14 best spark plug manufacturers

Spark plugs are a key element in gasoline engines. They are designed to ignite the fuel mixture in the combustion chambers (cylinders) and directly affect the efficiency of the main unit in the vehicle. Needless to say that the occurrence of any malfunction (whether the formation of a deposit on the electrode or an increase in the gap between the core and the side contact) can cause one or more cylinders of the engine to shut down, or the car will not start at all?

Today there are a lot of varieties of spark plugs, and a number of large and specialized companies are engaged in their production. Independently determine the choice in such a situation is not easy, and you should not expect any sensible help from the staff consultants of the store either. Understanding the problems of users, the expert.bigbadmole.com/en/en/ magazine team conducted its own research of the segment, and, based on the estimates of thousands of users and competent specialists in this field, ranked the 14 best spark plug manufacturers. All nominees of a rating are divided on a category of a geographical belonging, and are real leaders in the competitive circle.

How to choose spark plugs

The choice of spark plugs is based on the definition of two key features: the number of electrodes and the material of their manufacture.

From the point of view of the first criterion, all candles are divided into:

1. single electrode - the classic version, in which the insulating ceramic body is completed with a metal cup with one side electrode (the cross section of which is 2.5 millimeters in standard construction). In this case, the spark is extracted by the interaction of the above described electrode with the central one, projecting slightly outside the body. The advantages of this performance are in the simplicity and cheapness of the finished product, but the durability leaves much to be desired.
2. multielectrode - candles with two or more side electrodes, having their own geometry for the construction of the working part and the location of the interacting elements. Despite the high cost, one of their main advantages is durability, since there are many side electrodes and they wear out one by one. The main drawback lies in the difficult ignition of the mixture, since the spark propagation zone is strictly limited to ... the presence of several side electrodes that receive part of the generated discharge to themselves (therefore, it is very important to monitor the gaps between the core and the contacts to avoid weakening the discharge).

Candles used to make materials are of three types:

1. nickel - the most primitive, cheap and reliable type of spark plugs for cars of a wide consumer segment. The central electrode rod here is made of nickel, which has a high temperature stability and hardenability. However, due to the increased diametral size (2.5 millimeters) the quality of the flash leaves much to be desired.
2. platinum - candles that came to the wide consumer market straight from motor sports. Having a smaller diameter of the central electrode (1.1 millimeters), they give a more powerful spark, which, in turn, provokes a volume flash. In addition, platinum candles have a much larger stock of working resource than level the high price of the kit.
3. iridium - technically the most advanced candles, the standard diameter of the electrode in which does not exceed 0.4 millimeter. They possess the greatest heat resistance, give the most voluminous spark and are actively subjected to various modifications with the aim of further improving performance.

Which spark plugs are better: platinum or iridium?

Despite the fact that iridium candles were developed later than platinum and, in fact, are the recognized benchmark in the entire segment, the Internet still debates whether which of the two types is better. In order to close this question once and for all, we have compiled a clear comparison table, where all the advantages and disadvantages of platinum and iridium spark plugs have been added - the rest is yours.

Candle type	Virtues	disadvantages
Platinum	+ The resource of work is enough for 50 thousand kilometers of run + Cheaper than iridium analogues + High candle resistance to thermal corrosion	- The spark volume is an order of magnitude smaller than that of iridium candles - Platinum spraying tends to leave the metal over time
Iridium	+ Absolute immunity to the course of corrosion processes + Up to 100 thousand kilometers on one set + Volume spark providing uniform ignition of fuel throughout the combustion chamber + High melting threshold	- High price

Rating of the best manufacturers of spark plugs

Nomination	a place	Name of product	Rating
The best European manufacturers of spark plugs	1	Bosch	4.9
	2	Beru	4.8
	3	Finwhale	4.8
	4	Brisk	4.7
	5	Valeo	4.7
	6	Sct	4.6
	7	Eyquem	4.5
Top Japanese spark plug manufacturers	1	Denso	4.9
	2	Ngk	4.8
	3	HKT	4.7
The best American manufacturers of spark plugs	1	Champion	4.9
	2	Autolite	4.8
	3	Acdelco	4.7
The best domestic manufacturer of spark plugs	1	Engels Plant	4.4

The best European manufacturers of spark plugs

Bosch

Rating: 4.9

The world-renowned Bosch corporation, whose range of activities has affected the manufacture of spark plugs for gasoline engines of cars, motorcycles and even garden tools, is becoming the honored leader of the rating. The most important difference of this company from others is in following the traditions, namely the constant observance of the geometric proportions of the insulator and the electrode part. However, there is a place here and point improvements, such as changes in the concentration of electrode materials (both side and center), the addition of alloying components, as well as playing with the mutual arrangement of contacts relative to each other.

