Changing The Spark Plugs

Changing the spark plugs of your car is a straightforward piece of car maintenance which should be within the abilities of any motorist, like changing the oil filter, no matter how inexperienced. The spark plugs are the part of the engine which keeps your car running smoothly and performing to its full capacity. They keep your fuel mileage nice and high so knowing how to maintain them, change them and knowing how having a bad one will affect your driving are all things every driver should learn.

Why Change Spark Plugs

The spark plugs of your car basically work as a high voltage bridge for the electric charges in your engine. They are what carry the energy which will ignite the fuel and make your car run. In general, you don't actually need to change your plugs that often, though this will depend on the make and model you drive. For most modern vehicles changing the spark plugs once every 80,000 miles is generally recommended.

Spark plugs can, however, become corrupted in your engine before this, so knowing how to spot this if it happens is absolutely vital. The main symptoms of faulty plugs are your car making an unusually loud amount of noise, the petrol in your car running out quicker than before or your exhaust pipe producing much thicker smoke than usual. If you notice any of those things happening to your vehicle you should check your spark plugs.

Installing New Spark Plugs

The first step is to open up the bonnet of your car and locate your spark plugs. Their exact location will depend on your vehicle but usually they can be found on the top of the engine. Once you find them you can start checking to see if they are damaged. They will be screwed into the engine and attached to HT leads. To check them you'll need to take each one out individually, rather than taking them all out at once.

The reason you need to do this is each plug is connected to the HT lead it corresponds to in the engine. If you take all the spark plugs (which look the same) out straight away, and then reconnect them to the wrong leads you will seriously affect the performance of your car. It is better off not to risk mixing them up.

Remove the HT lead from the top of your spark plug and then loosen the plug with a wrench or spanner. Pull it out carefully and inspect it. It is normal for the plug to be somewhat worn down and sooty but it if it is particularly dirty or oily it is fouled. If you can clean all the dirt off you might be able to salvage the plug but, most likely, you'll need to replace it.

When you buy a new set of spark plugs make sure you are getting the exact same dimension of spark plug as the one you are replacing. If you aren't sure, check in your manual. When you have the correct replacement plug, carefully slot it in place in your engine and screw it in by hand, making sure to keep it straight. Once you have tightened it as much as you can, secure it with a spanner and re-fit the HT lead. Your car should now be running as good as new again.

This simple job will keep your car running at its highest level for much longer. You should know how changing the spark plugs affect your driving and know the signs that they might be in need of a change. It will save money and keep you safe in the long run.

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