NGK’s range of precious metal spark plugs provide two major benefits over conventional spark plugs:

    • High Ignitability – is only achieved by utilising an exposed fine tip centre electrode allowing for superior flame growth.
    • Long Service Life – is achieved by utilising a high percentage of precious metals patented by NGK.

Precious metals such as Iridium and Platinum have much higher melting points over traditional metals such as Nickel.

    • Iridium – 2410°C
    • Platinum – 1772°C
    • Nickel – 1453°C

This allows centre electrode diameters to reduce from 2.5mm using Nickel, to 0.6mm using Iridium or Platinum. The finer point means that once a spark forms, the flame kernel does not have a large mass of centre electrode that reduces absorption of heat and the flame shadow impeding the flame progress. This equates to a more complete burn that translates to:

    • Improved acceleration
    • Improved fuel consumption
    • Smoother idling

Resistor Spark Plugs

Resistor type spark plug’s incorporate an internal resistor to suppress ignition noise generated during sparking. The ignition noise which is often known as either electromagnetic interference (EMI) or radio frequency interference (RFI) can disrupt electronic communication signals, effecting the performance of sound systems, cellular phones, two-way radios and engine management systems.

As EMI or RFI can also cause premature failure to other electronic components in a modern vehicle, it is important that resistor spark plugs are used to prevent this possibility.

Put simply, when a spark is formed it creates a mini-earthquake in the electronic world; the internal resistor in a spark plug filters out the noise created that may affect electrical components.