How Often Should I Have My Spark Plugs Replaced? 

Spark plugs are important engine components that are often forgotten about due to the fact that they operate in the engines of vehicles out of sight. Spark plugs are located at the top of an engine’s cylinder head. If you are looking for the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine, you can easily find them by following the ignition coil wires of your vehicle. As they operate in an engine, spark plugs undergo thousands of cycles. Over time, the spark plugs of an engine can wear down and become weaker, eventually failing to operate. Before spark plugs fail, however, there are several warning signs that they will produce. Upon noticing the warning signs, drivers should seek to replace the spark plugs that are in their vehicles’ engines.

Spark Plug Replacement Schedule

It is a common practice for drivers to change the spark plugs that are in their vehicles’ engines around every 30,000 miles. However, some spark plugs can last up to 80,000 miles before they need to be replaced. There are many different types of spark plugs that are available on the market, and the engines of the vehicles that they operate in also play roles in their longevity. To determine the best spark plug replacement routine for your specific vehicle, refer to the owner’s manual for the vehicle. In the vehicle’s owner’s manual you will find what your vehicle’s manufacturer recommends for the vehicle, including the correct spark plugs that should be used in your vehicle.

The Importance of Spark Plugs

Spark plugs play a very important part in the operation of an engine. As their name describes, spark plugs provide spark for your vehicle’s engine. If your vehicle is fueled by gasoline, as diesel engines do not use spark plugs, it goes through a process that is known as a combustion cycle. During the engine’s combustion cycle, a mixture of air and gasoline is compressed and combusted to allow the engine to produce power. After the air-fuel mixture is compressed within an engine’s cylinder, the spark plug of the cylinder produces a spark, immediately combusting the mixture of air and gasoline. The air and fuel combustion that a spark plug initiates forces the piston of the cylinder to move down, which in turn rotates the crankshaft of the engine. Every cylinder of an engine has this combustion cycle taking place within its chamber, which is why there is typically one and sometimes two spark plugs for each cylinder in an engine.

Bad Spark Plug Symptoms

There are several warning signs that spark plugs give when they are worn-out and about to fail. One of the most notable signs that the spark plugs in your vehicle are wearing out is the rough running condition of the vehicle’s engine. A result of improper timing or a failure to spark, the spark plugs of your vehicle may not ignite the air-fuel mixtures of your vehicle’s engine, causing the engine to run poorly. Along with this, you may notice your vehicle’s engine misfiring. Misfiring can be both heard and felt.

When the spark plugs of your vehicle’s engine are worn out, the engine will perform poorly. You will notice a decrease in power, and your vehicle may accelerate slower, which can be dangerous. The engine may also burn more fuel to compensate for the uncombusted air and fuel that is in its cylinders. This added fuel, in itself, can cause additional issues for your vehicle, as it will begin to leave deposits on the components within your vehicle’s engine and in the vehicle’s exhaust system.

Complete Spark Plug Failure

Spark plugs can fail in multiple ways. The complete failure of a spark plug can potentially wreak havoc on a vehicle’s engine. While the actual damage to an engine can vary based on how the engine’s spark plug fails and the steps that are taken after the spark plug fails, there is still damage that can be done to the engine due to the fact that the tips of a spark plug, where the electric arcs are created, can break off when the spark plug fails. These metal fragments can then fall into the engine and move around the engine while it is rapidly completing its combustion cycle.

Conclusion

The spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine are small but they play a very vital role in your vehicle. Without properly functioning spark plugs, your vehicle will be unable to run and may leave you frustrated. However, practicing a proper maintenance routine will help you to prevent common issues that drivers have with their vehicles. At Jessup Auto Plaza, we can help you maintain your vehicle. Contact us if you would like to learn more about maintaining the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine or to schedule a service with us.

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