Generate additional turnover now: The new BERU Ultra X Titan ensures even greater ignition reliability during the cold season
Cold and wet conditions also load the ignition system and electrical system in winter. A check by the workshop professional will prevent start problems.
Ludwigsburg, January 4, 2010 – When budgets are tight, many drivers skimp on the service – and this is the one thing they should not neglect. Only those who have the ignition system and general electrical system checked in the workshop at the start of the cold season can be sure that they have done everything to ensure their safety when driving in winter.
Workshops should therefore now make their customers more aware of the central role which, for example, spark plugs play in ensuring that a gasoline engine functions correctly. If the spark plugs are approaching the end of their service life, this will result in serious start problems. This will also certainly increase fuel consumption. If misfiring occurs while the engine is operating, even the catalytic converter may be destroyed.
“As spark plugs are wearing parts”, explains Giuseppe DeMasi, head of Product Management at BorgWarner BERU Systems, “they must be changed regularly. Only spark plugs which are optimally adapted to the engine and changed at the intervals specified by the vehicle manufacturer will provide a high operating reliability as well as an environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient combustion of the mixture.” Drivers should therefore have the spark plugs in their vehicles checked by a technician in the workshop at the start of the cold season and – if required – replaced in sets with the new BERU Ultra X Titan.
The new BERU Ultra X Titan: Reliable ignition with optimum fuel utilization
The high-performance spark plug developed by BorgWarner BERU Systems ensures highly reliable ignition and optimum fuel utilization thanks to the innovative geometry of its Poly-V ground electrode which is made of an extremely erosion-resistant nickel-titanium alloy. Another basis for a reliable ignition is the corona predischarge of the BERU Ultra X Titan. It effectively prevents the electrical shunt between high voltage and electrical ground which can occur due to electrically conductive soot, especially when the engine starts. This means that: The gasoline engine will start without difficulty. Even at extremely low temperatures or after several short journeys the Ultra X Titan does not become sooted.
Sophisticated high-performance products such as the BERU Ultra X Titan require proper handling by workshop professionals. “When changing spark plugs, it is particularly important to use the proper tool”, states DeMasi. Also always observe the correct torque as stipulated by the manufacturer. The following applies both to the new Ultra X Titan and to conventional BERU spark plugs: An excessively high torque may damage the spark plugs. If the torque is too low, the spark plug may work loose. It can become too hot, cause glow ignitions, knocking combustion and consequently engine damage.
Important: The manufacturer’s specifications concerning the correct torque always refer to spark plugs which have a dry, ungreased thread. The thick nickel coating on the spark plug thread is soft and can easily be screwed in and out of the engine block without grease. “If the thread is greased or oiled unnecessarily, the spark plug will be screwed in too tightly at the same torque”, states BorgWarner BERU Systems technician DeMasi, “In doing so the inner sealing ring will be crushed and the heat will no longer be able to escape. The consequence will be glow ignition or even engine damage.”
Tips for workshop professionals: Fit spark plugs properly
When fitting spark plugs, workshop professionals should also ensure that no dirt around the spark plug opening can get into the combustion chamber. Therefore, first slacken spark plugs by several turns, clean the plug shaft with compressed air and only then unscrew the spark plugs completely.
If sporadic misfiring occurs over the entire speed range after the spark plugs have been changed, the spark plug connector sealing rubber, embrittled by the heat, may be the cause. This will result in voltage flashovers on the spark plug neck. “Embrittled, stuck spark plug connectors should therefore always be replaced to prevent an insulator flashover”, explains DeMasi. The special BERU spark plug connector grease which is applied directly into the connector will prevent renewed sticking. This grease simplifies installation and removal of the connectors and also prevents water ingress and corrosion. It also protects the connectors from embrittlement and prevents high-voltage flashovers on the spark plug.
Modern engines often present workshop employees with additional problems when changing spark plugs, for example deep-seated spark plugs and spark plug connectors in the cylinder head. When installing and removing deep-seated spark plugs, there is the risk of tilting the spark plug wrench and destroying the spark plug insulator. To avoid this, BorgWarner BERU Systems has the spark plug installation tool for almost all vehicle models in the range. Simply insert into the 3/8’’ spark plug extension and press into the plug shaft. The spark plug wrench will always then remain parallel to the shaft and cannot tilt. Based on practical experience for practical applications, BorgWarner BERU Systems has also developed a flexible spark plug installation tool. The “extended arm of the fitter” is connected to the insulator for screwing in and unscrewing the spark plug. The extended arm holds the spark plug securely while the technician slackens or tightens it and therefore prevents injuries and burns to his hand.
