Is it possible 4 spark plugs 2 increase engine temp? I set my timing and the car was running great and the engine temp stayed low. A week later I changed my plugs from regular AC Delcos 2 ACCELs u-grooves and now the temp stays at 220 or a little higher, especially when I increase engine speed where as before the spark plug change the temp never passed 190 or so. I checked the oil and tranny fluid levels and they r fine. Could it be the plugs?

 

It is possible that, indirectly, the plugs are affecting temperature. Changing the burn time and rate of combustion due to flame travel can affect temperature. A faster burning mixture would tend to run hotter than a cooler, slower burn. A slow burn may actually vent more of the heat and combustion pressure out the exhaust instead of keeping it contained in the head/cylinder. Your new plugs may be causing more complete combustion in the chambers, causing more heating time and resultant heat transfer to the coolant rather than the exhaust. The more complete combustion should also be providing a bit more power as well.

However, this change should be slight, and certainly not worth another 30°F in coolant temperature. In addition to the engine and trans oil levels, you should check the other fluids, namely the coolant. You should also inspect the cooling system for air blockage, adequate air flow, coolant flow, and proper thermostat and radiator cap operation. It is most likely that the extra heat is a coincidence rather than an effect of the new plugs.

------------------
Later,
Vader
------------------
"Make Me Bad"
Adobe Acrobat Reader 4.0

 

Thanks Vader. I'm gonna flush out the coolant and change the radiator cap and see what happens. By the way, what gap size would u recommend using with an MSD 6AL box?

 

.045 or .050, but i'm not mr. vader.

------------------
-=ICON MOTORSPORTS=-

 

Thanks ede, I changed 2 a set of AC Delco Rapid Fires which were already set at .045 so I guess they should be cool.