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"Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options
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NASkeet
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 10:23 am    Post subject: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Sometime in early-1981, I came across a short article by motoring correspondent Anne Hope, in my father’s copy of PULSE – The Doctors’ Newspaper, about an improved range of Unipart spark plugs and an innovative alternative to conventional spark plugs called “Autoflash”, which read as follows:


« Accessories – Longer Lasting Spark Plugs »

« A maintenance-free ‘spark plug’ offering 10 to 15 per cent better fuel economy – through instant starting first time every time, even in damp or freezing conditions – and more than three times the life of a conventional plug is now available here. »

« Produced in Switzerland, Autoflash uses ‘space-age technology’ and isn’t really a spark plug but a polythermic converter. »

« Though it looks like a conventional plug, the air/gas mixture is compressed in a pre-combustion chamber built into the body and ignition is obtained by an ionising rotative spark which can be produced at any point on the convector head. It behaves as a ‘hot’ or ‘cold’ plug. There is no gap to adjust and it is self-cleaning. »

« One snag – Autoflash costs £14•95 for a set of four. But a life of 35,000 miles or more is claimed, and this is backed by the experience of the police. »

« Tests on patrol cars produced an average fuel consumption improvement of 12•7 per cent – and the convectors were still at peak efficiency after 35,000 miles whereas conventional plugs had to be changed every 6,000 miles. »

« News of Autoflash nearly coincided with the announcement by Unipart, a subsidiary of BL Components, that improved spark plugs had been developed. ‘They are ideal for cars with long interval service schedules on new generation models such as the Metro or Ital’, enthused Unipart. »

« Interested in Autoflash? Interested in Unipart spark plugs? Details from Anne Hope, motoring correspondent, PULSE, 30 Calderwood Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6QH. »



From the wording of the article, it was not entirely clear whether “Autoflash” was also a Unipart product or originated from another manufacturer. In reply to my letter of enquiry about these products to Anne Hope, she sent a reply postcard as follows, dated February 1981:


PULSE, Morgan-Grampian (Professional Press) Limited
30 Calderwood Street, Wollwich, London, SE18 6QH
Telephone: 01 – 855 7777

« Many thanks for your letter. Have been inundated with requests! »

« UNIPART SPARK PLUGS – details from :- »

« P. A. M. A. Fitz-Gibbon, Esq., »
« Unipart House, »
« Cowley, Oxford, OX3 2PG. »

« AUTOFLASH – I am not sure how many cars it is suitable for and am investigating, so please watch for news in PULSE. »

« Anne Hope »



Following my subsequent letter of enquiry to P. A. M. A. Fitz-Gibbon at Unipart, dated 11th March 1981 about “Autoflash” and the revised Unipart spark plugs, I received a reply letter dated 13th March 1981 from David Roberts, Product Planner (Ignition) at Unipart, enclosing a photocopy of Unipart News press release from January 1981 announcing the revised range of Unipart spark plugs, together with a copy of the revised spark plug catalogue MMM 1112 FEBRUARY 1981; all of which I still have.


« UNIPART, Unipart House, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2PG. »
« Telephone: 0865 – 778 966 | Telex: 83331 | Cables: UNIPART Oxford »

« The improved Unipart spark plug bears no relation to whatever to the Autoflash product. »

« The benefits of the new spark plugs are outlined in the recent Unipart News Letter. I also enclose our latest spark plug catalogue, showing the relevant Part Numbers for most models, which are available from local Unipart Shops or Centres. »

« I trust this information will be of help to you. »

« Yours faithfully. »

« David Roberts »
« Product Planner (Ignition) »
« Product Marketing »
« REF. DR/HHP »


« UNIPART NEWS | JANUARY 1981 »

« PLUG INTO UNIPART’S NEW SPARK »

« Over the past few months, Unipart has completed a sweeping programme of technological improvement on the Unipart Spark Plug range. »

