JimmyZ wrote:I have two very big problems with Nology Hotwires that I've posted in the forums before, and maybe it's time I did again:

1. They advertise that they have a "capacitor" in the wires that makes the spark hotter. What they actually have is a wire braid that is wrapped around the wire itself, creating a capacitive effect. The problem is that by doing it that way, they are using the insulation of the wire as a capacitive dielectric which, at those voltage levels, will degrade the insulation. Internally, they are nothing but standard resistor core ignition wires that offer nothing to increase voltage delivered to the plugs.

2. They alter ignition timing. It's a simple fact that wires do not create sparks. Wires are simply the means of delivery for the voltage that is produced by the coils. A normal ignition system on a J, depending on engine RPM, will produce a spark that has a duration of 15-30 degrees of crankshaft rotation. That is a consistent, even spark that starts at the point the computer determines it needs to and fires as long as the coil's saturation level allows. That is through conventional wires (or contacts, in the case of IDI-style ignitions). Nology wires use their primitive little capacitive effect to store the voltage once it starts coming down the wire...charging the "capacitor" until the voltage stops coming...then releases it. Neat idea, except that the spark is now hitting the plug and your combustion chamber 15-30 degrees later than it was intended to. I guess a built in timing retard like that would be good for you boost and nitrous guys, but what about the NA crowd?

SO their advertising is 100% true...their wires deliver a hotter spark. What they fail to tell you is that the hotter spark is much shorter duration and is grossly mistimed.

So, the way I see it you have a wire that, by design, will slowly destroy itself. As an added bonus, you have a theory of operation that is potentially damaging to your motor and definitely isn't good for power production or fuel consumption.