Gr8_Outdoorsman

I am new to nitro cars and was curious what your thoughts were on these two glow plugs. The A3 plugs were $3.99 each and the Tower Power plugs are $2.99 each at Tower Hobbies. I ordered six of the A3 plugs based on brand recognition, but was curious about the tower power plugs. Are they equivalent plugs? Is the A3 worth the extra dollar each?

Thanks for your thoughts!

{GBI}Harryball

I have used both and have to say the OS plugs are better. The tower plugs seem to burn up quicker.

Kemo

you get better bang for your buck with Mccoy's and fox plugs. Those also last longer than OS plugs do. If you have an OS engine, use OS plugs... if you dont, avoid at all costs

ehroof

stick with os plugs, they are the best hot plug out there hands down, A3, when you get in to a cold plug, i would run a novarossi if you want to race but the os #8 is good for a cold plug too.

Kemo

os plugs are not made for any other engine but OS because of their thread length.

Due to OS's shorter plugs, its best to use a plug that isn't an OS UNLESS its an OS engine.
Grab a pair of MC59's. Anyone who uses mcCoy plugs will tell you they wont go back to OS. The McCoy plugs put OS plugs to shame.

A3 plugs are economy plugs... they burn up like crazy if you are running a fuel with more than 12% oil in it.

Ask any other pro out there, they'll tell you the same thing I just did. Most of the industry uses mccoy plugs as it is.

ehroof

i dont know how you can say they are only made for os engines, all i run are os plugs, they work great, i use them in all my rc's, planes too, a3's especially in the .18's and smaller. Great plugs in my opinion

Kemo

think about it... over 90% of the industry (other companies who sell plugs under their own name) uses mccoy for glow plugs, and they have the most rebranding going on than any other glow plug manufacturer.

OS came out with their own line of plugs because their engines run better on their own plugs. OS plugs are different length than the standard plugs we run.

OS plugs are more expensive. They also will not endure as much as Mccoy and Fox plugs will.

ehroof

Kemo, i just dont understand you, why do you have to start trouble? why? Give it a break, its getting to be too much now. The question was about tower and os plugs, has nothing to do with your ranting about other brands, just give it a break already. show me a mccoy plug for less than the $3.99 a3

Gr8_Outdoorsman

Kemo, I already ordered the A3 plugs so it is too late to change them. Here is what I will do. When the A3 plugs arrive, I will take a dial caliper and gauge the threaded length. I will then compare this with the plug that the car came with. This should give us an accuracy of 0.001" which is more than close enough in my book.

Kemo

an OS long is pretty much as close as you can get to what other companies call standard.

If you do browse other companies who sell plugs... like O'Donnell, you'll notice they make plugs for "OS ENGINES ONLY" such as the 99OS plug and the 77OS plug.

You can sure use a OS plug, but the engine wont perform to the best of its ability. OS plugs are shorter than the others.

ThunderbirdJunkie

My Feedback: (3)

Long plugs for STS, SH, and anything else that isn't an OS engine. OS doesn't make long plugs, unless you count their Traxxas plugs.

ehroof

Gr8_Outdoorsman

Where is the measurement taken? Is it from the bottom of the plug to the hex shoulder?

ehroof

ehroof

i think its from the top to bottom

ThunderbirdJunkie

My Feedback: (3)

the entire threaded area

ichbinanthrax

I <3 my Mccoy plugs :]

ThunderbirdJunkie

My Feedback: (3)

I'll second that on the McCoys. Foxes are good too.

BTW, you are NOT Anthrax, THIS is Anthrax

Kemo

lol on the pic...

McCoy and fox plugs wont let you down. More plug for the money!

ehroof

you mean a plug for more money, os hands down, especially their turbo plugs

rclynx

I stock most of the OS plugs but the one that has got my attention on the small block is the #3 Competition 115559 by Thunderbolt for the SH and VX engines (small block only) all the rest I sell and use the OS #8 or #3 for the big blocks..............I got onto this plug quite by accident when Thunderbolt desided to make a small engine plug for ground cars and trucks...............Try them some time they work very well on the applications I mentioned. Thunderbolt is an old glow plug maker for air planes[:-]