8 plugs?

[Ranger850]

Did ford ever make a 4 cylinder engine that used 8 spark plugs? I know Nissan did but it kind of faded away. What purpose did this serve?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The 2.3 did for a while. Not sure what years, i think it was an attempt at more power/mpg.

 

[RonD]

Yes, dual spark plugs provide better power and better efficiency(MPG) and this has been around for many many years
But hard to do on V6 or V8 engines
And it was hard to do with distributor setups
Porshe dual distributor setup here: https://cdn4.pelicanparts.com/techa..._and_Rotor_Replacement/images_large/pic07.jpg
4cyl dual plug cap seen here: https://www.partsklassik.com/images/Product/medium/2265.jpg

When distributorless systems came around it became easier but..........................the advent of Swirl technology and 4 valves per cylinder added even more power than dual spark plugs so that design was tabled

The 2.3l Lima engine was first used in 1974 Pinto, so it is nick named the Pinto engine
So it was a pretty old engine design when Rangers came around, fuel injection helped, and then the dual spark plugs, but it was still old technology, so at 27 years old it was replaced with the Mazda L 2.3l DOHC engine, 2.3l Duratec

Both spark plugs fire at the same time, there is no "alternating", lol, the benefits from having dual plugs is because both spark plugs fire at the same time


Airplane engines often run dual spark plugs, but also two separate spark systems, this is for safety reasons, but a pilot can run both spark plugs at the same time for extra power as needed

 

[adsm08]

But hard to do on V6 or V8 engines

Not that hard to do once you get to EDIS.

The 6.2 and the 5.7/5.9 Hemi all run dual spark.

 

[Dirtman]

I always wondered how the dual spark system didn't create a detonation like scenario in the combustion chamber since you have two opposing flash points which is in essence what detonation is.

 

[Mazda]

Did ford ever make a 4 cylinder engine that used 8 spark plugs? I know Nissan did but it kind of faded away. What purpose did this serve?


1625 post and he ask this????? You all know its April Fools Day right!!!

 

[Ranger850]

Did ford ever make a 4 cylinder engine that used 8 spark plugs? I know Nissan did but it kind of faded away. What purpose did this serve?


1625 post and he ask this????? You all know its April Fools Day right!!!

I ask all kinds of questions, it's in my signature. It's how I learn.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

The 2.3 did for a while. Not sure what years, i think it was an attempt at more power/mpg.

Actually the 2.3 "dual plug" was a V8 with a very tight V.

 

[fastpakr]

Yep, VW pirated the concept for the VR6 motor.

 

[Plum Ranger XLT]

I had a 1995 Ranger with the 2.3L and it had 8 spark plugs. If I remember correctly, it was 1989 through 2000 or early 2001 for the Ranger when Ford used the 8 spark plug head before they switched to the DOHC 2.3L.

 

[saskbill]

Had a 93 mustang with a 8-plug 2.3 (dual coil packs). Think the 2nd set of plugs fired a little later - meant to scavenge unburnt fuel. Pretty crowded changing plugs!

 

[RonD]

Not that hard to do once you get to EDIS.

The 6.2 and the 5.7/5.9 Hemi all run dual spark.

Didn't know that about the Mopar Hemi's

 

[RonD]

Had a 93 mustang with a 8-plug 2.3 (dual coil packs). Think the 2nd set of plugs fired a little later - meant to scavenge unburnt fuel. Pretty crowded changing plugs!

Popular Myth that came about because of Waste spark systems, I read this all the time, its just thought of as common knowledge now, lol

Fact is, it was easier to time distributorless engines by sparking each cylinder at TDC regardless of compression stroke or exhaust stroke
So thats what "they" did, the spark on the exhaust TDC is "wasted", hence Ford's current name for this type of system
Spark at the end of exhaust stroke can't clean up anything, think about it, a spark plug has a hard enough time igniting a good air:fuel mix under high compression, it wouldn't have a chance in hell of igniting exhaust, even if there was a misfire and air:fuel mix was still present


The very first gasoline and spark engines used same setup, and your lawn mower and most single cylinder 4-stroke engines do as well
The "points" or ignition module runs off crank shaft, sparks every TDC, and not for lower emissions , just simpler to do it that way

 

[don4331]

Airplane engines often run dual spark plugs, but also two separate spark systems, this is for safety reasons, but a pilot can run both spark plugs at the same time for extra power as needed

Pilots run both ignition systems 100% of time. During pre-flight, one of the checks is does the engine run fine on either system independently - if it doesn't you stay on ground, but both are back on before your take off run

Not that hard to do once you get to EDIS.

The 6.2 and the 5.7/5.9 Hemi all run dual spark.

All Hemis could run dual spark

https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-hote904w/product_images/uploaded_images/dual-dist-pic.jpg

Top fuel/Funny cars played with triple plugs before sanctioning bodies outlawed them.

Actually the 2.3 "dual plug" was a V8 with a very tight V.

Wasn't the 2.3 running oval piston like the NR750

https://4-stroke.net/images/images-articles/oval-pistons/Honda_NR750_Piston_Kit.jpg

I always wondered how the dual spark system didn't create a detonation like scenario in the combustion chamber since you have two opposing flash points which is in essence what detonation is.

Detonation is unintended ignition, usually premature. Dual spark happens at correct time, so doesn't result in the high pressure shock waves of detonation.

In theory, you could run less advance with dual plugs, in practice, the amount is so small it doesn't matter.

 

[sgtsandman]

The 2.5 Lima has dual spark plugs as well. If I remember correctly, with that engine, the exhaust side was the primary is for ignition and the intake side was secondary is for emissions.