I have heard from a lot of mechanics this new way of gapping your spark plugs, called side gapping.
I have seen it done, and understand the concept.
Has anyone tried this with factory plugs?
Is this really a good idea?
If it is, why doesn't the manufacturer do this?
Just curious to see some feedback on this one?

 

Can you describe it in a little more detail lol. What do you mean by side gap??

 

It's a very old hot rodder's trick. You cut the ground electrode down so the spark is more exposed. The plugs will wear much faster. Also some plugs have a platunum pad on the ground to extend life. You'd be cutting this off. Here a good site Click Here Also check out indexing spark plugs. It's a different process but the same type of compulsion.

 

This is why I asked if anyone knew any results from this.
I know it is an old school method, and have heard thousands of people talk about it, just funny how there is no numbers to back up this theory.
I was hoping to hear from someone who tried it.

 

I would be very surprised if you can find any dyno data or real world data showing an improvement. Not worth the troulbe, IMO. Fuel savings (if any) will be offset by spark plug costs and your labor.

It seems like shortening the electrode might help give more clearance between the plug and the piston in an high compression racing motor.

As for indexing, also not worth the trouble, IMO. Maybe for peace of mind that you've done everything you can do, but I would be very skeptical of any dyno or mileage claims, because other changes could account for any improvements. Many times, people will 'feel' an improvement after spending time and money on their motor. Just like your truck runs better after you wash it, lol. Hey, maybe the air was better that day and it was making more power, so it was faster. Basically, most people's own personal 'butt dyno' is very inaccurate. But there are many who rely on it solely when making wild claims.

Indexing is basically making sure the 'open' part of the spark plug gap faces the center of the combustion chamber. quotes cut from Wiki ""This is accomplished by marking the location of the gap on the outside of the plug, installing it, and noting the direction in which the mark faces; then the plug is removed and additional washers are added so as to change the orientation of the tightened plug. This must be done individually for each plug, as the orientation of the gap with respect to the threads of the shell is random."

 

I did it in my old 4.9L F150, nothing gained except my time....I wouldn't even think about doing it in today's modern engines.

 

I have Autolite racing plugs that are side gapped. They came that way from the factory, the plugs not the truck. Side gapping does produce a better spark. So included in the price of my plugs is the side gap. Unless you need it don't waste your time or $$$ on doing it.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

To be a little technical about it, there are considerations of flame propagation like quench and swirl that mean the air/fuel mixture is passing through the plug gap at such a rate that "exposing" it makes no difference at all.

Notice the referecnce to closing up the gap by .010? That right there could well be the difference. If your spark system is borderline, a closer gap will eliminate what is known as Blow Out, where the spark disappears because of compression pressures. Closing the gap often makes for a rough idle though.

To be non-technical about it, do you really think that if this, or any modification, would result in more power (so you could beat that Tundra), or better mileage (so you could go farther than that Silverado), that Ford wouldn't have done this at the time of assembly? If I thought the engineers who designed my vehicle were that stupid, I sure wouldn't risk my life by getting into it every day!