Spark plugs play an essential role in your car’s engine. Without them, the engine wouldn’t be able to turn on so you can drive your vehicle, and it would be a useless waste of space in your garage. Discover how often should you change spark plugs in a car to keep it running efficiently.
Despite their importance, spark plugs are usually ignored when you take your vehicle for its scheduled maintenance check. But they don’t last forever, just like every other part of your engine. And the more you use your car, the more frequently you have to replace spark plugs to keep it running optimally.
The good news is that replacing worn spark plugs for fuel efficiency is not complex, and you can do it independently.
Purchasing good spark plugs is also not costly. All you need are some basic installation tools available in most homes. And luckily, you’ll be replacing spark plugs less often because, these days, they last longer.
This guide will discuss how often you have to change spark plugs so you always keep your engine running smoothly.
Contents
What Are Spark Plugs?
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Spark plugs are tiny parts of an engine connected to the combustion chamber that generates a spark that activates the engine of your car when you turn it on.
These devices come with two spaced-out electrodes, which is how the electricity flows through them to generate the necessary spark.
Then the spark ignites the combination of air and fuel going into the engine via the air intake and fuel injectors which helps push the engine’s piston up and down to produce power.
Without the spark going at full force, the engine cannot start or drive properly, and you can also forget about stalling.
Why Should You Be Replacing Spark Plugs In Your Car?
Every part of the engine is exposed to scorching levels of frictional heat from all the moving components, burning fuel inside the fuel system, and the force from the explosions ignited within the combustion chamber.
Since spark plugs are connected to the combustion chamber, they are also exposed to intense heat. Exposure to heat is only one of the reasons why we believe you should change spark plugs when needed, and there are more below.
Electrode Wear
The literal spark comes from the bottom electrode and works its way up to the center electrode near the spark plug’s head.
This process repeats itself 1000 times per minute until the electrode wears out, and once this occurs, the spark is not as potent.
Carbon Buildup
When the fuel is broken down inside the combustion chamber, the leftovers of these explosions create a dense carbon buildup that clogs up the top of your spark plug. This happens when your engine is receiving more fuel than oxygen.
Buildups decrease the times your spark fires accurately, which makes your car less fuel efficient without the ignition it needs to function.
This situation is normal when you own a car with direct fuel injection systems with abundant fuel sitting in the engine or when you buy cheap gasoline often to fill up your car.
Heat And Pressure
Most car owners have no idea that an explosion is happening inside their engine 100s of times per minute.
Every single explosion produces extreme heat and pressure many times from the inner part of the combustion chamber to control fuel economy.
Most worn spark plugs become that way from these explosions, causing engine stalls and other potentially catastrophic misfires.
Leaking Oil
The two parts of your car that require constant replacements are the seals and the gaskets because they are made of degradable materials like rubber and plastic.
If you ignore a worn-out O-ring seal, the oil will leak out and drip onto the spark plug, which will cause the sparking to stop. This situation is most common when your car is older than five years, and your owner’s manual clarifies that it’s time to change your spark plugs and the O-ring seal. Spark plug wires should also be on your list by this point.
How Often Should You Be Changing Spark Plugs?
The answer to this question hinges on the kind of spark plugs you own, the type of car you drive, and other things we will discuss below.
Every car you buy has four important milestone change intervals that you should know.
Every 20,000 to 30,000
Thirty thousand miles is standard for most cars when replacing a specific engine component like spark plug wires. This is especially true if you buy a low-performing spark plug with less fuel efficiency from a company with a bad reputation.
However, if you buy your spark plugs from a well-known company, you won’t need to change spark plugs at the 20,000-mile point since the technology is more advanced than ever.
Every 60,000 Miles
This is the new normal for most modern cars when changing spark plugs or other worn engine parts. Your owner’s manual will let you know since the vehicle manufacturer wrote it.
Every 80,000 to 100,000 Miles
Waiting until you hit 100,000 miles is risky for the average vehicle and only acceptable if you invested in premium quality spark plugs with a good fuel economy reputation.
While some mechanics agree that it’s now okay to wait up to 80,000 miles to change spark plugs, others still suggest changing them at the 60,000 mark until technology improves. The decision is up to you, but we suggest you don’t take the risk for the sake of saving a little money.
If you take the risk, be sure you bought your vehicle after 2020 to change your spark plugs at the 80,000-mile mark.
Every 100,000 Miles Or Higher
Changing your spark plugs after 100,000 miles is pushing it and not recommended, but if you have a luxury car with high-end parts, it’s a possibility.
Remember that even spark plugs in luxury vehicles need to be changed and will be worn out after 100,000 miles. But it all depends on how you drive and the daily climate conditions you drive your car in.
What Factors Affect How Often You Should Change Your Spark Plugs?
There are many reasons you would need to replace your spark plugs other than the obvious ones recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
The Kind Of Spark Plug Does Your Car Has
Spark plugs all come with different materials depending on the kind of vehicle you buy.
Some of the metals used include platinum, iridium, and copper. The spark plugs made with iridium last the longest but are expensive.
If you are on a budget, the copper models are a good option, but you will need to change them after only 20,000 miles. The best picks are iridium for a higher budget or platinum if you want spark plugs almost as good. The only drawback is that the electrical currents don’t flow through the wires as efficiently as in the copper versions.
How You Handle Your Car On the Road?
Cars that are pushed daily by a driver with a lead foot will need constant spark plug changes, which will hurt gas mileage.
If you drive in heavy New York Style traffic frequently, get your car towed often and make hard turns, you wear spark plugs out fast. But if you go on clear highways mostly and don’t use your car every day, you will not reduce fuel efficiency, and your spark plugs will last.
Age Of Your Vehicle
The older a car gets, the higher the chances you will have leaks, broken gaskets, cracked seals, and failing spark plugs.
Because of this, you will need to have your vehicle check-ups more often, and your spark plugs will need to be replaced after only 20,000 to 30,00 miles to play it safe.
Summing It Up – How Often Should You Change Spark Plugs in a Car
You wouldn’t be able to use your car without spark plugs which is why they are so important. Unfortunately, even though this is a fact, this part of the engine is often ignored until problems arise, which is an expensive mistake.
If you regularly get your spark plugs checked, you will never have problems with your engine, and you won’t have to lose money from wearing them out often.
Most modern cars suggest you follow a changing schedule anywhere from 20,000 to 50,000 miles. If you drive longer than 50,000 miles, you are taking the risk of having misfiring spark plugs. Misfiring spark plugs are dangerous and can cause you to have an accident.
The fact is that there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to deciding when to replace spark plugs. You can follow your owner’s manual, but you should also use your intuition, and if you need to change them before the recommended mileage interval, then you should.
The key is to stay educated and understand the signs to look out for when your car has faulty spark plugs. And if you teach yourself, you can change them on your own without needing to pay a mechanic.
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