Today's motorists often don't understand what goes on under the beautiful plastic covers in the engine compartment of their cars. But it is absolutely necessary to check the oil level and consumables, including changing spark plugs. The spark plug is used to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the engine, and the condition of this element is an important indicator of the performance of the engine itself.
Why are candles so important?
Spark plugs are essential for normal engine operation. They are designed to ensure:
Seamless engine start;
High engine performance;
Optimal fuel consumption.
In addition, all spark plugs, regardless of the quantity provided by the engine design, must be the same or from one set. And, of course, absolutely all must be in working order.
How to choose the right candles?
First of all, each brand has its own parameters and differ for different types of engines. The necessary data can be found in the model manual.
If for some reason it is not possible to take 100% analog of the old spark plugs, it is necessary to rely on the maximum correspondence of thermal characteristics and geometric dimensions.
Spark plugs with platinum or iridium electrodes are considered the most durable and have excellent sparking - they can last up to 120 thousand kilometers. Their main disadvantage is the high cost.
How to recognize quality candles?
In order to have as few doubts as possible about one of the key elements of your car's engine, spark plugs should only be bought in company stores. However, even in this case, the goods should be checked for lack of:
Sawdust;
Cracks;
Distorted electrodes.
How do we know it's time to change the spark plugs?
It is necessary to change the spark plugs, focusing on several criteria:
The service life prescribed by the manufacturer for a particular vehicle model;
External signs of wear or damage;
Signs of engine malfunctions.
The frequency of spark plug replacement depends on the model of the vehicle. They are prescribed in the technical recommendations for the operation of the vehicle by the manufacturer. On average, technical experts recommend replacing them every 30 thousand kilometers, for platinum and iridium spark plugs - once every 90-120 thousand kilometers.
If the vehicle is regularly filled with low quality fuel, then the spark plugs are likely to fail sooner. However, there are factors that can affect the recommended service life, namely shorten it.
External signs of spark plug failure
The appearance of ash or oil deposits, soot deposits, varnish or slag deposits, electrode discolouration or melting are all signs that spark plugs need to be replaced.
Indirect signs of a broken candle
Malfunctions in the ignition system of the air-fuel mixture will immediately manifest themselves in the engine performance. The driver will quickly sense:
Poor engine starting;
Reduced thrust;
Increase fuel consumption;
Cutting off the power supply by pressing the accelerator pedal sharply;
Engine shutdown (spikes in speed and vibration).
Such engine malfunctions can signal other problems, but spark plugs are the first thing to check in such a situation.
We recommend timely maintenance of your vehicle to avoid unwanted consequences and the possible need for roadside assistance.
Bulgarian 
Bulgarian
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