Even in their small size, spark plugs are essential for engine performance. Keep reading this post by Advanced Filtration Technologies in Alexander to learn more about this small but mighty engine part.

Maintaining your engine with excellent products is the best way to ensure you’ll have good performance for longer. For advice on the best products for your engine, call Advanced Filtration Technologies at (701) 572-3780, and one of their oil pros will help you out in no time.

What is a Spark Plug?

For combustion to occur, engines need an electric current to transform fuel into useful working energy. Here’s where the spark plug delivers an electric spark to the ignition system. This ignites compressed air/fuel mixture and contains combustion pressure in your car’s engine.

Spark Plugs are Essential to Your Engine

As small as they are, spark plugs are essential to your engine’s proper functioning, not only in the combustion process but also in signaling issues with other parts of the engine. Cars can have four to six spark plugs (and some engines have up to eight, depending on the number of cylinders the engine has), and each one has a lifespan of 24,000 miles. To remove the spark plugs from your engine, you’ll need to detach the cables that cover them. At this point, avoid yanking the wire. Also, ensure the engine is cold to avoid injuries when handling them.

Temperature Range Matters

When choosing your spark plugs, one thing to remember is that temperature range matters. Spark plugs are manufactured to withstand certain temperatures as in their functions; they remove heat from the combustion chamber so it can be transferred to the cooling system. The spark plug tips are designed to prevent the electrode’s destruction or ignition, but high enough to not accumulate soot on the tip but bur enough to burn combustion deposits. Each motor is different, so the type of spark plug your car needs will vary depending on its make and model. An older car might run on low performance or hot spark plugs as they have cold engines and need low head dissipation spark plugs. This prevents deposits from forming on the ceramic, an insulating material. On the other hand, modern engines are considered hot, which require cold plugs to dissipate heat. When buying spark plugs, make sure to take into account your car’s make and model and check in your owner’s manual what type of spark plug your vehicle manufacturer requires.

Signs of a Deteriorated Spark Plug

Dirty spark plugs often can mean piston or crankcase failure; that’s why knowing the signs of deterioration is so essential. Here are two ways you can tell if your spark plugs are nearing the end of their lifecycle:

1. White ash: This usually happens because of an inaccurate mixture of air and gasoline. In this case, it’s essential to check what’s going on with the carburetor or gasoline pump to rule out any issues.
2. Fully burned spark plug: In this case, it’s possible to fix the issue by cleaning and adjusting the spark plug, and if it hasn't reached its lifecycle, there’s likely a glitch in the fuel injection system or the turbocharger.

In any case, if your spark plugs are causing problems, it may be time to change them to avoid damaging the pistons and other sensitive components.

One of the best ways to keep your vehicle’s engine in good condition is to use top-of-the-line products like AMSOIL’s Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil. For advice on the best products for your engine, call Advanced Filtration Technologies at (701) 572-3780 or visit AMSOIL’s online shop to see their full range of products.

Many Ignition Problems Can Be Traced Back to Spark Plugs

There are many types of ignition problems that you can trace back to dirty, deteriorated, or faulty spark plugs. Cleaning them with a degreaser and brush might be enough to get them to work correctly, but sometimes it will be necessary to switch out. Keeping an eye out for slow ignition, larger fuel consumption, delays in ignitions when driving, and a lack of acceleration can be due to a faulty spark plug. Remember that the best way to avoid problems like these is by having a regular maintenance routine to catch issues before they become more significant problems that can be harder and more expensive to fix.

Paying attention to everything from spark plugs to engine oil is essential in keeping your vehicle performing at its best. Call Advanced Filtration Technologies and (701) 572-3780 today for information on the best products for your engine, or visit AMSOIL’s online store to place an order today!