Where Is The Coil Now?

unit731 · October 18, 2007

Do modern engines still have a single coil?

Or has everything been changed and there are multiple coils. Or some computer chip module.

hoorders · October 18, 2007

Do modern engines still have a single coil?

Or has everything been changed and there are multiple coils. Or some computer chip module.

Most modern engines now have individual coils for each cylinder.......basicall sits right above each spark plug.......at least the chevy gas engines do...........not sure about other manufacturers..............so no more distributor cap and rotor.

BradsLT · October 18, 2007

As far as I know. I just got rid of my 2003 Cobra and it had a coil on plug system. So did my Lightning I had right before the mustang.

hotwheels57 · October 18, 2007

Good question! I wonder if any manufacturer uses an old technology distributor and single coil system anymore?

The advantage is obvious with coil on plug technology...the likelihood of all 4-5-6-8-10 coils failing at the same time is unlikely.

pwall · October 18, 2007

Another advantage is that each cylinder has the exact same length of wire, and thus would get the same amount of spark.

Also, when changing wires, doesn't matter which wire goes where as they're all the same. ;)

Zembonez · October 18, 2007

Good question! I wonder if any manufacturer uses an old technology distributor and single coil system anymore?
The advantage is obvious with coil on plug technology...the likelihood of all 4-5-6-8-10 coils failing at the same time is unlikely.

With some kind of crankshaft position sensor and modern electronics everything is much more precise. Engine management software can vary fuel and spark to get the best performance for a given situation. I'm sure this was emissions driven to begin with. Good old EPA... They actually gave us a performance advantage by accident here.

NathanL · October 18, 2007

I had a V-6 onces that had a coil for every 2 cyclinders. Each cylinder fired on the compression stroke and between exhaust and intake stroke. IE twice thru the cycle instead of once. Obviously nothing happened the second time but I guess it cleaned the spark plug good and it had 3 coils for the V-6.

VENNOM · October 18, 2007

If it doesn't have an individual coil for each cylinder, it'll have a "waste spark" type distributor-less ignition. Where a pair of plugs in opposing firing cylinders share a coil. example2.2, 3.1 3.8... gm cars, the new hemi (actually has one coil per plug with a wire running to opposing cylinder also)...