« Previous to the new Unipart range, spark plugs lasted for 6000 miles before they needed attention or replacement. Unipart zooms through the 6000 mile limit – doubles it in fact to a full 12000 miles. This makes them ideal for long interval service schedules on new generation models like the Ital and Metro, as well as effecting major economics on shorter interval service models. »

« The secret of the Unipart GSP range is the self-cleaning thermo-dynamic insulator tip. Engine heat, normally a major wear factor for spark plugs, is used to extend life and improve efficiency. Heat is retained by the insulator and used to burn off carbon deposits before they can interfere with performance. Result, a clean powerful spark, for fuel-efficient combustion over the full 12,000 mile service life. »

« Yet another feature is the new electrode fitted to our new additions, GSP 163 and GSP 263 (these part numbers alone covers over 60% of cars on UK roads). Wider than conventional electrodes, the new electrode gives increased flexibility, performance and economy over a greater range of temperatures making it equally suitable for high speed and stop-start motoring. »

« The full Unipart GSP range comprises of 24 part numbers giving 99•5% coverage of all vehicles on UK roads, as well as offering extensive coverage of motor cycles, lawn mowers, outboard motors and other petrol engine machinery. »

« The price of the new spark plugs, despite all the design improvements, remain the same as before. So Unipart spark plugs are better than before at the same prices. »

« Further Information: Patrick A M A FITZ-GIBBON – Oxford (0865) 773533 »

« (37185) »



In the VOLKSWAGEN & PORSCHE sections, Pages 10, 12 & 13 of the revised Unipart spark plug catalogue MMM 1112 FEBRUARY 1981, lists the following spark plugs for various car models:


« VOLKSWAGEN »

« Beetle 1200, 1300, 1302, 1303, 1500, 1600 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1965-8/78 . . . . . . . . GSP540 »

« Derby 0.9L, 1.1 GLS, LS, S (50 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1977 onward . . . . . GSP171 »
« Derby 1.1 LS (60 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1977 onward . . . . . GSP191 »
« Derby 1.3 GLS, LS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1977 onward . . . . . GSP171 »

« Golf 1.1, 1.6 litre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1974 onward . . . . . GSP171 »
« Golf 1.5 litre (70 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------- . . . . . GSP151 »
« Golf GTI 1.6 litre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1975 onward . . . . . . GSP191 »

« Jetta 1.3 litre (60 hp), 1.6 litre (85 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------- . . . . . . GSP171 »
« Jetta 1.5 litre (70 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------- . . . . . . GSP151 »
« Jetta 1.6 litre (110 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------- . . . . . . GSP191 »

« K70 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1970~76 . . . . . . . . GSP181 »

« Passat 1.3, 1.5 (75 hp), 1.6 litre (75, 85 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1973 onward . . . . . GSP171 »
« Passat 1.5 (85 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1973 onward . . . . . GSP181 »
« Passat 1.6 litre (110 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ---------------- . . . . . . GSP191 »

« Polo 0.9, 1.1 litre (50 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1975 onward . . . . . GSP171 »
« Polo 1.1 litre (60 hp) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1976 onward . . . . . GSP191 »
« Polo 1.3 litre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1975 onward . . . . . GSP171 »

« Rabbit 1.6 litre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1976 onward . . . . . GSP171 »

« Scirocco 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, 1.6 litre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1975 onward . . . . . GSP171 »
« Scirocco GLi 1.6 litre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1976 onward . . . . . GSP191 »

« 411, 412 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1968~74 . . . . . . GSP160 »


« VOLKSWAGEN LIGHT COMMERCIAL »

« Transporter 1.2, 1.5, 1.6 litre GSP540 »


« VW-PORSCHE »

« 914/6 1969~72 GSP191 »
« 914 (1.7, 1.8, 2.0 litre) 1969~75 GSP160 »


« PORSCHE »

« Super 75, 90, 95 GSP571 »

« 911 (2.0, 2.2, 2.4, 2.7 litre) GSP191 »
« 911 L, S (2.7 litre), SC, T (3.0 litre) GSP191 »

« 912 GSP571 »

