What is the purpose of multiple ground electrode plugs?
Will they give me multiple sparks? No, a spark plug with more than one ground electrode will NOT give you more than one spark at a time. Electricity is lazy, so it will always follow the path of least resistance. In the case of spark plugs with multiple ground electrodes, one ground electrode surface will always be just a little closer than the other, and hence it will receive the spark. As this surface begins to wear, the next closest ground electrode will then start receiving the spark. Then why use them in the first place? NGK offers many spark plugs with multiple electrode configurations. Each type is designed for a specific application, such as high voltage ignition systems with extremely high cylinder pressures, including some outboard engines, rotary engines and some import applications. The extra ground electrodes serve only to keep the ground electrodes cooler, extend the life of the plug, remove more heat, and to fire effectively in certain combustion chamber configurations w