Judging by consumer reviews and what they see in the catalogs, the majority of Bosch spark plugs belong to the budget segment. And, most importantly, the concentration of fakes here is several times less than that of other well-known manufacturers. As one of the representatives of the range can be identified iridium candle Bosch FR7LDC +, the working life of which is 100 thousand kilometers. In addition, it also significantly affects the performance of the tide of power while reducing fuel consumption (the loss of the unburned part of the mixture is minimized).

Beru

Rating: 4.8

In one step from the leader, the German company Beru stopped, loving to experiment on the geometry of the working part of the spark plugs almost more than the Japanese Denso or the American Autolite. Russian consumers like it due to the huge choice of a suitable product, balanced prices and the novelty factor, which has a positive effect on working moments.

When conducting research, Beru adheres to the position of leveling engine deficiencies in terms of work, be it the cause of illiterate engineering solutions or the gradual deterioration of key components. In our opinion, this is the most correct approach, which resulted in the appearance on the market of very interesting products. For example, the extremely popular ULTRA-X79 four-electrode candle with an asymmetric arrangement of paired contacts with respect to a common core. This geometry of the working part was reconstructed in order to improve the stability of work at reduced voltage, for which two electrodes were moved in relation to the central one. This allows you to reduce the resistance during breakdown, as well as to compensate for the lack of its power. And there are a lot of such examples in the Beru assortment ...

Finwhale

Rating: 4.8

Bronze in a dispute of European manufacturers goes to the well-known company Finwhale - the largest supplier of consumables for domestically produced cars. More consumers themselves, candles from this company are loved by employees of service centers who recommend putting them under the hoods of not only VAZ cars, but also many other low-cost cars in Russia.

According to experts, the main competitive advantage of Finwhale candles is low price and high prevalence in the market, coupled with a low level of fraud. The maximum lifetime of platinum samples (iridium in free sale appear infrequently) is 80 thousand kilometers, but in general the situation is such that this figure is not very uniform. The most popular candles here are the F508 and F706 running gears, since they are suitable for installation on the VAZ models from 2106 to 2110. Performance is normal, there are no serious complaints, and in terms of costs they look much more logical than premium samples, say , from Brisk or NGK.

Brisk

Rating: 4.7

The Czech company Brisk ranks fourth in the ranking, being the nominal leader of the European market segment in terms of the efficiency of its own developments. This is a company whose working potential is measured in thousands of spark plug models released, as well as the constant search for the ideal formula for particular cases of engine configuration. Naturally, nothing is entangled in the endless jungle of such diversity.

For several years, the main newsmaker in the Brisk assortment has been the premium LOR15LGS class candle. Besides the fact that it is based on the design of the spark gap with four electrodes, made in the form of petals, each of them has an original arrangement relative to the core. The effect of such a discharger configuration is expressed in the fact that at the nominal voltage the spark makes a longer way along the insulator, providing a high probability of burning the mixture with burning out over the maximum volume of the cylinder chamber. This candle is quite expensive, but it is often used in German, Japanese and Korean cars (Mercedes, BMW, Honda, KIA, etc.), as well as in the flagship AvtoVAZ models.

Valeo

Rating: 4.7

Another French spark plug manufacturer, very popular in Europe. However, in the Russian market, he is known as a full-time candle changer from Bosch or Czech Brisk. There are really enough common features among them - it’s immediately obvious that Valeo is trying to make a product according to the patterns of more well-known companies, but it’s not always good. Consumers for the most part pay attention to the unevenness of work and the presence of gaps with increasing speed, which is typical of the situation of installing hot-start candles on forced engines.

Anyway, the French have enough worthy samples among the product range. For example, R76H11 is a single-electrode candle with averaged parameters, giving a tangible gain in fuel economy and power compared to analogues of a number of competitors.Optimum fit of the interelectrode gap gives consistently good sparking, which, in turn, affects the parameters of fuel combustion in the chamber, allowing you to spend less gasoline due to the notorious reduction of emission losses (and burnout in the exhaust manifold). Thus, the fuel gain is up to 2.0%, as well as an increase in power.

Sct

Rating: 4.6

A company that has long and confidently settled on the Russian market for auto parts. It is an unchanged supplier of spark plugs to conveyors of famous automakers (including the VAZ), while not actively forgetting to supply the retail market.

