Nology Hotwires, I want proof they're crap

[skydragoness]

I figured I'd post in here since this seems to be an intelligent forum, if I posted this in the 240sx chat I'd just get anecdotes.

I want to know what are the best aftermarket ignition systems (wires/coilpacks/etc) for Nissans.

I have a friend who put Nology Hotwires on her 240sx and I was surprised as I heard they are crap (multiple forums, mags, etc). That and I was under the assumption that NGK was the best for Nissan as far as compatibility goes.. (since Nissan uses NGK for oem replacement)

But does anyone have any hard data/proof that Nology is no good or are they actually 'ok' despite the stories?

[underground57]

http://iwcweb.com/eclipse/html/warning.html

I wouldn't consider this hard data, (as this guy loses credability for having an eclipse with altezza lights), but I came across it a few months back when looking for wires as well. I've had the NGK wires for almost 2 years now with no complaints.

[off topic, but my team dynamics wheels came in a few weeks back. pics are in my zoints. I figured you'd want to see them.]

[AZhitman]

I have Nologys on my KA-T and they're awesome so far...

They spec out better than my NGK's did.

[skydragoness]

http://iwcweb.com/eclipse/html/warning.html

I wouldn't consider this hard data, (as this guy loses credability for having an eclipse with altezza lights), but I came across it a few months back when looking for wires as well. I've had the NGK wires for almost 2 years now with no complaints.

[off topic, but my team dynamics wheels came in a few weeks back. pics are in my zoints. I figured you'd want to see them.]

Yeah, DSM owners have it hard.

I was always under the impression that Magnecor makes the best (as far as aftermarket goes)I know the NGK wires ( i have 'em) are really not meant for upgraded ignition systems. I don't think they make anything other than OEM replacements, right?

(BTW. The wheel's look gorgeous. I esp. like that pic of your car under the cherry blossom tree... I soooo want to take shots of my car w/ those trees but I can't ever find any in the spring!! I ended up getting used SSR Integral A2 wheels for my car (in sig but you can barely see 'em) and then I painted them Duplicolor bronze).

[underground57]

Magnacor is some serious stuff. http://www.magnecor.com/ Have you ever seen a site that was so in depth? It seems one of their main selling points is superior EMI and RFI suppression, which seems to be the down fall of Nology wires and other more readily available mass market wires.

Also: http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm

The most notable of exaggerated claims for ignition wires are made by Nology, a recent manufacturer of ignition wires promoted as "the only spark plug wires with built-in capacitor." Nology's "HotWires" (called "Plasma Leads" in the UK) consist of unsuppressed solid metal or spiral conductor ignition wires over which braided metal sleeves are partially fitted. The braided metal sleeves are grounded via straps formed from part of the braiding. Insulating covers are fitted over the braided metal sleeves. These wires are well constructed. For whatever reason, Nology specifies that non-resistor spark plugs need to be used with their "HotWires." In a demonstration, the use of resistor plugs nullifies the visual effect of the brighter spark.

Ignition wires with grounded braided metal sleeves over the cable have come and gone all over the world for (at least) the last 30 years, and similar wires were used over 20 years ago by a few car makers to solve cross-firing problems on early fuel injected engines and RFI problems on fiberglass bodied cars — only to find other problems were created. The recent Circle Track Magazine (USA, May, 1996 issue) test showed Nology "HotWires" produced no additional horsepower (the test actually showed a 10 horsepower decrease when compared to stock carbon conductor wires).

The perceived effect a brighter spark, conducted by an ignition wire, encased or partially encased in a braided metal sleeve (shield) grounded to the engine, jumping across a huge free-air gap (which bears no relationship to the spark needed to fire the variable air/fuel mixture under pressure in a combustion chamber) is continually being re-discovered and cleverly demonstrated by marketers who convince themselves there's monetary value in such a bright spark, and all sorts of wild, completely un-provable claims are made for this phenomena.

Like many in the past, Nology cleverly demonstrates a brighter free-air spark containing useless flash-over created by the crude "capacitor" (effect) of this style of wire. In reality, the bright spark has no more useful energy to fire a variable compressed air/fuel mixture than the clean spark you would see in a similar demonstration using any good carbon conductor wire. What is happening in such a demonstration is the coil output is being unnecessarily boosted to additionally supply spark energy that is induced (and wasted) into the grounded braided metal sleeve around the ignition wire's jacket. To test the validity of this statement, ask the demonstrator to disconnect the ground strap and observe just how much energy is sparking to ground.

Claims by Nology of their "HotWires" creating sparks that are "300 times more powerful," reaching temperatures of "100,000 to 150,000 degrees F" (more than enough to melt spark plug electrodes), spark durations of "4 billionths of a second" (spark duration is controlled by the ignition system itself) and currents of "1,000 amperes" magically evolving in "capacitors" allegedly "built-in" to the ignition wires are as ridiculous as the data and the depiction of sparks in photographs used in advertising material and the price asked for these wires! Most stock ignition primaries are regulated to 6 amperes and the most powerful race ignition to no more than 40 amperes at 12,000 RPM.

