September 2021

A s ignition systems become more complex, with higher voltages and demands for greater efficiency, the reduced space available in the modern engine bay only exacerbates the challenges of managing heat transfer to other components. Specification “Traditionally, you’d start a car once for every journey, but with a Stop/Start system it could be any number of times as traffic conditions or the road layout dictates,” explained Julian Goulding, Marketing Manager at Delphi Technologies Aftermarket UK. “With many newer cars using smaller, harder working engines to generate efficiency gains, there can be tremendous heat build-up in the engine bay as the vehicle sits stationary at a set of traffic lights, and this can easily spread through multiple components.” According to Julian, Delphi Technologies has been able to draw on their 100 years of experience within the OE ignition space: “With our ignition coils, we’re able to pass on our OE expertise to the aftermarket, ensuring customers receive the same specification part as was originally fitted at the factory. Our coils are fitted as OE to over 14 million applications, so our aftermarket range offers garages and customers the reassurance they need. He added: “Delphi Technologies’ work goes further than maintaining the status quo however. Its multi-charge ignition coils fire multiple times in quick succession, helping to achieve optimal combustion and delivering improved fuel economy – by up to 20% in some cases – and with reduced emissions compared to competitors’ time- controlled multi-spark ignition systems. Their availability on the aftermarket opens opportunities for independent garages to offer a competitively-priced repair service that guarantees the high OE quality levels are maintained on even the very latest models.” Preventative maintenance Making sure spark plugs, and the overall ignition process are working correctly will mean vehicles produce lower emissions. A correctly timed spark and clean combustion is associated with reducing emissions of a number of pollutants. “However,” said Fatiha Laauich, Pan European Strategic Marketing Manager at DENSO Europe, “over time, spark plug electrodes wear, increasing the ignition voltage required for them to work properly. Eventually they may reach a point at which their ignition voltage demand is not supported by the ignition coil, potentially leading to misfires. Increased misfires are directly correlated to increased emissions, since the air/fuel mixture doesn’t combust correctly, and make the vehicle operate less efficiently. “DENSO encourages workshops to follow a preventive maintenance routine, periodically diagnosing and, if 44 AFTERMARKET SEPTEMBER 2021 IGNITION www.aftermarketonline.net Make the most of the latest developments around ignition in order to take advantage of the broad opportunity START THE DAY RIGHT needed, replacing spark plugs during service intervals, rather than waiting for the warning indicator to turn on. Taking precautions can reduce the risk of misfires or carbon fouling, thereby maintaining peak fuel efficiency and helping the car continue to meet all the emissions standards. She added: “Replacing the spark plugs more often is the first step, but it is even better is to replace them with a version that employs state-of-the-art design, such as Denso TT or Iridium TT spark plugs, which will ensure the engine benefits from the latest technology.” Solution Some components evolve gradually, like the trusty spark plug. “NGK has been developing spark plug technology since the 1930s,” said Mark Hallam, Marketing Manager, NGK Spark Plugs (UK), “and manufactures plugs for every type of automotive engine. NGK iridium spark plugs currently represent the highest-quality technological solution. One of the world’s hardest metals, the precious metal iridium is featured on the middle electrode. Iridium starts melting at a temperature of 2450°C which therefore makes it very resistant to spark erosion. By using it, the service life is doubled on average in comparison to standard nickel spark plugs.” He went onto say: “Platinum spark plugs are equipped with a platinum plate on the middle electrode, which ensures a more constant output of the spark plug over the entire service life, even under difficult conditions. Based on its narrow middle electrode, it emits very little spark voltage, discharges the ignition coil, and ensures optimal combustion. Precious metal spark plugs may be more expensive, but when specified by VMs and used during service and repair they will prevent possible problems due to poor ignition performances, poor tolerance to fouling, higher ignition coil loads and increasing unwanted emission.”