Over the years of production, the assortment of candles from SCT has been divided into four distinct classes:

1. Classic. Standard nickel samples with a thin copper core, suitable for all consumer cars. They are used in the engines of the new generation, but they can be installed in rather old foreign cars.
2. Perfect. Candle models designed for longer operation due to the characteristics of the electrode part. The end of the central contact here is made in the form of a cone, which slightly affects the working conditions, but allows the candle to self-clean from soot.
3. Platin. A series of platinum candles with a working resource reserve of up to 100 thousand kilometers, designed to work with ordinary and forced engines. They are delivered on premium conveyors of the VAG-group, Lexus, Jaguar, Alfa Romeo, but are often also found in the engines of more common foreign cars.
4. Tuning. Special limited edition spark plugs for forced and turbocharged engines. They have an elongated discharger, which allows the mixture to be ignited exactly when the piston reaches the dead center point during compression.

Let the SCT and remains, for the most part, a player of the "second echelon", but definitely deserves its place in the rating.

Eyquem

Rating: 4.5

A little-known French company that produces spark plugs for assembly lines Renault and Peugeot, and gradually goes beyond the market of one country. The main postulate of Eyquem is the work for quality, which is confirmed by each new development.

If the history of the company is a rather monotonous existence in the realities of the predominantly French segment, then the products are not so simple. After releasing a batch of candles at retail, Eyquem immediately won a small percentage of consumers who "pecked" at a low cost and acceptable operating performance. Perhaps the brightest representatives of the company can be called RFC58LZ2E and RFN58LZ, the heat number of which is equal to 17 (an extreme case of “hot” spark plugs). In other words, these candles are focused exclusively on the segment of urban cars without claims to the sport. Made from a nickel alloy, the electrodes of these models are treated with a special anti-joint composition, which prevents the appearance of defects on the metal. Thus, an increased working life is achieved, and the external similarity with a number of original (factory) candles also plays an important role. All these characteristics, in general, are inherent in other products from Eyquem, so the company is worthy of entering the rating of the best.

Top Japanese spark plug manufacturers

Denso

Rating: 4.9

A large machine-building company, the foundation of which fell on the post-war 1949. Is one of the grandees of the Japanese market of spare parts and since 2017, in cooperation with Toyota and Mazda, has been developing a full-fledged electric car. That, however, does not cancel work on the release of spark plugs, which traditionally for the company is divided into four groups:

1. Standard. Ordinary nickel candles doped with a small amount of copper to ensure better electrical discharge. As part of the line, side electrodes are performed in different sections, but lately, a unified type with a U-shaped notch is increasingly common. An example of such a candle is the model W20EPR-U.
2. Platinum.Platinum candles with a standard diameter of the central electrode and the highest wear-resistant qualities. Thanks to the use of new technologies, they are characterized by survivability, and can carry (without loss in efficiency) up to 100 thousand kilometers. A representative of this group is Denso Platinum Longlife, well known in consumer circles.
3. Iridium. Candles with a thin iridium electrode of enhanced action, allowing to ignite a denser spark and to ensure uniform combustion of fuel throughout the chamber. Very expensive, but able to serve up to 130 thousand kilometers. Example - Denso Iridium IW20, used for cars on natural gas.
4. Twin-Tip. The recent development of the company, which allowed to significantly reduce production costs without loss of quality at the level of iridium analogues. The uniqueness of the candles of the TT series lies in thinning the side and central electrodes up to 1.5 millimeters. The material used is the same nickel. Ideal for engines of liquefied gas, and for standard gasoline. Representative: Denso TT Q20TT.

Ngk

Rating: 4.8

NGK is the unofficial leader in terms of user preferences, as it has created a huge number of spark plugs with excellent technical characteristics. All of them somehow differed in the originality of the shape of the electrode part, increased or decreased metal content relative to each other, which was reflected in the improvement of the parameters of fuel consumption, engine efficiency (up to 6.3% - the maximum result obtained by using a candle with four electrodes) , as well as the important fact of attractive prices. A prominent representative of the spark plugs for gasoline engines was the NGK BKR6EK with two contacts with a V-shaped notch, which allowed to increase the arson area of ​​the spark and the full combustion of the fuel mixture throughout the cylinder volume.

But perhaps the most important merit of the Japanese company was the manufacture of a special “grade” of candles for natural gas engines. It turned out that by the current moment the share of this market segment occupied by NGK products is 85-87%. Select as an example here you can model NGK LPG Line №2, the increase in power when using which is an impressive 3%, coupled with the overall increase in stability.

HKT

Rating: 4.7

The third line of the rating goes to the well-known on the domestic market of the company HKT, the release of spark plugs for which - the action, for the most part, side. This is due, primarily, to the fact that the Japanese grande is interested in a less competitive environment of diesel engines and, as a result, the mass release of glow plugs. Nevertheless, in the market you can find a small amount of nickel or platinum candles under the gasoline engines, and at a fairly competitive price.

