Spark Plug
Spark Plug
How To Check Your Spark Plugs
For the non-expert, spark plugs are among those car parts that they know are important. They may not know exactly why, but they are sure that without a working set of sparks, the car will not go. Other than that, they will be as unsure of what these mythic items do as they are of much else pertaining to cars - that is to say, very unsure indeed. Well, the spark plugs - faithful to their name - help with the ignition of the car and without them, the car would not start. And even if they are only slightly faulty, they will affect how the car starts, potentially in a very big way.
Badly fitted, or badly firing spark plugs will have the effect of making your car start fitfully, run poorly and will also see it give terrible fuel efficiency. If none of this bothers you much, then you do not need spark plugs. You also do not need a car, and a bicycle would be a better mode of transport for you.
To check your spark plugs, you will need to go under the hood. Depending on the kind of engine you have, the spark plugs will be lined up along the side of it. In a normal four-cylinder engine, there will be four spark plugs lined up along one side of it. These will fit into the cylinder heads on the engine. Have you ever heard the phrase "firing on all four cylinders"? Well, this is what they are talking about. The gasoline, compressed within the cylinders, is ignited by the spark from the spark plug. Hence the "ignition" part too. See how important all of this is?
To correctly check the spark plugs you will need to remove them. This should be done one at a time - otherwise the process may become confusing and if done incorrectly, spark plug gapping can make for a disastrous scenario. You are looking for debris, or any signs that the plug is poorly operational. All debris should be wiped away, as its presence in such an important part of the cars performance will make for poor starting and even worse driving. The plug itself should be removed using a socket and ratchet set, turning in a counter-clockwise direction. A ratchet set with flexible heads would be best if your spark plugs are deep-set, as these can be hard to reach but without removing them the sparks cannot be checked.
Looking at the spark plug, you will be able to tell that it is correctly operational by its appearance. It needs to be lightly covered with a greyish-brown deposit. If this deposit is heavy, if the plug is black, or the plug looks damaged in any non-superficial capacity, then it needs to be replaced. Replacing spark plugs is best left to a mechanic with some experience, because the damage done by incorrectly fitting them can be irrevocable.
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Don't pay more than you have to for auto insurance! Discover the fast and free way to shop for the best quotes on auto insurance from respected insurance companies. Save money with the automotive coverage you need at a good price, all from the comfort of your own home or office.
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How to Check Your Spark Plugs
A spark plug is a device which uses electric sparks to function. It is fitted on the head of cylinders found in engines and is used to ignite aerosol gasoline that has been compressed through the creation of sparks. It has a center electrode that is insulated and has been joined by use of a wire which is also insulated to the ignition coil on the outside or a magneto circuit thereby forming a spark gap in the cylinder through the use of a grounded terminal that can be found beneath the plug. Spark plugs are required to be replaced when at least 20000 miles have been covered, usually when the car has been scheduled for routine maintenance. They should be checked every 10, 000 miles or annually. It is important to note that a spark plug not functioning properly will affect the status of the car significantly as they could lead to the car not starting. Therefore, it is very important that they are checked regularly and are properly maintained even as one routinely maintains the other parts of the car.
When one is looking to inspect the spark plugs in the car, to check for their viability some steps should be followed. Firstly, one will need to locate the lever which is situated underneath the dash board and pull on it so as to release the hood. The second step is to walk to the car’s front, reach beneath the hood, hold the latch and give it a squeeze to unlock the hood then locate your spark plug. They are usually in a row along on one engine side and are connected to some wires which are very thick. Alternatively in other engines such as the V- shaped ones, the plugs are usually located on either side. One is strongly advised to change these plugs one by one and to always return its wire before changing another one. The procedure involves first of all pulling off a single such wire at the point where it is connected with the plug. At the side of the wire where the plug is located, there is some form of rubber. This is the part that the spark plug should be pulled from. If one pulls a bit higher than that then they risk damaging the wire as it can separate from the junction.
After a spark plug has been pulled, one should first of all remove the dirt and any unwanted material that may be surrounding the plug. This is in order to avoid debris falling in your cylinder when the plug has been disengaged. The plug is removed by turning in an anticlockwise manner using the spark plug socket and ratchet. If the plugs can not be easily accessed, one will need a ratchet extension. It is advisable to use one with a head that is flexible. After this, one can now check the plug to see if it needs to be replaced. A spark plug that is still in good condition should have a light coating of some deposits that are grayish brown in color.
About the Author
Don't pay more than you have to for auto insurance! Discover the fast and free way to shop for the best quotes on auto insurance from respected insurance companies. Save money with the automotive coverage you need at a good price, all from the comfort of your own home or office.