« 914/6 1969~72 GSP191 »
« 914 (1.7, 1.8, 2.0 litre) 1969~75 GSP160 »

« 924 GSP181 »
« 928 GSP151 »

« 1600, Super GSP571 »



The spark plugs GSP540 (hot), GSP550 (intermediate) & GSP560 (cold), with M14 x 1•5 mm of 12•0 mm (i.e. 0•472 inch) length threads, are of conventional design with a sealing washer and non-projecting central ceramic-insulator & positive-electrode

The spark plugs GSP531 (hot), GSP541 (intermediate) & GSP571 (cold), with M14 x 1•5 mm of 12•0 mm (i.e. 0•472 inch) length threads, are of conventional design with a sealing washer and projecting central ceramic-insulator & positive-electrode.

The spark plugs GSP130 (hot) & GSP160 (cold), with M14 x 1•5 mm of 19•0 mm (i.e. ¾ inch) length threads, are of conventional design with a sealing washer and non-projecting central ceramic-insulator & positive-electrode. The GSP160 (cold) spark plug non-projecting core-nose is specified for the VW Type 4 style air-cooled engines, used in the VW 411/412 and VW-Porsche 914, but there is limited choice of heat ranges (only two options).

The spark plugs GSP131 (hot), GSP141, GSP151, GSP161 (intermediate), GSP171, GSP181 & GSP191 (cold), with M14 x 1•5 mm of 19•0 mm (i.e. ¾ inch) length threads, are of conventional design with a sealing washer and projecting central ceramic-insulator & positive-electrode. These spark plugs with projecting core-nose give the greatest choice of heat ranges (seven options), which might be preferable for the VW Type 4 style air-cooled engines, having factory-stock compression ratios of 7•3:1, 7•8:1, 8•2:1 & 8•6:1.

It’s intriguing to note that a spark plug with a projected core nose is listed for the Porsche 912 and Porsche 1600 & Super air-cooled engine, whilst a spark plug with non-projected core nose is listed for the VW Type 1 air-cooled engine of the VW Type 1 Beetles and VW 12/15/1600 Type 2 Transporters.

Strangely, the February 1981 catalogue, makes no mention of the VW Type 3 (1500 & 1600) or 1972~79 VW Type 2 Transporter (1700, 1800 & 2000) or 1980~83 VW Transporter T3 – Vanagon (2000) for which spark plugs are not listed, despite there being listings of the GSP160 for the VW 411/412 (1700 & 1800) and VW-Porsche 914 / Porsche 914 (1700, 1800 & 2000).

**********************************************************************************************************************************************

Following the postcard in February 1981 from Anne Hope, I found no further information about “Autoflash” in my father’s subsequent copies of the PULSE (he probably threw many of them away, before I had a chance to read them, when I was home for the weekends from Cranfield Institute of Technology, where I was a postgraduate engineering student from October 1979 until May 1984) so on 2nd August 1982, more than 1½ years later, I again wrote to Anne Hope enquiring whether there had been any updates about this product, which prompted the following reply letter, dated 9th August 1982.


« PULSE – The Doctors’ Newspaper »
« Morgan-Grampian (Professional Press) Limited »
« 30 Calderwood Street, Woolwich, London, SE18 6QH »
« Telephone: 01 – 855 7777 | Telex: 896238 | Telegraphic Address: Industpress•Ldn »

« Thank you for writing »

« Yes, I have written about Autoflash a number of times. I cannot recommend it – sorry. In fact, I’d go further and say don’t fit Autoflash units to any car. »

« Best wishes with your Toledo and do write if you think I can help with any other motoring problems in the future. »

« Yours sincerely. »

« Anne Hope – Motoring Correspondent »


**********************************************************************************************************************************************

Having recently rediscovered the long-archived correspondence about “Autoflash” polythermic converters (i.e. substitute “spark-plugs”), which was covered by a thick layer of dust, I recently initiated an Internet search to try and find out more about “Autoflash” and the technology upon which it was based, but so far I have found NOTHING!

