Ignition's Finest: the Saturn Spark Plug

Anthony Fontanelle
August 15, 2007

Safely tucked inside the cylinder head of the engine, a powerful device about the size of an adult middle finger sit and wait for the time when the engine needs to be started. Upon the very turn of the car keys, this handy gadget generates thousands electrical bolts that ignites the fuel bringing the engine to life. This is the Spark plug. To fully understand how this device works, let's open the hood of the car and dig deep into the ignition system.

Engines need to be ignited first before they actually start. The main function of the ignition system is to ignite the engine fuel at exactly the right time so that the expanding gases can perform their maximum capacity to work. Timing is a very important aspect of the ignition process because if the ignition process fries at the wrong time, the engine will cease to function as power will fail and gas consumption will increase.

The ignition coil is basically where the electricity comes form. This device is a high-voltage transformer made up of two coils of wire. Current flows through the primary coil winding in which the magnetic field collapses. The secondary coil on the other hand is engulfed with a magnetic field that induces a voltage current up to a staggering 100,000 volts. Enter the spark plugs. The center electrode of the spark plug is connected to the ignition coil via a heavily insulated wire. When the engine is about to be ignite, the stored voltages in the ignition coil travels to the plug and fires at the electrode's tip, igniting the fuel bringing about the mighty roar of the engine.

Saturn automobiles have their own make of spark plugs that is heavily favored by consumers among its competitors. The company know the importance of quality parts in every vehicular system to ensure the best driving experience. Indeed, Saturn spark plug are high performance devices that greatly contribute to excellent engine ignition.

Source:  Amazines.com