8 plugs on a 4 cylinder!?

[fyrebug72]

Can anyone tell me why I have 8 spark plugs on my '94 Ranger 2.3l engine!? I'm not a big mechanic type but have benn around motors a bit and havnt seen this before.

 

[Sevensecondsuv]

Yep, they're pretty unusual. Mostly it's just to meet emissions requirements. Otherwise it's fun to brag about how your "4-banger ranger has 2 plugs per cylinder, just like NASCAR" lol

 

[Mutant Pony]

I have a '73 Eltigre (snowmobile) 400cc free air engine. It is a twin cylinder but, It has four plugs. It is fun messing with people who aren't very well educated, They often believe that it is a 4cyl.
My point is that dual plugs have been used for a long time, Just not often in the automotive industry.

1: if you lose spark on one plug the other will still fire
2: you can set the timing slightly different so that you have a longer spark duration
3: You nearly eliminate the possibilty of detonation

 

[pillen140]

i thought the two plugs were to give it more equal combustion, for emissions, fuel mileage and reliablility

 

[Joshs93four-oh]

There are may functions of this system most of which are for emissions purposes. One interesting function is that one bank fires on the combustion stroke, the other on the exhaust stroke if I am not mistaken...
________
Y8950

 

[fyrebug72]

Thanks for the replies! Solves one problem!

 

[shadetree]

There are may functions of this system most of which are for emissions purposes. One interesting function is that one bank fires on the combustion stroke, the other on the exhaust stroke if I am not mistaken...

Close. Both plugs in each cylinder fire at the same time, not each bank of plugs. On the power stroke, two plugs fire, and on the exhaust stroke the plugs fire again with much less voltage. This is called "waste spark," and basically is just a ground for the secondary system due to the low resistance in the circuit.

This system is not unique to Ford. The current Dodge hemi's use this system.

I have not heard of it being used in NASCAR. shady

 

[fordnut71]

datsun use to have a dual plug 4cyl in there trucks in the 80s

 

[94 lngbd]

Nissan started doing it in 81 & I think they continued into the early 90's

 

[Mutant Pony]

In the late '80s top fuel dragsters started using dual plugs. Just think, Your Ranger has something in common with the fastest internal combustion engine in the world!!!

 

[Army]

In the late '80s top fuel dragsters started using dual plugs. Just think, Your Ranger has something in common with the fastest internal combustion engine in the world!!!

That would be the fastest piston engine in a ground vehicle...in the world.

Jet turbines are still internal combustion (and own the land speed record), and the RAM-jet engine feeds itself after mach-5.

Plus...you haven't been around me after a meal of refrieds, tortilla's, and beer

 

[Rocky Ranger]

In the late '80s top fuel dragsters started using dual plugs. Just think, Your Ranger has something in common with the fastest internal combustion engine in the world!!!

They still use two plugs/cyl on the top fuel/funny cars. it is in the new Hot Rod mag I got last week.
Nascar does not use dual plugs, but they do have dual ingnition boxes and coils.

 

[fyrebug72]

Thanks for all the posts. I havnt been able to work on the problem yet but will let you know how it turns out. But can anyone tell me how to pull the codes on this thing?

 

[KELLY88]

Thanks for all the posts. I havnt been able to work on the problem yet but will let you know how it turns out. But can anyone tell me how to pull the codes on this thing?

Just go to Autozone. If your check engine light is on and/or your engine is throwing codes then they'll scan and tell you the codes for free.