Is your engine running strangely? Is it misfiring and causing cuts in power production? If so, it may be time to change out your spark plugs. Here are a few things to look out for and consider when changing out your spark plugs.
When To Change Spark Plugs
Many people make the mistake of thinking that their spark plugs will work for 100k miles. While some spark plugs are rated for this type of wear and tear, some spark plug are only rated up to 30k miles. It’s important to follow the spark plug manufacturer recommendation as this will ensure that you have working spark plugs that don’t have damaged alumina.
If you aren’t sure your spark plugs need replacing, one way is to take them out and look at them. Please keep in mind that the work involved to removing your spark plugs is a little involved, so if you are going to go through this process, you might as well just replace the spark plugs to be safe.
Signs Of A Bad Spark Plug
One of the easiest ways to determine if your plugs need to be replaced is by knowing the mileage they are good for. For example, if your spark plugs are rated for 100k miles, and you have 80k miles on your car, you know that your spark plugs are 80% worn. This gives you a good idea mathematically when you should need to replace your spark plugs.
Visually, you can know if a spark plug needs to be replaced based on the wear and tear of the alumina and metal. If there is a lot of carbon scoring, or black color, you know they are probably worn out and need to be replaced.
Hire A Professional
If you know what you are doing, installing new spark plugs isn’t that hard. However, if you have never done it before, hiring a professional is the best way to ensure you don’t damage your engine.