E3 Spark Plug Test Drive

aka Highspeedhijinks

A few weekends ago, I noticed the guys on Horsepower TV demonstrating a new spark plug known as an E3. In a back-to-back dyno run, they pulled out a 5.5 hp gain over standard plugs. This got me thinking because the plugs in my Caprice are standard AC Delcos—and if I have a performance motor with an MSD ignition and 8.5mm plug wires, what kind of sense does it make to run standard plugs? More…

After checking out the E3 website I was pretty impressed with the engineering that they put into something that’s essentially been around for 100+ years. Without using fancy metals like iridium or palladium like the other premium plugs, they were able to improve performance and efficiency. Most spark plug companies treat their plugs’ electrodes like shaving companies treat their razors: if there’s more it must be better, right ? With spark plugs, not so much.

So I ended up ordering a set of E3 plugs for my 350 from Advance Auto Parts and installed them this weekend. Let’s just say that I noticed a difference. I’m not talking night and day, but I still had some work to do. Now that my motor is finally broken in I decided to re-tune it, adjusting the mixture and idle speed, and filling the tank with some real fuel instead of the cheap crap I was running. I put in 93 octane with an octane booster which bumped it up to 105 according to the chart on the bottle. Then there was a difference. Each pop of the piston was louder and crisper. The idle was more even and just sounded better. On the road, things only got better. Reaction to the throttle was lightning fast for a carbureted car, and the black soot that used to come out of the tailpipes was all but gone. I realize much of the difference can be attributed to the fuel change and carb tuning, but knowing how this motor usually behaves, I can honestly say that I think these plugs are the real deal–after all, it had been running better even before I made the later adjustments. These plugs might not make a big difference in fuel injected cars, but for you carb fans out there, they’re worth trying for $6.50 a plug.

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Posted at 12:34 am in Guest Blogger, Parts

Comments

anonymous2
Feb 8, 2009 at 12:36 pm

Anonymous at Jul 16, 2008 at 12:43 am: you’ve been breathing too much exhaust. Get some fresh air immediately!

H3engineer
Dec 22, 2008 at 5:36 pm

Let’s just say that I noticed a difference. I’m not talking night and day…”
I would want to feel a difference too, if I had just been taken for $48.00+ for some BS plugs.
Only way you can tell if there was a difference is if you dyno before and after the plug change, and the plugs you remove are in good shape and not destroyed or excessively worn or dirty. Believing in what you see on a show that is probably getting a kickback to BS the public, shows you do not live in the real world.

Although plugs are a very important part of the engines high voltage electrical system, the only way you would gain something like 5 hp from replacement of the plugs is if the old plugs you replaced were destroyed.

For further information read the internet and see how after a few thousand miles these plugs fail like crazy and cause misfire under all driving conditions.

Also, does not apply to the original article writer, but if you replace your spark plugs with these and are still under warranty, and you develop a misfire, or other problem that might be related to these plugs, the manufacturer will not cover the repair if they see these plugs in the cylinder head. This I know for a fact.

caleb
Sep 24, 2008 at 2:18 pm

i’ve put these in my 06 hemi ram and i havent had any problems out of them. i installed them about 3 or 4 months into the beginning of this year. i’ve read a lot about people having mixed reviews of them but they’ve worked perfectly fine for me. when i had them in, i immediately noticed an increase in acceleration and performance. it felt like i was driving the truck for the first time again, not being used to the power. now i get over 20 mpg consistently if i can keep my foot out of it haha

nizam
Jul 28, 2008 at 6:57 pm

I put these plugs in my 98 Corvette.
The car initially ran great.
After about 500 miles the car started missing at idle and then when accelerating from anything below 1500 RPM.
I had to replace the plugs and the problem stopped.
Seems like a great idea, hope they figure out their manufacturing/quality control process.