However, I did stumble upon an on-line article on the Newatlas.com (previously known as Gizmag.com) website, dating from April 2011 (i.e. nearly 12 years ago), about research into the use of laser igniters at the Japanese National Institute of Natural Sciences – NINS, which might potentially be used as a substitute for spark plugs. It suggests that a larger volume of the fuel-air mixture could be instantaneously ignited, remote from the igniter, and leaner fuel-air mixtures could be used; reducing the creation of Nitrogen Oxide – NOx (i.e. one or more of NO, NO2 & N2O).

https://newatlas.com/

https://newatlas.com/automotive/

Ben Coxworth, “Laser igniters could spell the end for the humble spark plug”, Automotive, Newatlas.com, 21st April 2011

https://newatlas.com/laser-ignition-spark-plug-alternative/18469/
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 11:43 am    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Don't know anything about 'Space Age Materials' from 1981.
All I know is the plugs in my Wifes' '03 Honda have 140,000 miles on them and the plugs in my 2015 RAM have 198,000 miles on them.
The plugs in my 3 year old 2276 have around 13,000 miles on them.
Not that concerned as those are probably the least expensive part of the car.
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PostPosted: Sun Jan 29, 2023 2:22 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

all I ran in my bug motors were platinum. mostly bosch, they seem to last for ever. I like the 4 ground electrode style.
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PostPosted: Mon Jan 30, 2023 12:50 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

they remind me of when Mark calls them sparking bolts

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looks kinda like these NGK's

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PostPosted: Thu Feb 02, 2023 12:04 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

jeffrey8164 wrote:
Don't know anything about 'Space Age Materials' from 1981.

All I know is the plugs in my Wifes' '03 Honda have 140,000 miles on them and the plugs in my 2015 RAM have 198,000 miles on them.
The plugs in my 3 year old 2276 have around 13,000 miles on them.
Not that concerned as those are probably the least expensive part of the car.


I am not sure what a RAM is (possibly an overweight, oversized, overpowered, petrol-guzzling American thing!?!), but it would probably take me nearly 50 years to rack up 198,000 miles! Shocked

I am completely baffled as what kind of car model a 2276 might be!?! Confused

My daily driver, a 58 hp, 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300 "HL Special" covered circa 97,000 miles over a 24 year period between mid-1975 and mid-1999. I typically used to service the spark plugs every 3,000 miles, cleaning and filing the electrodes to sharpen the edges for optimum efficiency, given that petrol was more than twice as expensive in the UK as the USA! On a cross-country run, I sometimes obtained in excess of 40 mpg on average.

mark tucker wrote:
all I ran in my bug motors were platinum. mostly bosch, they seem to last for ever. I like the 4 ground electrode style.


I have some NOS Bosch W8CP Platinum spark-plugs (Bosch part No. 0 241 220 609) pre-gapped to 0•7 mm, for the 1911 cm³ displacement, hybrid VW 17/1800 Type 4 style air-cooled engine (8•0:1 compression ratio) in my 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental motor-caravan, which will hopefully last me a long time!

Erik G wrote:
they remind me of when Mark calls them sparking bolts

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


looks kinda like these NGK's

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I have never seen a spark plug like the NGK spark plug illustrated herewith and I had yet to see any illustration of an "Autoflash" plug!
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Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net


Last edited by NASkeet on Fri Feb 03, 2023 11:54 am; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:00 am    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

NASkeet wrote:


it would probably take me nearly 50 years to rack up 198,000 miles! Shocked



between January 2018 and January 2019 I racked up over 31,000 miles just getting to work. In 2016, I put about 60,000 miles on a single car between commuting to work and driving for fun.

the US is a bit more.... sprawled out.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 8:51 am    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

I changed the plugs on my Nissian at 200k. They looked new still.

They were of an odd design. On the ground probe, there was a flat round protrusion. Think of a set of points, if that makes sense.

6,000 miles for a set of plugs? Damn, that's awful. How rich ya running?
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:04 am    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Pruneman99 wrote:
I changed the plugs on my Nissian at 200k. They looked new still.

