Spark plugs are needed for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the engine. Their service life depends on the material they're made of. On the average, it is 20,000 – 30,000 km of mileage for copper, nickel, chromium-nickel and copper-nickel components, 60,000 – 70,000 — for platinum, 70,000 – 90,000 — for silver, 70,000 – 100,000 — for yttrium, and 80,000 – 100,000 — for golden spark plugs.
What is important to know about spark plug replacement
- The unsatisfactory state of these components is evidenced by troubled engine start, reduced engine power, and unstable idling. Increased fuel consumption is often observed. Engine malfunctions cause vibrations transmitted to the body.
- It is better to entrust the replacement of these components to professionals, since any errors during installation may have serious consequences. For example, installation without using a torque wrench results in overtightening. This damages the components and causes the ingress of metal particles into the combustion chamber. This, in turn, results in malfunctions of the engine components.
- Remember that when installing new components, there is a risk of damaging the thread in the cylinder head. This may lead to an engine overhaul, which is never cheap. Besides, you should bear in mind that connecting the high-voltage wires to the components request utmost caution.
- All the components are to be replaced simultaneously, therefore it is advisable to buy spark plugs in a kit. The number of elements in a kit depends on vehicle make and model. Most often, there is one component for each cylinder, in rare cases — two spark plugs per cylinder.
- Using high-quality fuel allows avoiding accelerated wear of the components. This is due to the fact that impurities in the fuel provoke deposit formation on the insulator and the electrodes. This results in their gradual destruction.