Changing spark plugs about every 30,000 miles is crucial to keeping your car running in trouble-free condition. To learn how to replace them, read this post by Synthetic Solutions in Zebulon.

Before delving into the steps to change a spark plug, it is necessary to understand the role this small part plays in your vehicle's performance. As the name implies, spark plugs generate the spark that makes combustion possible; therefore, your engine could not start without them. Although spark plugs withstand high temperatures, exhaust fumes, and corrosion for a long time, they eventually wear out, hence the importance of replacing them periodically (every 30,000 miles for most cars). Luckily, replacing plugs is a quick and easy maintenance task. If you want to learn how to replace them, keep reading this post from Synthetic Solutions in Zebulon.

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How to Replace Your Spark Plugs

Gather the Required Tools

The first thing you need to do is get the right tools to replace your spark plugs safely and efficiently. Here's what you'll need:

• A new set of spark plugs (check your owner's manual to verify which type is suitable for your engine)
• Gaping gauge
• Ratchet
• Spark plug socket
• Compressed air
• An extension
• Torque wrench

Inspect the Gap in the New Spark Plugs

Next up is to measure the gap between the spark plug electrodes, where the spark that ignites your car is generated. If the gap is broader or narrower than it should be, the electron current may have trouble "jumping" from one electrode to the other; as a result, the spark may come out weak, thus jeopardizing your vehicle's ignition; hence the importance of following this tip. You only need your owner's manual, the spark plug you want to check, and a gap gauge to measure this gap. First, consult your operator's manual to verify how many millimeters the gap between electrodes should be; then, take your gap gauge and measure the plug's gap. If the measurement is incorrect, adjust it by pushing the ground electrode inward or outward, depending on what you need. Once the gap between the spark plug electrodes is the correct size, follow the same procedure for the rest of the parts.

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Make Sure the Engine is Cool

Replacing your spark plugs when the engine is cold is safer and easier. Keep in mind that when the temperature rises under the hood, most of the materials that compose it expand, for instance, the aluminum in the cylinder heads and the steel in the spark plugs. Keeping that in mind, it is not advisable to replace the spark plugs when the engine is hot because the expansion of the materials would increase friction when unscrewing the spark plug, resulting in damage to both the spark plug thread and the cylinder head. Instead, make sure to perform this maintenance work when the engine is cold.

Locate the Spark Plugs

Next, take your operator's manual to find out how many plugs your engine has and where they are. You should know that your vehicle has one spark plug per cylinder; therefore, you will have to replace four spark plugs if your engine is V4, six spark plugs if your engine is V6, or eight spark plugs if you have a V8 engine, and so forth. To find them, follow the path of the wires located on the top of the engine until you reach the boots that seal the spark plug wells in the cylinder head. You can also consult your owner's manual to find them faster.

Uninstall the Old Spark Plugs

Next is to remove the spark plugs, but first, it is essential to note that each spark plug is attached to a specific wire; therefore, we suggest you follow this and the following steps one spark plug at a time so as not to mix up the wires. That being pointed out, the first thing to do is to take your air compressor to clean around the wires and the cylinder head; once the loose dirt and dust are blown away, carefully remove the wires by wiggling them out of their boots. As you pull out each wire, you will notice a "spark plug well"; connect your wrench with the extension and insert it into the well to remove the spark plugs from inside. When the wrench grips the spark plug inside, attach the ratchet to the extension's opposite end, loosen the spark plug, then unscrew it by hand until it comes out.

Do a Visual Inspection

The next step is to inspect the used spark plugs. You may reinstall your used spark plugs if they appear in good condition; however, don't hesitate to replace them if you notice wear or damage (cracks in the insulator, corrosion on the electrodes, or a rounded insulator tip).

Install New Spark Plugs

The last step is to install the new spark plugs; to do this, connect your spark plug wrench to the spark plug you want to install and insert it (with the help of the extension) to the corresponding well. Then screw the spark plug in by hand until you feel it is tight. Attach the torque wrench to the extension to give the spark plug a final tightening (according to the torque specifications described in your operator's manual). Finally, seal the newly installed spark plug well with the matching wire boot, and that's it. Repeat the same procedure with the remaining spark plugs.

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