A spark plug is a small device that plugs into the engine, more specifically into the cylinder, and provides the spark for combustion via a conduit connecting the battery to the spark plug. A household consumer engine typically has as many spark plugs as there are cylinders, so an inline-four has four plugs, and a V8 has eight plugs. Some cars, however, feature two spark plugs per cylinder for more precise ignition.
A: If you want to use a hard rule for changing spark plugs, rather than changing based on the condition of the plug, they should be serviced roughly every 30,000 miles. However, know that they might fail sooner than that, or a lot later.
how often to change spark plugs
Worn/failed spark plugs, coil packs, or spark plug wires can trigger your check engine light to come on. In today's cars, say Firestone Complete Auto Care technicians, if a plug starts to fail then the most obvious event should be the check engine light coming on or even flashing.
In general, it's best to replace spark plugs as part of preventative maintenance based on manufacturer's specifications. This can help save you from costly repairs, as driving with misfiring spark plugs could put undue stress on your car's catalytic converter (the engine's exhaust cleaner).
Your spark plugs have one of the most important jobs in your vehicle, which is to provide the spark that powers the engine! Old, worn out spark plugs have a harder time creating the spark that actually powers your engine. If your car stalls when you are trying to turn it on, there could be a problem with spark plugs or damaged spark plug wires. The battery is most likely the culprit if your car has no power and won't start at all.
Typically (hopefully!) your engine probably purrs like a kitten, but turn down your music and take a listen. If you notice that the engine is making rattling, pinging, or knock-like noises, your spark plugs might be to blame.
Keep in mind that once your plugs have endured 80,000 miles, they are four fifths worn. The gap in each plug is only going to continue to widen, reducing fuel efficiency and weakening engine performance. For this reason, we recommend that you service your spark plugs every 30,000 miles to monitor their condition.
Spark plugsdon't last forever. Like most other parts of your vehicle, your spark plugs canonly go for so long before they require replacement. When it comes to replacingspark plugs, however, the common question is usually "when?"
How oftenyou should have your spark plugs replaced depends on a lot of variables,including your vehicle manufacturer's own recommendations and your vehicle'scurrent performance and condition. Let's dive in deeper for some more concreteanswers.
Most carshave at least as many spark plugs as cylinders, although many vehicles have a"dual spark" set up that doubles the number of spark plugs used per cylinderfor more precise ignition and better performance. Some spark plugs use a copperelectrode, although most modern spark plugs use iridium or platinum for a morereliable and precise spark.
Why Do My Spark Plugs Keep Going Bad?Unless youactually remove and carefully inspect your spark plugs, it's hard to tell ifand when they suddenly go bad. However, there are a few symptoms that couldgive you a heads-up to trouble on the horizon. If your care exhibits any of thefollowing, then you may want to have a professional check your spark plugs:
Taking goodcare of your engine is the key to long-lived spark plugs. For instance, regularoil changes help prevent spark plugs from becoming fouled with unwanteddeposits. Most spark plugs also come pre-gapped for ease of installation, butit's always a good idea to double-check the gap prior to installation.
Why ChangeYour Spark Plugs at All?You'reprobably wondering "why should I even bother changing my spark plugs at all?"As mentioned before, spark plugs play a crucial role in your engine'soperation. Leaving the same set of spark plugs in your engine well beyond theirrecommended replacement interval could potentially damage your engine, letalone have consequences for your vehicle's overall performance.
Not onlydoes your vehicle start and drive more smoothly with fresh spark plugs, butyou'll also improve your vehicle's emissions. If you live in an area withactive vehicle emissions testing, then you know how important it is to keepevery part of your vehicle in top shape.
Otherfactors that could affect your vehicle's spark plug replacement intervalinclude how you use your vehicle. If you subject your vehicle to highperformance driving on a regular basis, for example, you may need to changeyour spark plugs more often. Constant idling, frequent towing and driving insevere heat or cold weather conditions may increase how often you'll need toreplace your spark plugs.
The easiestway to find out how often you'll have to replace your spark plugs is simply byfollowing your vehicle owner's manual. It'll have all of the information you'llneed to ensure your vehicle receives timely care.