They were of an odd design. On the ground probe, there was a flat round protrusion. Think of a set of points, if that makes sense.

6,000 miles for a set of plugs? Damn, that's awful. How rich ya running?


Those are probably what is known as "double platinum" plugs. In dbl platinum, instead of just the center electrode being platinum, they have a very small puck or donut of platinum...usually about the diameter of a straight pin head....maybe 1mm diameter...welded to the side/ground electrode.

It makes for a very high mileage plug. There are a very few single platinum plugs made with just the donut/puck on the ground electrode and normal center electrode. Ray
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 9:11 am    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

raygreenwood wrote:
Pruneman99 wrote:
I changed the plugs on my Nissian at 200k. They looked new still.

They were of an odd design. On the ground probe, there was a flat round protrusion. Think of a set of points, if that makes sense.

6,000 miles for a set of plugs? Damn, that's awful. How rich ya running?


Those are probably what is known as "double platinum" plugs. In dbl platinum, instead of just the center electrode being platinum, they have a very small puck or donut of platinum...usually about the diameter of a straight pin head....maybe 1mm diameter...welded to the side/ground electrode.

It makes for a very high mileage plug. There are a very few single platinum plugs made with just the donut/puck on the ground electrode and normal center electrode. Ray


That's probably what they were then. I just have never seen the round puck on the ground side before. They must work well, there was no noticeable wear after 200k.
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 12:26 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

I Ride Sand wrote:
NASkeet wrote:


it would probably take me nearly 50 years to rack up 198,000 miles! Shocked



between January 2018 and January 2019 I racked up over 31,000 miles just getting to work. In 2016, I put about 60,000 miles on a single car between commuting to work and driving for fun.

the US is a bit more.... sprawled out.


That's a lot of driving, just to get to and from work! Shocked

Wouldn't it have been better to commute to & from work by railway train!?!

In some countries, employers specify as part of the employment contract, that employees must live within a half-hours' travelling distance of their work-place. This is certainly specified for staff at South Essex College, in England.

During the 1990~91, 12-month academic-year that I spent at the Royal Military College of Science, I was covering about 13,000 miles, going home for the weekends with my family; living in the officers' mess on campus during the week. That's the most driving I have ever done in one year!
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Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:35 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

raygreenwood wrote:
Pruneman99 wrote:
I changed the plugs on my Nissian at 200k. They looked new still.

They were of an odd design. On the ground probe, there was a flat round protrusion. Think of a set of points, if that makes sense.

6,000 miles for a set of plugs? Damn, that's awful. How rich ya running?


Those are probably what is known as "double platinum" plugs. In dbl platinum, instead of just the center electrode being platinum, they have a very small puck or donut of platinum...usually about the diameter of a straight pin head....maybe 1mm diameter...welded to the side/ground electrode.

It makes for a very high mileage plug. There are a very few single platinum plugs made with just the donut/puck on the ground electrode and normal center electrode. Ray


It's amazing how many spark-plug options there are! Shocked

https://www.boschautoparts.com/g/spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/copper-with-nickel-spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/silver-spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/platinum-spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/double-platinum-spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/platinum-4-spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/iridium-spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/double-iridium-spark-plugs

https://www.boschautoparts.com/p/double-iridium-pin-to-pin-spark-plugs
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Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
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Bus boy 89
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 1:40 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Yes a Ram is an American pick up and a 2276 is a big capacity type 1 vw motor.
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oprn
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 2:55 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

NASkeet wrote:
I Ride Sand wrote:
NASkeet wrote:


it would probably take me nearly 50 years to rack up 198,000 miles! Shocked



between January 2018 and January 2019 I racked up over 31,000 miles just getting to work. In 2016, I put about 60,000 miles on a single car between commuting to work and driving for fun.

the US is a bit more.... sprawled out.


That's a lot of driving, just to get to and from work! Shocked

Wouldn't it have been better to commute to & from work by railway train!?!

