Effect of Side Gapping Spark Plug on Engine Performance and Emission

Abstract

Gasoline ignition system in automobiles is still one of the world's main fuel consumption today. The spark plug is one of the key features of a gasoline engine during the combustion process. The incompatibility between the width of the plug and the combustion engine fuel used causes a backfire and a knock. The spark plug gap had therefore been investigated in order to improve the engine's performance by controlling the combustion process. The main objective of this study is to analyze the effect of side gapping spark plug engine performance and emission. The selected type of spark plug being used for this study is cooper spark plug. This study has examined the parameters of side gapping spark plug gap (0.7 mm, 0.8 mm, 1.0 mm and 1.2 mm) and of revolution per minutes RPM (1000 rpm, 1500 rpm, 2000 rpm, 2000 rpm, 2500 rpm, 3000rpm, 3500 rpm, 4000 rpm, 4500 rpm and 5000 rpm) also the emission effect in term of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and oxygen (O2). In this test, performance and power are showed an increment of side gapping spark plug. Other than that, this study is also showed positive results where the reduction in the percentage of opacity is demonstrated. Since the result has obtained for engine performance and emission showed positive outcome, this study can be used in future and highly recommended for continue with different type of spark plug.