Next time when you’re browsing for new spark plugs, pay attention to the temperature ranges. Cold and hot plugs both have advantages and disadvantages.
A car’s ignition system is a complex interplay of electrical pulses firing at the precise right moment, which allows your car’s engine to hum along at your command. When it comes to wiring and spark plugs, many car owners — and even some enthusiasts — may overlook their importance. Changing spark plugs at the correct interval should be a part of routine maintenance, and ensuring that you use the manufacturer recommended ones is crucial.
There are many brands out there to consider, and various cheap and expensive options as well. Furthermore, hot and cold plugs, while sometimes mistaken for the actual spark temperature, refer to the speed with which a plug can dissipate heat. If the incorrect heat range is used, it can cause catastrophic damage to a car’s engine via pre-ignition or carbon fouling, which can hamper power and efficiency.
A hot plug has much slower heat transfer, and as such, the firing tip of the plug remains hotter; a cold tip will transfer heat into the head of an engine quickly, and conversely, its tip stays cooler. They operate well at temperature ranges of 932 to 1472 degrees Farenheit under normal circumstances, while modified engines with forced induction like turbochargers, for example, may require different heat ranges.
