231 Spark plug recommendation

[jetpilot12]

OK, I own an 1980 231 with a TSIO360LB engine and I currently use Champion RHM 38E spark plugs. 

It's time to change the plugs and would like a recommendation from a 231 guru. Is there a better plug

for my engine than Champion and why?

Thank you,

Jon

 

Edited March 9, 2020 by jetpilot12

[kortopates]

25 minutes ago, jetpilot12 said:

OK, I own an 1980 231 with a TSIO360LB engine and I currently use Champion RHM 38R spark plugs. 

It's time to change the plugs and would like a recommendation from a 231 guru. Is there a better plug

for my engine than Champion and why?

Thank you,

Jon

 

Tempest fine wires. They last over 2x as long and much more resilient than massive plugs. Especially helpful if you fly high and/or LOP.

[gsxrpilot]

+1 Tempest Fine wires

[Marauder]

Tempest fine wires. They last over 2x as long and much more resilient than massive plugs. Especially helpful if you fly high and/or LOP.

Really? After our recent discussions?


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[kortopates]

5 minutes ago, Marauder said:

 

Really? After our recent discussions?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

True, I should have mentioned there have been several reported issues of the tempest fine wire electrodes breaking off.

Tempest hasn't been exactly forthcoming about the issue and whether its been resolved or still an issue. I've heard they claimed the problem was due to a vendor and they have since moved that production operation in house; and I recall that was last summer. But we're still seeing failures in the field very recently and can't be sure if the problem is till unresolved or its plugs that were produced before they went in house - since Tempest isn't owning the issue.

We saw significant problems in Champion plugs to with their resistor design causing excessive internal resistance prematurely. They too didn't own up to the issue but then with no announcement changed their design to be similar to the integrated design used by Tempest. Since then the Champions have been reliable good product. Yet more expensive.

Its probably safer to go with the Champion fine wires for now till we know for sure the issue has been resolved.  

[Danb]

What year did champion change the design 

[gsxrpilot]

I switched to Tempest Fines as the first maintenance item in both of my Mooneys. In 6 years I have yet to replace one. And the benefits to starting and LOP are significant.

[Guest]

I installed 16 Tempest fine wire plugs in my 400 after finding cracks in the electrodes of my older Champion fine wire plugs.  We’ve also seen missing porcelain nose insulators in Champion fine wire plugs in Cirrus SR22 airframes in the past.

Clarence

[Yetti]

Insert rant about certified products and how when there are issues, then there should be a replacement of the batch and that is the reason we pay more for a certified PMA because it is "better" because the FAA has signed off on it to be an Aviation product built for the harsh aviation environment...  etc etc.

[N201MKTurbo]

I’ve never seen a non-PMA spark plug that would fit in my plane.

[tmo]

I'm sure an enterprising person could machine an adapter...

[carusoam]

I posted a pic of a spark plug by the same company that makes BK avionics... Allied.  a Honeywell company... symbol HON...

It had a loose ceramic piece that would move on the center electrode and block the spark...

When the plug was taken out... the ceramic was always back in the proper place...

The hoop shaped outer electrode kept the ceramic from falling into the cylinder...

My Ford Expedition’s version of a JPI is what found the issue...

My mechanic showed me the sliding ceramic piece... awesome find!

Not in a rush to use an automotive one... but... they do evolve much quicker in that industry...

Best regards,

-a-
 

[StevenL757]

Tempest fine wires all day...