Spark plug marking - NGK, Bosch, Brisk, Beru, Champion

A spark plug is a small device that provides the spark to ignite the air/fuel mixture in carbureted or injection gasoline engines. It would seem that there are no special requirements for it, the main thing is to get a spark. However, if you go to any car shop, you will be offered a lot of options that differ from each other in a variety of ways:

• production - domestic Ufa plant, NGK, Bosch, Brisk and so on;
• device - one electrode, multi-electrode;
• the size of the spark gap;
• heat number;
• electrode metal - platinum, iridium, copper alloy;
• connecting dimensions - thread pitch, turnkey hexagon size, length of the threaded part.

In a word, without some special knowledge you can’t figure it out. True, both drivers and sales assistants from spare parts stores are saved by various catalogs and interchangeability tables, which indicate that, for example, a Russian-made candle for the VAZ 2105 - A17DV will correspond to such candles from other manufacturers:

• Brisk — L15Y;
• Autolite - 64;
• Bosch—W7DC;
• NGK — BP6ES.

You can also bring about a dozen other well-known manufacturers from different countries and we will see that the same candle, with the same parameters, will be designated in its own way.

The question arises - why not introduce a single marking for all? In Russia, for example, one marking is adopted for all manufacturers. There is no answer yet.

How are Russian-made spark plugs marked?

In Russia, marking is carried out in accordance with OST 37.003.081. The marking consists of letters and numbers, for example A11, A26DV-1 or A23-2 and so on. What do these numbers and letters mean?

The first letter is the size of the thread on the case. Usually there is a standard size - M14x1,25, it is denoted by the letter "A". If we see the letter “M”, then the thread size is M18x1,5, that is, it will already be a candle with a longer turnkey threaded part of 27, such candles were used before.

The number immediately after the letter indicates the heat number. The lower it is, the higher temperatures a spark occurs.

Those candles that are produced in Russia have an index of glow number from 8 to 26. The most common are 11, 14 and 17. According to this parameter, candles are divided into “cold” and “hot”. Cold ones are used on highly accelerated engines.

For example, candle A17DV:

• standard thread;
• heat number - 17;
• D - the length of the threaded part is 9 millimeters (if it is shorter, then the letter is not written);
• B - the thermal cone of the insulator protruding.

If we see the designation A17DVR, then the presence of the letter “P” indicates an interference suppression resistor in the central electrode. The letter "M" at the end of the marking indicates the heat-resistant copper material of the shell of the central electrode.

Well, if we see, for example, the designation AU17DVRM, then the letter "U" indicates an increased size of the turnkey hexagon - not 14 mm, but 16 millimeters. If the size is even larger - 19 millimeters, then instead of "U" the letter "M" will be used - AM17B.

Marking candles of foreign manufacturers

The principle of marking foreign manufacturers is basically the same as in Russia, but all this is indicated by different numbers and letters. Therefore, confusion is possible. However, it is usually indicated on the packaging for which car models this candle is suitable. In addition, you can easily find an interchangeability table.

NGK

NGK is a Japanese company, the world leader in the production of spark plugs.

The marking of candles looks like this:

• B4H - corresponds to our A11;
• BPR6ES - A17DVR.

What do these numbers mean?

B4H - Diameter and thread pitch - Latin letter "B" - M14x1,25, other sizes are indicated - A, C, D, J.

4 - glow number. There may also be designations from two to 11. "H" - the length of the threaded part - 12,7 millimeters.

BPR6ES - standard thread, "P" - projection insulator, "R" - there is a resistor, 6 - glow number, "E" - thread length 17,5 mm, "S" - candle features (standard electrode).

If we see a number through a hyphen after marking, for example BPR6ES-11, then it marks the gap between the electrodes, that is, 1,1 millimeters.

Bosch

Marking on the same principle - WR7DC:

• W - standard thread 14;
• R - resistance against interference, resistor;
• 7 - glow number;
• D is the length of the threaded part, in this case 19, the advanced position of the spark;
• C - copper alloy of the electrode (S - silver, P - platinum, O - standard composition).

That is, we see that the WR7DC candle corresponds to the domestic A17DVR, which is usually screwed into the head of the VAZ 2101-2108 block and many other models.

Brisk

Brisk is a Czech company that has existed since 1935, its products are very popular with us.

Candles are marked as follows:

DOR15YC-1:

• D - body size 19 mm, turnkey 14, standard thread 1,25 mm;
• O - special design in accordance with the ISO standard;
• R is a resistor (X is the protective resistance against the burning of the electrodes);
• 15 - glowing number (from 08 to 19, it is also interesting that superstitious Czechs do not use index 13);
• Y is a remote arrester;
• C - copper electrode core (corresponds to the first letters of the Latin names of the elements - IR - iridium);
• 1 - gap between electrodes 1-1,1 mm.

Beru

Beru is a German premium brand of Federal-Mogul, which produces a wide variety of aftermarket parts, including spark plugs.

The designation of the candle is indicated in this form - 14R-7DU (corresponds to A17DVR).

From here we get:

• 14 - thread 14x1,25 mm;
• built-in resistor;
• heat number 7 (from 7 to 13);
• D - length of the threaded part 19 mm with cone seal;
• U - copper-nickel electrode.

14F-7DTUO: standard size spark plug, seat larger than nut (F), for low power motors (T) with o-ring, O - reinforced center electrode.

Champion

You can also deal with the candles of this manufacturer without much difficulty, especially if the candle is in front of your eyes.

Here is a simple example of decryption.

RN9BYC4:

• resistor (E - screen, O - wire resistor);
• N - standard thread, length 10 millimeters;
• 9 - glow number (1-25);
• BYC - copper core and two side electrodes (A - standard design, B - side electrodes);
• 4 - spark gap (1,3 mm).

That is, this candle is a multi-electrode version of A17DVRM.

You can give a lot of examples of deciphering the designations on products from other manufacturers. Popular, in addition to those listed, we have the following brands (we will indicate how they label the most common type of spark plug A17DVR):

• AC Delco USA — CR42XLS;
• Autolite USA - 64;
• EYQUEM (France, Italy) - RC52LS;
• Magneti Marelli (Italy) - CW7LPR;
• Nippon Denso (Czech Republic) - W20EPR.

It is clear that we have given the simplest examples of decryption. New solutions are constantly emerging, for example, the central electrode is made not from copper-nickel alloys, but from more expensive metals - iridium, platinum, silver. Such candles will cost more, but they will also last longer.

If you don’t know whether it is possible to put this candle on your engine, then first of all look for the interchangeability table and carefully re-read the instructions for your car.

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