In some countries, employers specify as part of the employment contract, that employees must live within a half-hours' travelling distance of their work-place. This is certainly specified for staff at South Essex College, in England.

During the 1990~91, 12-month academic-year that I spent at the Royal Military College of Science, I was covering about 13,000 miles, going home for the weekends with my family; living in the officers' mess on campus during the week. That's the most driving I have ever done in one year!

Back when I was still in the work force I averaged about 66,000 km a year just for work then about another 20,000 or so for personal travel. No there is no public transportation in our part of the world of any description. No trains, no busses, no subways, not even a decent taxi service.

When Platinum plugs first came out I tried a set in my Rabbit. They lasted 3 days and when I took them out instead of a center electrode there were just deep holes on all 4 plugs. That was with the stock VW ignition system. I kind of lost faith in them...
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Bonesberg55
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 03, 2023 3:14 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Those Autoflash photos look similar to the "fire injectors" that Warshawsky/J.C. Whitney used to sell back in the early 70s. I think there were more ground electrodes. Being the teenage sap that I was, I took the bait. They were around 3X the price of regular plugs. They claimed increased gas mileage & a noticeable increase in your idle speed. As I recall, there was no difference other than they went a bit longer.

When we were first married, my wife had a '78 Rabbit and I did notice a difference in the brand of spark plug used. The Bosch original equipment spec plug got 2 mpg better than the Champion equivalent, 38 mpg vs 36 mpg. That, to me, was a significant difference.
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NASkeet
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:10 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

oprn wrote:
NASkeet wrote:
I Ride Sand wrote:
NASkeet wrote:


it would probably take me nearly 50 years to rack up 198,000 miles! Shocked



between January 2018 and January 2019 I racked up over 31,000 miles just getting to work. In 2016, I put about 60,000 miles on a single car between commuting to work and driving for fun.

the US is a bit more.... sprawled out.


That's a lot of driving, just to get to and from work! Shocked

Wouldn't it have been better to commute to & from work by railway train!?!

In some countries, employers specify as part of the employment contract, that employees must live within a half-hours' travelling distance of their work-place. This is certainly specified for staff at South Essex College, in England.

During the 1990~91, 12-month academic-year that I spent at the Royal Military College of Science, I was covering about 13,000 miles, going home for the weekends with my family; living in the officers' mess on campus during the week. That's the most driving I have ever done in one year!


Back when I was still in the work force I averaged about 66,000 km a year just for work then about another 20,000 or so for personal travel. No there is no public transportation in our part of the world of any description. No trains, no busses, no subways, not even a decent taxi service.

When Platinum plugs first came out I tried a set in my Rabbit. They lasted 3 days and when I took them out instead of a center electrode there were just deep holes on all 4 plugs. That was with the stock VW ignition system. I kind of lost faith in them...


I suspect that the platinum spark plugs with which you were supplied were of the wrong "heat-range"! Shocked

Canada has a vast land area, but only about 37,500,000 population, so outside of the large cities & towns, it is probably not economically viable to have an integrated public-transport network! Although the mainland of Great Britain is of relatively small area, the population is slightly larger than the combined populations of Australia, Canada & New Zealand! Shocked

During the four years that I was a student at the University of London (3 years at Chelsea College & 1 year at Institute of Education), I travelled from my home on Canvey Island, Essex by bus to South Benfleet, Essex, British Rail train from Benfleet Station to London Fenchurch Street Station & London Underground trains (i.e. the "Tube") from Tower Hill Tube-Station to either of Sloane Square Tube-Station, Fulham Broadway Tube-Station or Russell Square Tube-Station, with changes as necessary, followed by a 10~15 minute walk; taking a total of 1½~1¾ hours each way.

During the first of four and a half years, that I was a postgraduate student at Cranfield Institute of Technology, I travelled from my home on Canvey Island, Essex by bus to South Benfleet, Essex, British Rail train from Benfleet Station to London Fenchurch Street Station & London Underground trains (i.e. the"Tube") from Tower Hill Tube-Station to either Euston or King's Cross / St, Pancras Stations, followed by another British Rail train to either Bedford, in Bedfordshire or Bletchley in Buckinghamshire (recall Bletchley Park, centre of WW2 "Enigma-machine" code breaking) and a public-transport bus to Cranfield; taking a total of circa 4 hours.

