IW20TT: Spark Plug

Known as the ‘heart of the engine’, spark plugs play a key role in the ignition and performance of the entire engine. The well-timed combustion of the fuel-air mixture of gasoline and oxygen is what generates power in gasoline engines. The precise timing of the spark created by the spark plug ignites the fuel, triggering combustion. To create this spark, a high voltage is passed between the centre electrode and ground electrode of the spark plug. This voltage breaks down the natural insulation between these electrodes and an electrical spark is generated. Although this strong spark only lasts for about 1/1,000 of a second, it has to be precisely and reliably timed to trigger the combustion of the fuel-air mixture.