P
Phil
Guest
The subject says it all. What is it that makes spark plug leads wear out?
(other than mechanical wear and tear)
Cheers, Phil
(other than mechanical wear and tear)
Cheers, Phil
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K
Ken Taylor
Guest
"Phil" <haxby@removethisbitandjustleave dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:3f726984@news.comindico.com.au...
Ken
news:3f726984@news.comindico.com.au...
The subject says it all. What is it that makes spark plug leads wear out?
(other than mechanical wear and tear)
Cheers, Phil
Chemical wear and tear.
Ken
P
Phil
Guest
"Ken Taylor" <ken123@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:bktq62$5bktl$1@ID-76636.news.uni-berlin.de...
material that won't wear out so quickly? You don't see everyone asking to
change their whole wiring loom because of wear and tear so why should SP
leads be any different?
news:bktq62$5bktl$1@ID-76636.news.uni-berlin.de...
should have that at all. Can't they make a lead made of the usual copper"Phil" <haxby@removethisbitandjustleave dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:3f726984@news.comindico.com.au...
The subject says it all. What is it that makes spark plug leads wear
out?
(other than mechanical wear and tear)
Cheers, Phil
Chemical wear and tear.
Ken
I hear they are supposed to have a built in resistance. I don't see why they
material that won't wear out so quickly? You don't see everyone asking to
change their whole wiring loom because of wear and tear so why should SP
leads be any different?
M
mc
Guest
yes and HV wear and tear..sooner or later the insulation medium looses
its dielectric strenght ..hence the HV voltage being passed through is
reduced ..hence lower sparks ..and sometimes to the point ...no sparks
at all..when the spark punctures through the lead and never gets to the
plug..hence you get a "miss" in one or more of your cylinders..I had
that happen on a mazda ..bloody expensive to replace ..
Ken Taylor wrote:
its dielectric strenght ..hence the HV voltage being passed through is
reduced ..hence lower sparks ..and sometimes to the point ...no sparks
at all..when the spark punctures through the lead and never gets to the
plug..hence you get a "miss" in one or more of your cylinders..I had
that happen on a mazda ..bloody expensive to replace ..
Ken Taylor wrote:
"Phil" <haxby@removethisbitandjustleave dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:3f726984@news.comindico.com.au...
The subject says it all. What is it that makes spark plug leads wear out?
(other than mechanical wear and tear)
Cheers, Phil
Chemical wear and tear.
Ken
P
Phil Allison
Guest
"Phil" <haxby@removethisbitandjustleave dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:3f72761e@news.comindico.com.au...
** There is severe radio interference with copper leads.
They used to fit 15 kohm HV resistors in the old days.
Can't they make a lead made of the usual copper
** See above.
** High voltages are different.
........... Phil
news:3f72761e@news.comindico.com.au...
"Ken Taylor" <ken123@xtra.co.nz> wrote in message
news:bktq62$5bktl$1@ID-76636.news.uni-berlin.de...
"Phil" <haxby@removethisbitandjustleave dodo.com.au> wrote in message
news:3f726984@news.comindico.com.au...
The subject says it all. What is it that makes spark plug leads wear
out?
(other than mechanical wear and tear)
Cheers, Phil
Chemical wear and tear.
Ken
I hear they are supposed to have a built in resistance. I don't see why
they
should have that at all.
** There is severe radio interference with copper leads.
They used to fit 15 kohm HV resistors in the old days.
Can't they make a lead made of the usual copper
material that won't wear out so quickly?
** See above.
You don't see everyone asking to
change their whole wiring loom because of wear and tear so why should SP
leads be any different?
** High voltages are different.
........... Phil
C
Clifford Heath
Guest
Phil wrote:
heat generated at the end points. Often cutting 1" off the lead and rejoining
will return them to near-new... but:
not least your own. Some race cars use straight-through leads however.
what you say, a metal wire, but wound in a very tight coil to produce
inductance without significant DC resistance. They last forever - make
sure your servicedroid knows this because they'll get thrown away
otherwise. I once had one fail (after eight years) and it was instantly
and apologetically repaired by the shop I got it from - they were quite
embarrassed not to have joined the end better when it was made.
The coiling means it won't interfere with your radio etc, in fact they're
quieter than normal leads. The DC resistance is lower so you get a
better spark too... They cost a tad more but I'm a happy customer.
Clifford Heath.
The usual core is graphite-impregnated silicone, and the graphite burns due toThe subject says it all. What is it that makes spark plug leads wear out?
heat generated at the end points. Often cutting 1" off the lead and rejoining
will return them to near-new... but:
They interfere with radio reception and other electronic equipment otherwise,I hear they are supposed to have a built in resistance. I don't see why they
should have that at all.
not least your own. Some race cars use straight-through leads however.