In contrast, the 80 mile cross-country journey by road (lots of narrow, windy roads with sharp 90 degree bends every few hundred yards) between Canvey Island and Cranfield, typically took 2½ hours in my family's 1974 Triumph Toledo 1300 "HL Special" on Friday & Sunday evenings. After a heavy snowfall lasting a week, I did the same journey on snow, in 2¾ hours, albeit under lighter traffic conditions.

These days, having reached state retirement age last year, I now have a zero-cost concessionary bus pass, which enables me to travel FREE of charge, on almost any public-transport bus service between 9:30 am & 11:00 pm on weekdays and virtually any time at weekends, anywhere in England & Wales. Very Happy
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NASkeet
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:17 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Bonesberg55 wrote:
Those Autoflash photos look similar to the "fire injectors" that Warshawsky/J.C. Whitney used to sell back in the early 70s. I think there were more ground electrodes. Being the teenage sap that I was, I took the bait. They were around 3X the price of regular plugs. They claimed increased gas mileage & a noticeable increase in your idle speed. As I recall, there was no difference other than they went a bit longer.

When we were first married, my wife had a '78 Rabbit and I did notice a difference in the brand of spark plug used. The Bosch original equipment spec plug got 2 mpg better than the Champion equivalent, 38 mpg vs 36 mpg. That, to me, was a significant difference.


I have a general catalogue of J. C. Whitney dating from 1984 (given to me by an American foreign-student at Cranfield), but I don't recall seeing any alternative designs of "spark-plug" in there.

I'll wager that you would not have got anywhere near as much as 36 mpg (miles per US gallon or miles per proper Imperial gallon!?!) driving an American car, for which I have heard that 18 mpg would have been considered to be good!?!
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Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net


Last edited by NASkeet on Thu Feb 09, 2023 12:55 pm; edited 1 time in total
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NASkeet
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 2:45 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Here are some more pictures of the early-1980s vintage "Autoflash" polythermic-converter spark-plug substitute, that I found on another French website, that are also listed on French E-bay.

https://picclick.fr/Lot-de-8-bougies-dallumage-neuves-de-la-363120454329.html

https://www.ebay.fr/itm/363120454329?mkevt=1&m...EVEg%3D%3D

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Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

Independent tutor (semi-retired) of mathematics, physics, technology & engineering for secondary, tertiary, further & higher education.

Much modified, RHD 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Westfalia Continental campervan, with the World's only decent, cross-over-arm, SWF pantograph rear-window wiper

Onetime member, plus former Technical Editor & Editor of Transporter Talk magazine
Volkswagen Type 2 Owners' Club (Great Britain)

http://www.vwt2oc.net
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Erik G
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 3:38 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

NASkeet wrote:


That's a lot of driving, just to get to and from work! Shocked

Wouldn't it have been better to commute to & from work by railway train!?!


Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing


me thinks you've never been to the americas
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ps2375
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 4:47 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

Erik G wrote:
NASkeet wrote:


That's a lot of driving, just to get to and from work! Shocked

Wouldn't it have been better to commute to & from work by railway train!?!


Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing Laughing


me thinks you've never been to the americas



LOLOLOLOL

I have customers that I support that are 14-16 hours apart, some even more (driving mostly 84mph). Thankfully I don't see them in the same week or even month. I have driven 8 hrs in the same day one direction and never left the state I was in. The American west is vast and not conducive to public transit nor travel by rail, the same trip by rail could take 12-36 hrs since cargo trains literally OWN the tracks and take priority.
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jeffrey8164 Premium Member
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 07, 2023 5:05 pm    Post subject: Re: "Autoflash" - Alternative & Updated "Spark Plug" Options Reply with quote

I think if there was truly a superior plug design it would be proven already and everyone would have a version by now.
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