Spark plug having self-cleaning of carbon deposits

Abstract

The present invention provides a spark plug that includes a center electrode extending in an axial direction, a ceramic insulator having an axial hole formed in the axial direction to retain the center electrode in a front side of the axial hole and thereby form an assembly unit of the center electrode and the ceramic insulator, a metal shell surrounding an outer circumference of the ceramic insulator to retain therein the assembly unit, and a ground electrode having one end portion joined to a front end face of the metal shell and the other end portion facing the center electrode to define a spark gap therebetween, wherein the spark plug satisfies the following conditions: H≧1 mm, Vc≦17 mmand Ra≧1.0×10K/(m·W) where H is a length by which the ceramic insulator protrudes toward the front from the front end face of the metal shell in the axial direction; Vc is a volume of part of the ceramic insulator extending within a range of 2 mm from a front end of the ceramic insulator toward the rear in the axial direction; and Ra is a thermal resistance per unit length, excluding air space, at 20° C. at a cross section of the assembly unit taken perpendicular to the axial direction at a position 2 mm away from the front end of the ceramic insulator.