For your next (and last ever) set, buy Magnecor leads. They're exactlyCan't they make a lead made of the usual copper
material that won't wear out so quickly?
what you say, a metal wire, but wound in a very tight coil to produce
inductance without significant DC resistance. They last forever - make
sure your servicedroid knows this because they'll get thrown away
otherwise. I once had one fail (after eight years) and it was instantly
and apologetically repaired by the shop I got it from - they were quite
embarrassed not to have joined the end better when it was made.
The coiling means it won't interfere with your radio etc, in fact they're
quieter than normal leads. The DC resistance is lower so you get a
better spark too... They cost a tad more but I'm a happy customer.
Clifford Heath.
T
The real Andy
Guest
"mc" <phmc@cc.newcastle.edu.au> wrote in message
news:bktsvq$n9a$1@seagoon.newcastle.edu.au...
too...Add to that being in a very hostile environment that has plenty of
heat and shit around. Hey, sounds like my day to day job..
mazda coz i thought i was getting fucked over by the mechanic, 800something
just for the belt kit plus all the seals and gaskets and shit. I'm going to
buy me a VX commodore next week, screw this imported crap. Mind you, the
mazda is very very nice to drive and is about the closest i will ever get to
owning a BMW......
news:bktsvq$n9a$1@seagoon.newcastle.edu.au...
I bet if you had megavolts running through all day you would breakdownyes and HV wear and tear..sooner or later the insulation medium looses
its dielectric strenght ..hence the HV voltage being passed through is
reduced ..hence lower sparks ..and sometimes to the point ...no sparks
at all..when the spark punctures through the lead and never gets to the
plug..hence you get a "miss" in one or more of your cylinders..I had
too...Add to that being in a very hostile environment that has plenty of
heat and shit around. Hey, sounds like my day to day job..
Just did a timing belt in my newish Mazda929. 1200bucks to replace. Rangthat happen on a mazda ..bloody expensive to replace ..
mazda coz i thought i was getting fucked over by the mechanic, 800something
just for the belt kit plus all the seals and gaskets and shit. I'm going to
buy me a VX commodore next week, screw this imported crap. Mind you, the
mazda is very very nice to drive and is about the closest i will ever get to
owning a BMW......
R
Robert Carter
Guest
Some lead resistance is actually good at higher voltages as you can expect a bettter hotter spark , especially in the older ignition
systems. This can be easily seen on a scope if you compare a copper lead to a carbon lead and is quite dramatic.
The mechanics are given this view as a way of understanding the effect but maybe not completly correct, the resistance causes the
leading electrons to back up when they see the resistance and then the higher resultant voltage that follows causes a denser and
more intense spark. I thought this explanation was novel when I first heard it and it takes me back to the old days when we used to
hold a couple of leads about 6mm from the plugs to get a bomb to start, electrons back up like a flock of sheep at a cliff until
the pressure from the mob behind becomes to much and you get a lot more over the cliff in one single package instead of the dribble
you would get from a single file.
Copper leads can also cause inductive coupling or crossover between leads and stainless steel leads were used in racing cars at one
stage to stop this.
The real Andy <ihatehifitrolls@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:3f729d88$0$6524$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
"mc" <phmc@cc.newcastle.edu.au> wrote in message
news:bktsvq$n9a$1@seagoon.newcastle.edu.au...
too...Add to that being in a very hostile environment that has plenty of
heat and shit around. Hey, sounds like my day to day job..
mazda coz i thought i was getting fucked over by the mechanic, 800something
just for the belt kit plus all the seals and gaskets and shit. I'm going to
buy me a VX commodore next week, screw this imported crap. Mind you, the
mazda is very very nice to drive and is about the closest i will ever get to
owning a BMW......
systems. This can be easily seen on a scope if you compare a copper lead to a carbon lead and is quite dramatic.
The mechanics are given this view as a way of understanding the effect but maybe not completly correct, the resistance causes the
leading electrons to back up when they see the resistance and then the higher resultant voltage that follows causes a denser and
more intense spark. I thought this explanation was novel when I first heard it and it takes me back to the old days when we used to
hold a couple of leads about 6mm from the plugs to get a bomb to start, electrons back up like a flock of sheep at a cliff until
the pressure from the mob behind becomes to much and you get a lot more over the cliff in one single package instead of the dribble
you would get from a single file.
Copper leads can also cause inductive coupling or crossover between leads and stainless steel leads were used in racing cars at one
stage to stop this.
The real Andy <ihatehifitrolls@yahoo.com.au> wrote in message news:3f729d88$0$6524$afc38c87@news.optusnet.com.au...
"mc" <phmc@cc.newcastle.edu.au> wrote in message
news:bktsvq$n9a$1@seagoon.newcastle.edu.au...
