Spark plugs are relatively small engine components that sit above each cylinder at the end of spark plug wires. Depending on the design of your vehicle’s engine, the engine may have one spark plug for each of its cylinders or two. Spark plugs serve very important roles in engines and wear out over time as a result of their usage. Therefore, you will need to replace the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine routinely so that the engine can continue to perform to the best of its ability.
The Purpose of Spark Plugs
Spark plugs sit on top of the cylinders of engines so that they can ignite the air-fuel mixtures that are injected into the cylinders during the engines’ combustion processes. As an engine runs, both air and fuel are constantly being injected into its cylinders so that the engine can produce power to drive the vehicle’s wheels. However, the air and fuel need to be ignited so that the power can actually be produced. Spark plugs continually produce the sparks that ignite these mixtures as the engine runs, producing thousands of sparks within each minute that the engine is running.
Faulty Spark Plug Problems
One of the most noticeable signs that the spark plugs of an engine are wearing out is misfiring. Misfiring can be both heard and felt by a driver. Misfiring is caused by faulty spark plugs, because the plugs will either fire at the wrong times or will fail to fire at all, causing fuel to be left unburned in an engine. Pinging or rattling sounds in an engine are signs that the engine is misfiring. An engine will also run roughly and vibrate more violently when it is misfiring.
When the spark plugs of your vehicle’s engine are going bad, you may notice a decrease in your vehicle’s fuel economy. The vehicle’s engine will need to inject more fuel into its cylinders to produce power for the vehicle, due to the inefficiency of its spark plugs. Additionally, the fuel that is left unburned in the cylinders of the vehicle’s engine will begin to coat the spark plugs, worsening the issue by preventing the spark plugs from igniting.
A vehicle will not have the same performance when its spark plugs are faulty, and a driver may notice that the vehicle accelerates slower. The reason for the performance decrease is due to the fact that an engine’s spark plugs will not be efficiently igniting the air and fuel that is injected into the engine’s cylinders, preventing the engine from producing its normal power.
Your vehicle’s check engine light may come on if the spark plugs that are in its engine need to be changed. Vehicles, especially newer vehicles, are very effective at identifying issues with their systems. When an issue is detected, an alert is usually provided to a driver through the form of a dashboard light. If your vehicle’s check engine light comes on, you will need to do a scan of the engine’s computer and run the code that is provided by the scan.
Spark Plug Maintenance Routine
It is generally recommended that drivers replace the spark plugs that are in their vehicles’ engines at least once every 30,000 miles. This ensures that drivers will not experience the problems that are caused by bad spark plugs. However, the lifespan of the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine depends on the design of the engine and the spark plugs that the engine is using. To find the best maintenance schedule for your vehicle, you should refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual, where the vehicle’s manufacturer provides various maintenance routines and maintenance tips for your specific vehicle.
Conclusion
It is important for you to replace the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine routinely so that the engine can operate as you expect it to. Replacing your vehicle’s spark plugs routinely will also allow you to save money on fuel by optimizing the performance of your vehicle’s engine. Visit us at Anderson Buick GMC if you would like to learn more about the spark plugs that are in your vehicle’s engine or would like us to inspect your vehicle. We provide dependable services at our dealership that will help you maintain and improve the condition of your vehicle.