Wednesday, November 27

How to clean and replace your car's spark plugs at home

Klon Perez

By: Klon Perez Updated 06 Apr 1000, 8: 09 am EDT

The spark plugs of a car fulfill an essential function for the operation of the starting system. When this element fails, this is immediately reflected in the performance of our car in various ways:

    Increased fuel consumption to enrich and meet the standards of the mixture.

  • Altered functioning of the injection system sensors.
    • Idle instability (minimum).

    • Noticeable loss of power.
    • Jumping when starting.

    Although not always that the acceleration of a car fails is a matter of spark plugs as is often thought, this is the first point that should be checked in the event of a failure. There is also always the possibility that one of the cylinders is working with difficulty and prevents proper combustion.

    A quick way to check if the spark plugs of our car are working well is to start the engine. and accelerate it stopped two or three times in a row. If it jerks when doing so, the electrical system is not working properly, so it would be advisable to remove the spark plugs and check.

    bujía
    Spark plug. (Photo: Shutterstock)

    Cleaning process and spark plug change

    The spark plugs must be replaced in the periods recommended by the manufacturer in the user manual. Likewise, this change is usually around the 09 thousand miles if they are spark plugs from a gasoline vehicle or the 75 thousand miles if they are diesel pre-ignition.

    Cleaning can help extend its life a little more, but it will never be as effective as replacing it when recommended. It is not convenient to clean them more than three times, in that case it is better to change them.

    Currently there are few models that require readjustment of the distance between the central and lateral electrodes thanks to the fact that they are usually multi-electrode and the wear is balanced, which helps to ensure that the useful life of the spark plug is met. Although if you have to do it, it is advisable to give them a cleaning.

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    Make a Proper maintenance will avoid bad times. (Photo: Shutterstock)

    Before removing the spark plugs, it is essential to mark them next to the cables so that when they have to be replaced, it is done in the same way. Doing so will avoid reinstall problems.

    The following steps must be followed:

    Loosen the mounted spark plug and proceed to clean the dirt from the mounting hole with pressurized air. This must be done with the engine cold and the battery disconnected to avoid short-circuit problems.

    Then proceed to unscrew the spark plug once cables or coils (depending on the model) have been disconnected with the help of a torque wrench and that is where the orifice deposits are blown.

    If the spark plug is to be cleaned, you can use alcohol from 60 °C or a specific cleaner recommended on the market. The spark plug can be scratched with a metal brush, a needle or hook or a sharp knife.

    Check that the electrode gap is 0.020 and 0.50 inches, in case erosion has separated them, preventing the spark from being produced with sufficient intensity. It can be calibrated by readjusting the side electrode.

    Once it does not present any impurities and is dry, and as long as it is not cracked, we will blow it again and pass it through a dry cloth before to reinstall it.

    To finish, we will screw in the new or clean spark plug until it stops. Then we will set the tightening torque that corresponds with the torque wrench. It is not recommended to do it manually, many spark plugs fail because they are not tightened correctly.

    2022

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