That longevity is a product of the electronic controls that precisely manage the air-fuel mixture and when the spark plugs ignite that mixture, as well as improvements to the plugs themselves. The spark plugs in many vehicles today have iridium or platinum tips on the electrodes (the parts that transmit the spark) that last longer than conventional plugs with copper and nickel-alloy electrodes.
After 75,000 miles or more, spark plug electrodes might be worn or there might be light deposits on them, but the electronic engine controls will adjust the air-fuel mix and spark timing to compensate, so there probably will be only a slight loss of performance or fuel economy, if any. Unless the engine is performing poorly, replacing the plugs ahead of schedule might not produce dramatic improvements and the cost could outweigh the benefit.
When manufacturers say that maintenance such as replacing spark plugs should be done only every 100,000 miles or longer, many vehicle owners think of them as lifetime parts. However, there are limits even for iridium-tipped plugs, and some manufacturers, such as Toyota, warn that not replacing them on schedule can void the emissions warranty.
There are two types of spark plugs, long-life plugs, and conventional plugs. Long-life plugs are usually platinum or iridium tipped thus they perform for a longer time. Long-life plugs needed to be changed every 60,000 to 150,000 miles, whereas conventional plugs should be changed every 30,000 to 50,000 miles.
Worn-out spark plugs can also be the cause of ignition coil failure. An ignition coil creates a high-voltage impulse to generate electrical sparks to start the engine. If the ignition coil fails, the car will give an indicator to check the engine.
Experts say we can check the spark plugs from time to time for damages, or if the car is giving signs of spark plug failure. Usually, people would check the spark plugs when there are signs of engine misfiring or rough accelerations, etc.
If the spark plugs are not overheated, have a very low deposit of oil, are not clogged and the color of the plugs are grey or tan, this means that the engine is still in good condition even if the plugs are old.
This causes the engine to hang in between or run abruptly, or if the engine is still cold after starting, but everything becomes normal after a short drive. This is when spark plugs should be replaced immediately.
If a car has a conventional spark plug it is always recommended to change them before their mileage limitation is due. On the other hand, if the spark plugs are long-life iridium or platinum-tipped plug, which is said to give miles up to 100,000 to 150,000.
Sometimes service center technicians may offer to change the spark plugs when they reach 50,000 miles, even when the engine is running smoothly and there are no gas or fuel problems then this is very early to be replaced considering that they are long-life spark plugs.
Although it is stated by many that long-life spark plugs can last longer than their running miles period because they have durable electrodes, it may still fail if carbon is deposited in the electrodes and the ignition coil may fail also if the spark plugs run for a very long time then usual.
Replacing spark plugs means buying a new set of spark plugs and wires, and if the car owner does not know how to change them, it will require a professional installation. Spark plugs come in two types thus their prices also vary, the prices of the plugs may depend on the type of the car sometimes too though this is very unlikely.
If the engine design is normal, replacing spark plugs will be easier thus they may charge from 50 to 120 USD, but if the engine is an uncommon one then their charges will change according to its difficulty, which may go from 250 to 400 USD.
The electrodes on a spark plug must be clean and sharp to produce the powerful spark required for ignition. The more worn or dirty spark plugs are, the more voltage - and the greater the tug on the rewind - required to produce an adequate spark.
If the engine tries to turn over (even for a second) and dies, then you have spark. This would indicate the problem probably lies somewhere else (fuel, carburetor, valves, etc.). If the engine does not turn over at all, then there may be a problem with your ignition system. The first thing to do is change the spark plug.
Still have questions? Watch this easy guide to change the spark plug or find more tips for troubleshooting lawn mower engine problems, check out our full list of Frequently Asked Question on Repairing Small Engines or contact a Briggs & Stratton service dealer near you.
Spark plugs are essential in a vehicle's combustion engine as they influence everything, including gas mileage and acceleration. This means for your vehicle's engine to perform well; it has to be appropriately maintained. So, how often should you change your spark plugs? What happens if you don't replace spark plugs in time? This article includes a step to step guide on how to change your vehicle's spark plugs. 2ff7e9595c
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