Glow plug life?
#1
Thread Starter
Glow plug life?
So I have a product engine I converted to SPI. It really screams now and is a blast to fly.
I am running 30% nitro w/ 14% synth/castor blend.
Assuming I do not over-lean....what sort of lifespan can I expect out of the plug?
-Dave
I am running 30% nitro w/ 14% synth/castor blend.
Assuming I do not over-lean....what sort of lifespan can I expect out of the plug?
-Dave
#2
RE: Glow plug life?
You can get from 1/2 to a whole season. The one caveat is, all it takes is one sharp dive where the engine revs get ridiculous and the coil could get toasted. I use 10-15% and get excellent life out of my plugs, but when I got to higher nitro things change to the worse.
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Omaha,
NE
Posts: 283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Glow plug life?
Back in the 60's (and internally the cox engines are still in the 60's) Cox wouldn't honor the waranty if you didnt run oil that was all castor and 20%.... so my guess is that you will get more life out of the plug than you will out of the connecting rod/piston ball joint. Do you have a reset tool? You will need it. Castor gets into the ball joint and helps... synthetic keeps the engine cleaner but doesn't do a very good job of protecting it from wear.
#5
My Feedback: (1)
RE: Glow plug life?
14% oil for a COX is way too low. Get some castor from any Any Town Drug store.
If you add 1.75oz to 16oz of your 14% Oil / 30% Nitro brew you will end up with... 22.5% Oil / 27% Nitro.. A much better formula for the Cox.
The engine will run cooler and be kinder to plugs.
Corrected volume of fuel to be modified... Thanks Big Al.
If you add 1.75oz to 16oz of your 14% Oil / 30% Nitro brew you will end up with... 22.5% Oil / 27% Nitro.. A much better formula for the Cox.
The engine will run cooler and be kinder to plugs.
Corrected volume of fuel to be modified... Thanks Big Al.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Slidell,
LA
Posts: 501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Glow plug life?
ORIGINAL: skaliwag
14% oil for a COX is way too low. Get some castor from the Any Town Drug store.
If you add 1.75oz to a quart of your 14% Oil / 30% Nitro you will end up with... 22.5% Oil / 27% Nitro.. A much better formula for the Cox.
The engine will run cooler and be kinder to plugs.
14% oil for a COX is way too low. Get some castor from the Any Town Drug store.
If you add 1.75oz to a quart of your 14% Oil / 30% Nitro you will end up with... 22.5% Oil / 27% Nitro.. A much better formula for the Cox.
The engine will run cooler and be kinder to plugs.
Al
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Chesapeake,
VA
Posts: 398
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RE: Glow plug life?
How long is a piece of string?
I have some glow plugs from the 80's that still run strong. I've had others that lasted 5 flights. I can't honestly answer how long a glow plug will last. How often you fly, the engine rpm, fuel ratios, and the percent of gremlin installed at the glow plug factory will all have an effect on plug life. All I can say is fly until the engine quits, then put another plug in it. Always carry spares.
I have some glow plugs from the 80's that still run strong. I've had others that lasted 5 flights. I can't honestly answer how long a glow plug will last. How often you fly, the engine rpm, fuel ratios, and the percent of gremlin installed at the glow plug factory will all have an effect on plug life. All I can say is fly until the engine quits, then put another plug in it. Always carry spares.