Guide Rating and Review

If there is any one part of an engine that can be considered THE most important part, it is the spark plug. Over the years the basic design of the spark plug has remained the same. But what, exactly, does a spark plug do? The spark plug has two primary functions:

• To ignite the air/fuel mixture
• To remove heat from the combustion chamber

   The temperature of the spark plug's firing end must be kept low enough to prevent pre-ignition, but high enough to prevent fouling. This is called "Thermal Performance", and is determined by the heat range selected.

   The product I tested concerns itself with igniting the air/fuel mixture. The company is called Sonic Spark Plugs in Lakewood, Colorado. What sets this spark plug apart from other spark plugs is a small hole in the ground electrode.

   Spark plugs transmit electrical energy that turns fuel into working energy. A sufficient amount of voltage must be supplied by the ignition system to cause it to spark across the spark plug's gap. This is called "Electrical Performance."

   What this hole does "In a standard gasoline engine, the Sonic Spark Plug creates high pressure Ultra Sound which shatters and breaks apart fuel mists during combustion, increasing efficiency. The gasoline mixture becomes thoroughly vaporized." What they do is take a standard Autolite or NGK spark plug, check them for quality and modify them to their specifications.

   I tried a set in a 1998 Chevy K1500 4WD pickup with a 5.7 liter V-8 with about 80,000 miles that is used as a general utility vehicle for a wood shop here in town.

   What I did was perform a full tune-up with distributor cap, rotor, ignition wires and filters. I also did an oil and filter change. We ran the truck for a week to "settle" in after the tune-up before we started the test.

   The truck was used for thirty days and brought back. I did an emissions test and calculated the fuel milage. I then replaced the spark plugs with a set of Sonic Spark Plugs and did another oil and filter change. The truck was then returned to service and it ran for another thirty days.

   After the thirty days I did another emission test and compared the results with the first test. All emission levels, CO, HC, NOx, were slightly lower. There was no significant increase in the CO2 levels which is an indicator of general engine efficiency.Fuel milage increased by .8 miles per gallon over the standard spark plugs. A small gain, but a gain none the less.

   The Sonic Spark Plugs sell for, most automotive applications, $4.95 each and $7.95 for motorcycle applications. Is the gain worth the extra cost? I'll leave that up to you to decide.

Sonic Spark Plugs 924 South Sheridan Blvd., Unit E
Lakewood, Colorado 80226
Toll-Free: 1-888-473-9827
E-mail: info@supersonicspark.com