If you're like us, you've done a lot of thinking lately about the different shapes and lengths of spark plug tips. But odds are that you're nothing like us (good for you), and you've given absolutely ...

Aviation spark plugs are primarily categorized into two types: massive electrode (nickel alloy, durable, cost-effective, common in general aviation) and fine-wire (Iridium/platinum, superior ...

If there is a component on a Pontiac engine that gets little or no thought, it's the spark plug. We refuse to spend much money or time on them, but unless your Pontiac is powered by a GM diesel, the ...

The spark plugs in a gasoline engine are not universal, one-size-fits-all components. Plugs are made of a variety of materials with different electrode setups and thread configurations, and knowing ...

For hot rodders, spark plugs are often nothing more than inspection tools that reveal whether an engine is running too rich, too lean, or just right. Street guys look for a nice tannish-brown tint on ...

A petrol engine needs three things in order to function properly: air, fuel and a spark. The spark plug ignites the air/fuel mixture, producing the combustion that powers the engine. In January 2002, ...

Scientific American is part of Springer Nature, which owns or has commercial relations with thousands of scientific publications (many of them can be found at www ...