
To generate such combustion, your spark plugs supply the electrical spark that ignites the air and fuel mixture that is fed into the combustion chamber. Your engine produces power to run your car by creating a combustion, or explosion, inside the combustion chamber, hence the name “internal combustion engine”. In fact, without properly working spark plugs, your car more than likely wouldn’t be able to run at all. Most people don’t look twice at their spark plugs, some even might not know of its function, yet these small parts play an incredibly important role in how your car functions.
#Like a spark in the dark how to#
Read on to learn how to read spark plugs to determine their conditions and what you can do to fix the problems, as well as handy pro maintenance tips to always keep your precious vehicle in tip top shape, including how often spark plugs need to be replace, symptoms of failing spark plugs and spark plugs replacement cost. Good spark plugs will burn fuel efficiently, while bad or failing spark plugs can cause the motor not to start at all. The rule of thumb is light brown or tan colored deposits on the tip of your spark plugs are normal, but deposits of different colors and consistencies can be indications of bigger problems. Knowing how to read spark plugs can help you identify potential engine-related malfunctions early on and save you expensive repairs.Įach different spark plug color is a clear indication of a specific engine-related problem.

Your spark plug condition not only can tell you if it’s time for replacement, but can speak volumes about the engine as well. Without it, there would be no combustion to generate power to run your car. Despite being a tiny component, spark plugs are vital to your engine’s performance.
