The Sunday News
Lovert Mafukure
Some things in life are small but essential. Like a heart, its small but without it there is no life at all. Same with a combustion engine, there are small things that are essential or there won’t be any va va voom. A spark plug is one such device that can make an engine run smooth or behave in a manner that will make you hate your car. A spark plug is a small device that creates the spark that ignites the fuel and air mixture in the engine. Most cars have four spark plugs but with different engines, one can have up to sixteen spark plugs. These little things need love and care.
They are like children; if you do not show them love, they will eventually have that “meh” attitude.
Spark plug maintenance
Under normal circumstances, spark plugs do not need high maintenance. It is wise however, to check every once in a while that they are still in good shape and are clean. Carbon build up on spark plugs can create an insulation that can make it impossible for ignition especially where the engine is also burning some oil or contaminated fuel. Oil leaks into the cylinder perhaps through worn valve guides and piston rings can eventually coat the plug electrode with oil deposits and make it harder to start the car and causes misfire as well.
Occasionally it is worth the while to check plugs to make sure they are clean. Repairing the leak however, is the best thing to do when you see oily residues on spark plugs. Oily residues on spark plugs are sign that something is amiss and it’s always wise to take care of the problem from its roots.
When to change plugs
Naturally, you ought to change plugs at specified intervals as the user manual directs but I know most people do not have the luxury of having user manuals in a language they can actually understand so I hope this helps. When your car misfires, it can be bad or worn out plug. Before even calling the mechanic, you can pull some DIY stunts and you might just be lucky to find a bad plug. There are plenty other causes of a misfire like broken HT Leads, faulty coil-packs, distributors and sometimes water where it is not supposed to be. Spark plugs may always be the first port of call when checking for misfire.
Reduced power and more fuel consumption can also be traced back to worn plugs; anything that causes incomplete combustion also paves way for higher fuel consumption. The spark from the spark plug makes the difference whether you car is going to start or not, whether it is going to perform efficiently or not. Difficulties when starting the engine may also point to faulty or dirty spark plugs. If your engine cranks a lot before running you may need to check the condition of the plugs.
There are different types of plugs i.e. copper and platinum/iridium tip plugs. The type of plug you use determines when they will need to be replaced. Copper plugs are high performance due to their high conductivity but they do not last long. Of the three they have the shortest life span. Platinum tip plugs have a longer life span lasting up to four times longer than copper plugs. They do not come cheap though, they cost more than the copper plugs. Many people have been asking when to change plugs on JDM Spec vehicles, most of these cars come with platinum tip plugs.
Platinum tip plugs are designed to last close to 100 000km sometimes even more. You may not need to change them every time you service your car changing oils because sometimes they even outlive the car. It’s tricky however, because you may not know what mileage the plugs were changed at but those are some of the cons of buying used vehicles. Checking the condition of the plugs is paramount in situations like these so that you know what you are dealing with. You may want to start your own cycle when they start playing up.
Worn spark plugs usually cause an engine to misfire. A misfiring engine usually has strong vibrations and does not run smooth. This may be a result of one or more cylinders not firing because of a worn spark plug. This may not be the only reason why an engine would misfire but usually one of the major reasons so when you have such issues then it might be time to attend to your plugs.
Checking the plugs
Older cars are quite easy to deal with. Everything is out in the open. Newer cars however, have all kinds of funny gadgetry going on under the hood but it’s not usually anything impossible for the DIY enthusiast. The condition of the plug should simply be the same way they were when they were new. If they are clogged it’s a tell tale sign for something not right. If the plug is clogged with black soot, it may indicate that the car is running on a too rich fuel mixture. If the plug is oily, it also means a leak somewhere. Cleaning them can do the trick for a smoother performance.
Cleaning Spark Plugs
Whenever you find damaged plugs, always replace and when you get the right interval, replace all of them at once when they are due to avoid major problems. The engine does not need foreign particles to fall into the combustion chamber. Whenever you check plugs you would want to make sure that the area around the plughole is clean, if not clean it first. Any debris falling into the combustion chamber may cause all kinds of problems for you. A small brush with a cleaning agent can do the trick for the spark plug. Ideally, you would want to use a quick drying liquid like injector cleaner or carb cleaner to clean the plugs.
Spark plugs are essential for take care of them and they will take you the extra mile. Till Next time . . .Keep the spark alive.
Lovert Mafukure is a Japanese Imports consultant. For comments or questions regarding all Japanese imports, spares and maintenance you can contact him on WhatsApp+263772339938, mailto:[email protected] or twitter @lovert116