However, as noted by the consumers themselves, the cost is the only truly serious advantage of HKT products. They can be used as a transition kit, the service life of which in the long term does not matter. According to experts, even copying the factory candles here is made with small deviations in geometry, which significantly affects the parameters of the engines (and not always for the better). Unfortunately, in Japan there is no other manufacturer who has managed to make at least some impressive competition to the leaders of the segment (NGK and Denso) - except for the automobile giants themselves, however, spare parts from them can hardly be found at retail.

The best American manufacturers of spark plugs

Champion

Rating: 4.9

The undisputed leader of the American spark plug segment, actively cooperating with a number of premium automakers and major concerns: Honda, Lexus, Jaguar, General Motors, etc. Constantly looking for ways to improve the performance of products, for which he opened a whole department for regular research.One of the most powerful developments of Champion can be called a three-prong classic candle N9BYC4, the resource of which lasts for 50-70 thousand kilometers. There are an assortment of modified products in which nickel is combined with copper (the specific melting point, and also the conductivity of which is higher), which increases the service life, for example, of a standard single-electrode candle several times.

According to experts, Champion was never famous for chasing new technologies, and from year to year it was limited to “running around” nickel and quite a few platinum candles. However, several years ago, the concept of development of competitors pushed Americans to accelerate the pace of their own production and, in particular, to the beginning of research in the field of improving the work of iridium candles. The world has not yet seen any impressive push of technology from their side, but the trend is surely taking shape.

Autolite

Rating: 4.8

The second line of the rating goes to the good-quality Autolite company, which has made a name for itself among the world of motorsport. Once a special production unit, they were researching the work of various types of candles in engines with different configurations of parameters. After, on the basis of experimental data, they derived balanced indicators, which the spark feed element should possess. Thus, the whole range of goods from Autolite clearly divided into four groups:

1. Copper - nickel candles with copper coating or a thin copper core of the central electrode;
2. Platinum - like everyone else, a standard candle with platinum-plated, presented in various configurations of working parts;
3. Double Platinum is a conceptually new development based on a larger proportion of platinum in the body of the central electrode. Provides more stable sparking and 20-30% longer service life relative to the Platinum series;
4. Iridium XP is for the time being the last version of candles with an iridium electrode, contributing to the most complete combustion of fuel in terms of the volume of the combustion chamber. It has a working capacity of up to 100 thousand kilometers.

In the domestic market, Autolite has been represented for a long time, but due to its low popularity (mainly a narrow circle of “inhabitants” of the thematic forums acquire them) it cannot boast the same sales volumes as the leader of the rating.

Acdelco

Rating: 4.7

American manufacturing company producing a wide range of spare parts for cars of more than 50 world brands. Among the abundance of brake pads, belts, tensioners and various filters in their assortment there was a place for ordinary spark plugs. As practice shows, the entire marked line of spark supply elements from ACDelco is nothing more than a good analogue of factory candles placed in a car at the assembly stage. Such an interesting conclusion came to consumers who, by a simple visual comparison, evaluated the similarity of products (for example, ACDelco 41602 is one of the copies of the Toyota candle 90919-01164).

In reality, everything turns out to be much simpler: this company is a subsidiary of Genetal Motors, which supplies parts to the assembly lines of a number of automotive giants (in particular, the same Toyota, Chevrolet (Niva models), Honda, etc.). If we talk about the resource and performance of spark plugs, then there is nothing special to choose here - the entire line, from nickel to iridium, works very predictably, maintaining the expected service life. ACDelco also tries to actively modify the shape of the side electrodes, but in fact it does not carry any tangible improvements.

The best domestic manufacturer of spark plugs

Engels Plant

Rating: 4.4

The first and only line of the rating in the category of Russian manufacturers of spark plugs is occupied by Engels Plant, the leading policy of creating high-quality analogues of a foreign product. The main feature of the company lies in its cost: it is minimal and looks favorably against the background of not bad indicators of quality and durability.

Experts note that Engels Plant does not focus on creating extremely simple single-electrode plugs, relying on multi-electrode models. It is rather difficult to say anything definite about the entire range, since each individual sample of a candle has a number of distinctive features. For example, Т17ДВРМ is a model with a nickel core and three lateral contacts belonging to the Standard class. Provides accurate response and saves fuel (compared with the single-electrode analog) by an average of 1.7-2.1%. The development of iridium spark plugs, whose working life sometimes reaches 90-100 thousand kilometers without the slightest criticism of the work, stands as a stand-alone plant. This is the WR7DC +, a feature of which is the presence of a wedge-shaped undercut along the length of the entire side electrode to ensure a better spark propagation.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that the company actively cooperates with AvtoVAZ, in parallel with the delivery of products to the retail market, where it is extremely often purchased for used cars.

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Attention! This rating is subjective, is not advertising and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you should consult with a specialist.