From their platinum beginnings, precious metal spark plugs have been around for more than 30 years. Today’s highly advanced iridium electrodes offer the optimum combination of sparking performance and long life. World-leading ignition and sensor specialist NGK SPARK PLUG explains how its Iridium IX range has made yet another quantum leap in spark plug technology for a range of engines.
Motorcycle riders, classic car drivers and boat owners may favour different forms of transport, but they all want the same, reliable start and thousands of kilometres of trouble-free travel. That was the concept behind NGK SPARK PLUG’s introduction of Iridium IX: to make the highest performance, modern Iridium technology spark plug upgrade available to the Aftermarket – including vintage motorcycles and cars which did not have Iridium technology fitted ex-works, because it did not exist at the time.
To create the new technology, NGK SPARK PLUG engineers designed an ultra-fine, 0.6mm diameter iridium alloy tip, laser welded onto the plug’s central electrode. Together the slimmer iridium centre electrode and taper-cut ground electrode kept the required ignition voltage low and put less stress on the ignition coil, whilst generating a powerful spark. In addition, the consistent distance maintained between the hard-wearing electrodes avoided misfires.
Technology insight
Fitting Iridium IX spark plugs offers end-customers a host of advantages:
- Improved ignition: 0.6mm diameter iridium tip focuses electrical energy around the centre electrode, producing more efficient air-fuel ignition
- Faster starting; quieter running: High ignitability means the engine starts up quickly and runs smoothly, even on cold, damp mornings. Hydrocarbon emissions also reduced
- Better fuel consumption: More ignitable mixture reaches the spark, increasing combustion efficiency and reducing fuel use (In 2-wheel test: 5.64 litres used/100 km with 2.5mm standard plug, vs 5.55 litres used/100 km with Iridium IX)
- Longer lifespan: High melting point means iridium centre electrode lasts longer
- Fewer misfires: Standard spark plugs gradually erode, increasing the distance between electrodes, affecting ignition quality and causing misfires. Consistent Iridium IX electrode distance avoids these issues
- No carbon build-up: Special annular gap prevents the carbon particle deposits that can block ignition
The benefits of Iridium IX are not restricted to 2-wheels. NGK SPARK PLUG soon expanded the technology to put more power under the bonnet of classic cars too.
“Iridium IX offers an excellent upgrade opportunity for older cars and some younger ones, as well” affirms Kai Wilschrei. “Fitting them as replacement spark plugs assures vintage car drivers of reliable first-time ignition, no misfires and the longest possible service life – with no carbon build-up.”
Wilschrei himself owns a vintage Audi 90 built in 1985, as well as an old scooter. “The first thing I had done after buying the car was to replace the spark plugs with Iridium IX upgrades,” he confirms. “Now the car is much quieter when the engine is idle. Starting performance is also very good. The same goes for my Vespa!”
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Great product
VERY GOOD PRODUCT
Great quality spark plugs. Can’t go wrong with them.
Congradulations NGK on the Iridium IX brilliant technology.They work really well.While the plug itself is slightly more expensive the benefits are priceless by far.Highly recomend the use of Iridium spark plugs.Well done NGK.
We have a Vintage MGB and Morris Minor in the workshop, we will definitely try the NGK Iridium IX spark plug.