal - 8, 11, 14, 17, 20, 23 and 26. If the car is set too cold candles, they will be poorly self-cleaning. As a result, the engine will be unstable. If the candle is excessively "hot", there is a risk of a mantle, that is, spontaneous ignition. Symptoms of this phenomenon resemble detonation. The size of the spark gap is indicated in the vehicle's instruction manual. This parameter is within 0.5-2 mm. The marking of the spark plugs includes this dimension in itself, it can be read on the package. Depending on the design of the electrodes on a particular candle, the gap can be adjusted. On some, it can be unregulated.

Labeling of domestic products

On the products made by the Russian manufacturer, the following data are necessarily indicated. This is the date when the part was installed - the month or the last two digits are indicated, according to which you can read the year. Also indicate the trademark or the name of the manufacturer. The type of the candle is also indicated (it is indicated that the candle is made in Russia). Also marked, where you can read the main characteristics of the product. About it, we'll talk in more detail.

Decoding of Russian candles

We will consider the marking of spark plugs for VAZ. All of them are made at Russian enterprises. Let's decipher it - А-У17 ДВРМ 10:

• The first letter indicates the thread or its parameters. In this marking, the letter "A" is indicated, which corresponds to thread M14 in increments of 1.25. It can also be labeled "M" differently. This corresponds to thread M18 in 1.5 steps.
• Further, the design features of the product are indicated. In our case, "U" indicates that the hexagon key is reduced. Also the manufacturer specifies the letter "M". This indicates that the candle is small.
• The figure "17" in this marking is the glow number. It can be anything. In this case it is a hot candle.
• The letter "D" denotes the length of the thread. It can be 12, 19 and 17.5 millimeters. Then the marking tells about the cone. It can be protruding or without protrusion. In the latter case, "B" in the marking indicates that the cone is protruding.
• Next, "P" indicates the presence of a built-in resistor. It protects against various interference. In this case, it is. "M" - this designation indicates the type of the central electrode. It can be standard or with a copper core. And, finally, "10" is a serial number.

Due to the fact that foreign manufacturers do not use a single candle marking system, it is possible to determine what the marking of Bosch spark plugs means only from the manufacturer's catalogs.

Decoding of the candlestick marking of foreign manufacturers

So, we examined how to decipher products from domestic brands. But the problem is that Russian products have a small resource. Therefore, it is best to purchase imported products. As the testimonies testify, the life of such candles is higher.

NGK

Take, for example, NGK spark plugs.

The interpretation of the marking is in fact practically the same as in the case of the domestic candle. The designation is BCPR7ES-11. The first letter is the diameter of the thread, in our case it is 14 mm. The second number is a candle key. In our case, the size of the key should be 16 mm. "P" indicates that the insulator is of the protruding type. R indicates the presence of a resistor. 7 is the glow number. E is the length of the thread. S is a standard product. And, finally, the number 11 is a gap. In this case, it is 1.1 mm.

Brisk

These candles are made in the Czech Republic. The company has been working since 35 years of the last century. Marking of spark plugs Brisk - DOR15YC-1. Let's try to decipher it:

• D is the diameter, 19 mm, for the standard key "for 14".
• Thread standard with a step of 1.25 mm.
• "O" indicates that we have a special design.
• R - reports the presence of a resistor.
• The number 15 is the glow number.
• Y - discharger of the removed type.
• "C" is a core made of copper.
• "1" is the size of the gap from 1 to 1.1 mm.

So, we found out what spark plugs are and how to decode their markings.