Dual spark Lima 2.5 2000 ranger
Dual spark Lima 2.5 2000 ranger
Setup up both coil packs to have the two spark plugs in each cylnder fire at exact times, cylnder 1 on exhuast does not spark while cylnder 4 on compression/ignition Sparks both, will this help or not, since it's going to use two Sparks in the same cylnder, basically like adding a second plug and copying the firing order
Bit of misinformation, called Dual Igniton plug mod for 2.3L and 2.5L
Doesn't hurt anything, anecdotal stories say you get better power, so why not do it
Both spark plugs in each cylinder always fire at the same time, there is no alternating, both fire on compression stroke and exhaust stroke, called a waste spark system, used since late 1800's when spark timing was based on crank timing instead of valve timing.
Your lawn mower uses same waste spark system, assuming gasoline powered, lol
And no, the firing on exhaust stroke is not for emissions, its just easier/cheaper to time spark that way and doesn't hurt anything, hence the name "waste spark" because exhast spark is not doing anything
The dual spark plugs have better performance than single spark plugs so both always fire or there would be no point to having them, but its hard to fit 2 spark plugs into heads so they were limited to in-line engines usually
But 4 valves per cylinder was even better performance, so dual plugs are no longer used
Your engine should run OK with either coil unplugged, and that is a good test to see if all 4 spark plugs on that coil are working, because with dual spark plugs one spark plug could be bad and you really wouldn't notice too much
With only 1 coil pack working idle should be a bit lower and if you drive it you will notice not as much power, that's the performance edge of dual spark plugs
There are only 2 coils in each coil pack, one coil sparks 1 and 4 at the same time, the other coil sparks 2 and 3 at the same time, doesn't matter how you arrange them, 1/4 or 4/1, they spark the same
But one thing about this setup, use regular copper spark plugs or DOUBLE platinum, single platinum are a waste of money as 1/2 the spark plugs will wear out the same as regular copper
The 1989 to 1994 2.3l used separate spark module, and it only used exhaust side spark plugs for start up, intake side didn't start until RPMs were above 300 or so
This was done to give the one coil pack all the voltage when starter motor was working and system voltage drops down to 10 volts or so
In 1995 and up they have both coil packs working when cranking
Doesn't hurt anything, anecdotal stories say you get better power, so why not do it
Both spark plugs in each cylinder always fire at the same time, there is no alternating, both fire on compression stroke and exhaust stroke, called a waste spark system, used since late 1800's when spark timing was based on crank timing instead of valve timing.
Your lawn mower uses same waste spark system, assuming gasoline powered, lol
And no, the firing on exhaust stroke is not for emissions, its just easier/cheaper to time spark that way and doesn't hurt anything, hence the name "waste spark" because exhast spark is not doing anything
The dual spark plugs have better performance than single spark plugs so both always fire or there would be no point to having them, but its hard to fit 2 spark plugs into heads so they were limited to in-line engines usually
But 4 valves per cylinder was even better performance, so dual plugs are no longer used
Your engine should run OK with either coil unplugged, and that is a good test to see if all 4 spark plugs on that coil are working, because with dual spark plugs one spark plug could be bad and you really wouldn't notice too much
With only 1 coil pack working idle should be a bit lower and if you drive it you will notice not as much power, that's the performance edge of dual spark plugs
There are only 2 coils in each coil pack, one coil sparks 1 and 4 at the same time, the other coil sparks 2 and 3 at the same time, doesn't matter how you arrange them, 1/4 or 4/1, they spark the same
But one thing about this setup, use regular copper spark plugs or DOUBLE platinum, single platinum are a waste of money as 1/2 the spark plugs will wear out the same as regular copper
The 1989 to 1994 2.3l used separate spark module, and it only used exhaust side spark plugs for start up, intake side didn't start until RPMs were above 300 or so
This was done to give the one coil pack all the voltage when starter motor was working and system voltage drops down to 10 volts or so
In 1995 and up they have both coil packs working when cranking
Last edited by RonD; Mar 8, 2019 at 01:28 PM.
What I mean is to arrange where when the coils spark, both spark plugs ingnite exactly at the same time basically running like it only has 4 plugs, but has 8, like how there are plugs with 2 metal flaps for the electricity to arc to(stupid gimmick) but instead two plugs sparking, when cylnder 1 goes to compress and detonate on TDC it Sparks both plugs in that cylnder instead of one then on exhuast the other
Yes, both spark plugs fire at every TDC of that cylinder, compression and exhaust
Order on coil pack doesn't matter, 1/4 or 4/1, 2/3 or 3/2 does change anything, except direction of spark
Which is where the single platinum plugs lose value
One spark plug fires regular direction, center to tip, the other spark plug on that coil sparks tip to center, reverse spark
So if single platinum coating was on the tip, most are, then the Reverse spark would wear out the center electrode the same as if it were regular copper
If you have single platinum then I would reverse 1/4 and 2/3 on each coil pack every 5,000 miles or so to get more even wear
Same for V6 3.0l or 4.0l, if you have single platinum then reverse 1/5, 2/6, and 3/4 every 5k miles or so
Order on coil pack doesn't matter, 1/4 or 4/1, 2/3 or 3/2 does change anything, except direction of spark
Which is where the single platinum plugs lose value
One spark plug fires regular direction, center to tip, the other spark plug on that coil sparks tip to center, reverse spark
So if single platinum coating was on the tip, most are, then the Reverse spark would wear out the center electrode the same as if it were regular copper
If you have single platinum then I would reverse 1/4 and 2/3 on each coil pack every 5,000 miles or so to get more even wear
Same for V6 3.0l or 4.0l, if you have single platinum then reverse 1/5, 2/6, and 3/4 every 5k miles or so
Last edited by RonD; Mar 8, 2019 at 02:11 PM.
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