Oafman
Jul 17, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Derrick – I am not sure of the manafacturer name. The ones I am talking about are basically minature plasma torches. The inventor as actually been able to run the engine on mists of water. Water in a fine mist will actually burn if it put under enough heat. These plugs are going to start at close to $100 a plug. So for a 4 cylinder I would look into them but not for my truck.

Derrick
Jul 17, 2008 at 1:14 pm

Oafman do you mean the Pulstar Pulse plugs, nothing like paying $25 per plug.

Anonymous
Jul 17, 2008 at 4:41 am

What in the holy fuck does the first post say? I’ve tried reading it twice and I think I’ve become slightly retarded because of that.

Highspeedhijinks
Jul 16, 2008 at 3:29 pm

Guys make sure you check out the Horsepower TV video thats linked above. Click on the highlighted area that says “demonstrating a new spark plug”

1988montecarloss
Jul 16, 2008 at 3:10 pm

my friend put some in his 1999 gmc sierra and you could tell a difference in it

Oafman
Jul 16, 2008 at 2:21 pm

This reminds me that it might be time for me to change out the plugs and wires on my Suburban. The quality of the plugs is very important to how the engine runs. The hotter and more consistant the spark the less fuel is needed and the more efficiently the fuel burns. At the low cost of these plugs it might be worth a try. BTW be on the lookout for a new plug coming out later this year. It is able to create a plasma spark which is many times hotter than the standard plug. This allows you to use a finer mist of gas thereby improving MPG by 50% to 100% depending on the size of the engine. I will have to get the name from my fuel savings expert here where I work because I forgot to write it down.

i_luv_dusty
Jul 16, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Unless you’re running insane amounts of boost or a compression ratio above 12:1, running 105 octane does nothing for you.

Run Your Car On Water
Jul 16, 2008 at 6:36 am

Though the plugs are the smallest parts of the engine but they are important.Its good you have discussed about them here.

Sirius Performance
Jul 16, 2008 at 1:50 am

I ran some Bosch 4 plugs in a PT cruiser and the hesitation previously experienced on the N/A 2.4L was gone and the gain was noticeably better compared to regular plugs. Mileage was also better, as well as the top speed was higher. For efficiency you can index regular plugs but these are going to position themselves in a good way no matter how you install them. Perhaps the 3 instead of 4 from the bosh plugs and the solid prong is a better mix than 1 or 2 or 4 even maybe it has better airflow or a larger spark patch. I’ll have to give them a go next change!

Stewart
Jul 16, 2008 at 1:05 am

David,
I was wondering if you were gonna discuss your new plugs.
Sounds like they really work!
.
What I thought was interesting was that the extra 5hp was comparing
the E3 to what looked like the Bosch Platinum +4, and NOT a standard or stock plug.
.
I wish they would have used a standard Delco plug as a baseline.
.
Either way, gaining 5hp for that price is pretty cheap.
.
Thanks for the article!
.
Stewart

Anonymous
Jul 16, 2008 at 12:43 am

I used to run the low comp caprice type v8s. It is all the engine. not the plugs.You fouind plugs that go even slower, as there is 3 destinations. you humored a bad engine design.Step it up one full point in the compression ratio (9.5:1 even makes the gm v8s alot better) and sit back in awe, even if you threw in a sandpapered plug rusted and mineralized, welded into another shape…anyhting over 9:1 kicks ass.The caprice and many many other gm, ford didge v8s killed themselves with a compression problem. I also took note about blaming the carb. If your engine can’t bang the 3 degree super tight hot rod maker the carb needs…again…it is the engine. Carbs are the champions. take it to 11:1 and slap on some wheeli bars..even with valves barely opening. The things you are seeking to fix heloped seal the fate of v8s seemingly forever. American v8s gained a sterotype of big and powerful.1970s killed it. If customers had any clue what they implemented to kill itself…special plugs would not be even thought about. Go get some heads with small chambers form a junk pile. Slap in some seals and normal gaskets, away it goes…even with better fuel mileage to turn the tires.