I bet if you had megavolts running through all day you would breakdownyes and HV wear and tear..sooner or later the insulation medium looses
its dielectric strenght ..hence the HV voltage being passed through is
reduced ..hence lower sparks ..and sometimes to the point ...no sparks
at all..when the spark punctures through the lead and never gets to the
plug..hence you get a "miss" in one or more of your cylinders..I had
too...Add to that being in a very hostile environment that has plenty of
heat and shit around. Hey, sounds like my day to day job..
Just did a timing belt in my newish Mazda929. 1200bucks to replace. Rangthat happen on a mazda ..bloody expensive to replace ..
mazda coz i thought i was getting fucked over by the mechanic, 800something
just for the belt kit plus all the seals and gaskets and shit. I'm going to
buy me a VX commodore next week, screw this imported crap. Mind you, the
mazda is very very nice to drive and is about the closest i will ever get to
owning a BMW......
P
PW
Guest
"Phil" <haxby@removethisbitandjustleave dodo.com.au> wrote in news:3f726984
@news.comindico.com.au:
core allows the high voltage to leak and/or arc after a number of
years.
@news.comindico.com.au:
Ozone damage to the dielectric material surrounding the conductiveWhat is it that makes spark plug leads wear out?
core allows the high voltage to leak and/or arc after a number of
years.
S
Stepan Novotill
Guest
On 26 Sep 2003 05:10:30 GMT, PW <notreal@aplace.com> wrote:
and years. This is because there is very little breakdown of the
rubber in that case. (No severe voltage potentials across the
insulation if they are not touching grounded objects.)
If you leave them suspended in mid air they won't wear out for years"Phil" <haxby@removethisbitandjustleave dodo.com.au> wrote in news:3f726984
@news.comindico.com.au:
What is it that makes spark plug leads wear out?
Ozone damage to the dielectric material surrounding the conductive
core allows the high voltage to leak and/or arc after a number of
years.
and years. This is because there is very little breakdown of the
rubber in that case. (No severe voltage potentials across the
insulation if they are not touching grounded objects.)
J
John Mackesy
Guest
<good points snipped for brevity>
Just did a timing belt in my newish Mazda929. 1200bucks to replace.
Coincidentally, I did the same job on our '92 Ford Laser (Mazda clone) a
couple of days ago. Timing belt needs to be changed every 100,000 Km; I've
just done it for the second time at 200,000 Km. $47.00 for the timing belt,
$32.00 for the alternator/water pump and power steering belts. No seals
required, took a couple of hours.
Assuming the 'newish Mazda' is a V6 a greater degree of difficulty seems
reasonable, but $1200 seems a bit steep. Did the belt break and cause
secondary damage?
John Mackesy
Just did a timing belt in my newish Mazda929. 1200bucks to replace.
Coincidentally, I did the same job on our '92 Ford Laser (Mazda clone) a
couple of days ago. Timing belt needs to be changed every 100,000 Km; I've
just done it for the second time at 200,000 Km. $47.00 for the timing belt,
$32.00 for the alternator/water pump and power steering belts. No seals
required, took a couple of hours.
Assuming the 'newish Mazda' is a V6 a greater degree of difficulty seems
reasonable, but $1200 seems a bit steep. Did the belt break and cause
secondary damage?
John Mackesy
R
Rob Judd
Guest
Sounds to me like the valves were bent.
Rob
John Mackesy wrote:
Rob
John Mackesy wrote:
good points snipped for brevity
Just did a timing belt in my newish Mazda929. 1200bucks to replace.
Coincidentally, I did the same job on our '92 Ford Laser (Mazda clone) a
couple of days ago. Timing belt needs to be changed every 100,000 Km; I've
just done it for the second time at 200,000 Km. $47.00 for the timing belt,
$32.00 for the alternator/water pump and power steering belts. No seals
required, took a couple of hours.
Assuming the 'newish Mazda' is a V6 a greater degree of difficulty seems
reasonable, but $1200 seems a bit steep. Did the belt break and cause
secondary damage?
John Mackesy
T
The real Andy
Guest
"Rob Judd" <judd@ob-wan.com> wrote in message
news:3F765781.B36E8DD2@ob-wan.com...
must slipped somehow, maybe stretched because of the oil leaking in to the
timing cover. It snapped the tensioner bolt and that was about the worst of
the damage. The cost is in the belt kit, genuine only. 860 odd dollars.
Stick on 5 hours of mechanics labour plus new seals and your pushing it
close to 1200bucks. Bye Bye mazda, hello VX commodore wagon...
news:3F765781.B36E8DD2@ob-wan.com...
Nope, no bent valves thank god. V6 engine. The belt didn't actually break, iSounds to me like the valves were bent.
must slipped somehow, maybe stretched because of the oil leaking in to the
timing cover. It snapped the tensioner bolt and that was about the worst of
the damage. The cost is in the belt kit, genuine only. 860 odd dollars.
Stick on 5 hours of mechanics labour plus new seals and your pushing it
close to 1200bucks. Bye Bye mazda, hello VX commodore wagon...