Originally Posted by bobdoo
"Ion sensing ignition"...
Newer engines analyze the current flow *during* ignition and combustion. This requires a specific, narrow range of plug resistance to perform correctly. That also includes resistance due to tip shape/sharpness, gap, and metal conductivity. That's why some specific plugs are mandated in the owner's manual.
Saab pioneered that concept in the 1990s - Trionic also needed a special coil pack and other ECU/PCM magic to make ionization detection possible. GM didn't take Trionic outside of Saab and maybe Opel.
Yes, you need plug resistance - but that's to help keep RF interference down. I've broken the "OEM plug supplier" rules more than once - I've installed Denso and NGK into a pair of Mercedes V8s my parents had - cars ran fine. I've threw Champion Platinums into a Toyota. Except for a persnickety few cars on the road that must use the OEM plug(as well as Mazda rotaries and Toyota D4-S engines that use a special tri-electrode Denso plug), you can get away with an aftermarket plug that isn't a gimmick like the original Bosch Platinums/Splitfires/E-3.
"Ion sensing ignition"...
Newer engines analyze the current flow *during* ignition and combustion. This requires a specific, narrow range of plug resistance to perform correctly. That also includes resistance due to tip shape/sharpness, gap, and metal conductivity. That's why some specific plugs are mandated in the owner's manual.
Saab pioneered that concept in the 1990s - Trionic also needed a special coil pack and other ECU/PCM magic to make ionization detection possible. GM didn't take Trionic outside of Saab and maybe Opel.
Yes, you need plug resistance - but that's to help keep RF interference down. I've broken the "OEM plug supplier" rules more than once - I've installed Denso and NGK into a pair of Mercedes V8s my parents had - cars ran fine. I've threw Champion Platinums into a Toyota. Except for a persnickety few cars on the road that must use the OEM plug(as well as Mazda rotaries and Toyota D4-S engines that use a special tri-electrode Denso plug), you can get away with an aftermarket plug that isn't a gimmick like the original Bosch Platinums/Splitfires/E-3.