E3 plugs?

Has anyone used them in their XJ that can tell me more about them?

 

Yes. Put them in about 6 months ago. They don't require gapping because the diamond pattern generates a 'naked' or variable spark around the electrode.

I'm always skeptical of 'new tech,' and especially so when it is something simple like a plug...but I saw a lab test of their plugs that some hot-rodders conducted because they were trying to squeeze more power out of their small block. They had video showing a typical plug's 'flame-front' and the E3's. There was no comparison. The E3's was much more complete and came from multiple directions at once while the traditional plug generated a conical shape from one point. They used high speed cameras shooting 1000fps and slowed it way down so you could actually see the 'shape' of the flame - pretty cool video. I'll try and find it.

Before putting them in I could turn my idle knob down on the 550 until I got around 850rpms and the bike would begin to sputter, gallop and usually die. With the E3's in I can go to 650rpm and it won't die. Now when I go to start I don't ever need to crank it more than 3 revolutions and upon release it just fires right up. Never did that before and everything else is the same. Battery, carbs, etc.

Not having to bother with gapping is a plus. Mpg went up 2-3mpg, but was already averaging 48mpg(mostly city) now 51mpg-or 54mpg hwy.

I'm a believer. At least for the 550 they worked better than NGK's.

 

Mercury, What is the part number for them on the xj. We just got a shipment of them in at work.

 

Hmmm

 

Would you check your plug color in the same fashion as conventional plugs? Cool, i notice that they're available in Canada as well, hmmm indeed...

M

 

the plug number should be the "E" number here.

XJ1100; 1100CC (1983) ............................................E3.34 .032
XJ550, R; 550CC (1983-81) .....................................E3.36 .028
XJ600S Seca II; 600CC (1998-92) ...........................E3.38 .030
XJ650, L; 650CC (1983-80) ......................................E3.31 .032
XJ650L (Turbo); 650CC (1983-80) ...........................E3.34 .032
XJ700; 700CC (1986-85) ..........................................E3.31 .032
XJ700X; 700CC (1986-85) ........................................E3.36 .028
XJ750; 750CC (1983-81) ..........................................E3.34 .032
XJ900R; 900CC (1983) .............................................E3.31 .032
XR600; 600CC (1991-84) .........................................E3.36 .035

http://www.e3sparkplugs.com/catalog.php

 

Could be something interesting to try out. Ill have to see what the cost would be first.

I've always been a "the original is the way to go", no frills kinda guy. No iridium or any of that.

But this sounds kinda nifty.

I have always wanted/thought of doing the dyna coil upgrade as a long scale upgrade, and would these work if I did do the coil upgrade down the road?

 

Are these direct order, or available at other sources?

 

Nevermind.......
http://www.clubplug.net/cgi-bin/search.cgi

 

I am a manager at Autozone and we have them in stock.

 

I am a manager at Autozone and we have them in stock.

 

Thanks mwhite. That is the correct part#. I found them at Advance Auto, and they were listed as being for small motors like a lawn mower. :wink:

I know there are people who have complained about them as well, but so far all of those reports I've seen have been in cars/trucks. It's hard to say if those complaints were user errors, mechanical issues with their particular vehicle, or they truly had issues with the plugs.

I've put a little more than a grand of miles on them with no issues so far. Bottom line-if they work for another 1k they will have paid for themselves in savings.

Here is a youtube video that shows the 'flame front.' This is posted on the manufacturers web site and probably was paid for by them, so it could all be marketing. But it could also be accurate. The stated goal for E3 devo was to lower emissions, and a consequence of being successful at that is better mpg and HP. Time will tell I suppose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62KavugC ... r_embedded

 

Awesome responses! I'm debating on whether or not to get some. I guess if there are no complaints, I might as well!

 

Indeed -- it's one big commercial. Skip ahead to 4:00 to get to the interesting stuff.

 

discount meow?

 

20% boo-ya!

 

interesting.... how much do they cost?

 

$5 and some change

 

E3 plugs and other similar ones dont work. You cant get "more spark" just from changing the plugs. To do so you have to get hotter coils then standard plugs designed to handle the hotter spark.

I personally have played around with E3 plugs. Had one out on a chainsaw and hooked it up to the coil. Pulled the rope and watched the spark. Guess what? It just jumped around in random places of the "diamond." BUT it was still the exact same size spark as a regular plug. Yes at speed it might look like its bigger spark but slowed down its not.

Bottom line: waste of money...

 

crowdpleaser,
Watch the video, it does not make a "more spark" (hotter spark), it just makes the flame front more available to the fuel air mixture. The flame front travels through the diamond in stead of going around a flat anode.