It is common knowledge amongst automotive electrical engineers that it is unwise to use ignition wires fitted with grounded braided metal sleeves fitted over ignition cable jackets on an automobile engine. This type of ignition wires forces its cable jackets to become an unsuitable dielectric for a crude capacitor (effect) between the conductor and the braided metal sleeves. While the wires function normally when first fitted, the cable jackets soon break down as a dielectric, and progressively more spark energy is induced from the conductors (though the cable jackets) into the grounded metal sleeves, causing the ignition coil to unnecessarily output more energy to fire both the spark plug gaps and the additional energy lost via the braided metal sleeves. Often this situation leads to ignition coil and control unit overload failures. It should be noted that it is dangerous to use these wires if not grounded to the engine, as the grounding straps will be alive with thousands of volts wanting to ground-out to anything (or body) nearby.

Unless you are prepared to accept poorly suppressed ignition wires that fail sooner than any other type of ignition wires and stretch your ignition system to the limit, and have an engine with no electronic management system and/or exhaust emission controls, it's best not to be influenced by the exaggerated claims, and some vested-interest journalists', resellers' and installers' perception an engine has more power after Nology wires are fitted. Often, after replacing deteriorated wires, any new ignition wires make an engine run better.

Granted, it is biased as they are talking about a competitor, but a lot of it makes sense. If you think about it, "brightness" of spark has little to do with how efficiently it burns fuel. Visible brightness just means that more energy went into making electrons jump to a higher shell (if I understand quantum mechanics correctly). The thing that sucks about the performance industry is that everything is a closely guarded secret (understandably), so its very hard to find concrete evidence in the form of unbiased test results and such. I'll try to remember to print a copy and ask my physics professor about this.

phase2 has the KV85 for more than the NGK's and less than the Nology's. Not sure if they carry the R-100's.http://phase2motorsports.store....html

[sultan]

i love my magnecor r-100's, so huge and unnecessary for my bone stock KA.

hahahahahha, lol at me for buying these, impulse buuuuyyyyyy

[skydragoness]

Magnacor is some serious stuff. http://www.magnecor.com/ Have you ever seen a site that was so in depth? It seems one of their main selling points is superior EMI and RFI suppression, which seems to be the down fall of Nology wires and other more readily available mass market wires.

Also: http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm

Granted, it is biased as they are talking about a competitor, but a lot of it makes sense. If you think about it, "brightness" of spark has little to do with how efficiently it burns fuel. Visible brightness just means that more energy went into making electrons jump to a higher shell (if I understand quantum mechanics correctly). The thing that sucks about the performance industry is that everything is a closely guarded secret (understandably), so its very hard to find concrete evidence in the form of unbiased test results and such. I'll try to remember to print a copy and ask my physics professor about this.

phase2 has the KV85 for more than the NGK's and less than the Nology's. Not sure if they carry the R-100's.http://phase2motorsports.store....html

I read 3/4 of that when I visited their site as well. And I felt the same way, it all makes sense and exposes Nology for using silly pics to promote their product. But hey, when I sent the link to my friend the first thing she said was "oh well it's biast" I don't think she read it to glean out the sensical stuff they were saying. Besides, Magencore's are cheaper than Nology's by about $75, so it's not like they are making more of a profit than them.

[Bronze MFP]

coil on plug FTW!

people underestimate nissans ingition systems. KA-T guys are running around with 300+hp setups on stock ignition componenets, so a good wire always helps. I never had any trouble out of my OEM wires, but personally i'd get NGK if it were possible.

[Chezedik]

Magnacor is some serious stuff. http://www.magnecor.com/ Have you ever seen a site that was so in depth? It seems one of their main selling points is superior EMI and RFI suppression, which seems to be the down fall of Nology wires and other more readily available mass market wires.

Also: http://www.magnecor.com/magnecor1/truth.htm

Granted, it is biased as they are talking about a competitor, but a lot of it makes sense. If you think about it, "brightness" of spark has little to do with how efficiently it burns fuel. Visible brightness just means that more energy went into making electrons jump to a higher shell (if I understand quantum mechanics correctly). The thing that sucks about the performance industry is that everything is a closely guarded secret (understandably), so its very hard to find concrete evidence in the form of unbiased test results and such. I'll try to remember to print a copy and ask my physics professor about this.

phase2 has the KV85 for more than the NGK's and less than the Nology's. Not sure if they carry the R-100's.http://phase2motorsports.store....html

If you have ever seen an oscilliscope pattern of a firing coil, you would know that this is a 100% accurate statement, and is not biased. Now that I think about it, **** Nology, all of their 'innovovations' are bull****, including their Power Core's. This really puts a bad light on their Silverstones.