Knowing how to change the spark plugs in your car can make all the difference in the world for anyone. Spark plugs tend to last for a long time. However, they do wear out eventually. Some of them are rated for a total of 100,000 miles. However, many of them actually have to be changed more regularly than that. There are many manufacturers who suggest that people change their spark plugs every thirty thousand miles or so, which is more than three times as often.
People who can perform this task on their own will manage to avert a lot of potential car problems. They will also tend to save a lot of money on repairs over the years. Changing the spark plugs in a car is easier than a lot of people think, and it is something that people can master even if they do not have a great deal of automotive skills.
How To Change The Spark Plugs – Step by Step Guidelines
Gathering the Right Tools
People will not need all that many tools in order to change their spark plugs, and this can make the whole process easier and cheaper for the people who are trying to save money on hiring a repair service. In order to change the spark plugs, people will need a swivel spark plug socket. They will also need an air compressor for many different parts of the process in order to blow away all of the dirt and debris that might be in the system.
The swivel spark plug socket should have an extension available. This swivel spark plug socket needs to be the correct size, so this is something that people should know going in before they start to change their spark plugs. Spark plugs themselves come in different sizes, and their accessories will have different sizes as well.
A torque wrench will be important for the actual spark plug installation process, since getting the right torque is an important part of the overall installation. The plug will get distorted if the torque is too high, and the plug will blow out if the torque is too low. People will also need dielectric grease, which will act as a lubricant when the new spark plug is installed.
Changing Spark Plugs
First, clean the area around the ignition coils. Otherwise, a lot of debris will end up getting tripped in the cylinders or around them. It should be easy enough to do this using compressed air. There might be some remaining dirt in the area that people should blow away with the compressed air hose. This dirt could be the source of a lot of issues in its own right. Otherwise, removing it is still valuable for making the entire process of changing the spark plugs run more smoothly.
Pull the Ignition Coil and Unscrew the Actual Spark Plug
From there, it’s time to pull and rotate the ignition coil. This will cause the o-ring seal to break loose, which is what is needed in this case. From here, people should be able to take away the old spark plug in its own right. However, first, they are going to need to use the air compressor to blow away any of the debris that might have gotten trapped in the area at any point.The spark plug itself can be removed using an extension and a swivel spark plug socket. Rotate the plug in a counter-clockwise manner in order to make it loose. Smaller engine compartments will make it harder for almost anyone involved to be able to get at the spark plugs, and this is something that people should keep in mind. The extension will help people to reach the spark plug.
Install the New Spark Plug
Check the gap for the spark plug, and this will help with the installation process. A gap gauge will help people get the gap to the right size. A wire gauge needs to be inserted in between the electrodes. If the wire doesn’t drag slightly, the gap might be too narrow. The gap gauge can help to open a narrow gap. Tapping a side electrode can help to narrow down a gap gauge.Then, use the right torque wrench in order to install the spark plug. The anti-corrosive coating on the threads of the spark plugs should make them easier to install in general. Using dielectric grease on the spark plug boot can work well to lubricate the different parts.This will make the new spark plug fit in better with everything else. Changing the spark plugs will be easier in the future thanks to this grease. From there, the spark plug should be working. People should test the system a few times in order to confirm that the installation was a success.
Conclusion
There are many benefits associated with changing a spark plug independently. People who do this will be able to prevent a wide range of different issues. All individuals who can work on their own cars will tend to save thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime and more. It’s still important for people to be able to get the right tools in order before installing the new spark plugs. Once they have a grasp of the steps involved and once they have the right tools, everything will fall into place.
Image Source by : pixabay