Spark plug life depends on fuel quality, electrode material and driving conditions. Warning signs and the tools needed for replacement.
Spark plugs ignite the mixture in petrol engines; diesel engines do not use them. A new plug produces millions of sparks, but the material wears over time, and the article suggests replacement roughly every 15,000 km. Fuel quality, electrode material, engine faults and operating conditions all affect this interval, and iridium or platinum plugs last much longer.
- Knocking, unstable idle and misfires
- Soot on the electrodes and cracked ceramic insulators
- Engine vibration and higher fuel consumption
Replacement requires a spark plug wrench, sockets and extensions; check the owner’s manual for plug locations.