People who have their first car are the ones who most often ask themselves how to change spark plugs, because naturally acquiring new products brings new learning experiences and more when it comes to a car, which despite the sophistication of its models continues to have a The basic operating principle is a bit complex, especially due to the number of elements that come together to make it work correctly and satisfy our transportation needs. Once you dare to change spark plugs, you take practice and then it will be very easy for you. If you still don’t know how to change the spark plugs in your car, here we will explain how to do it, just follow these simple steps and don’t suffer anymore.
But, before learning how to change the spark plugs in your car, it is pertinent that you know what role they play in your car’s system. You have to know that cars whose power system is based on petroleum or LNG ignite based on controlled explosions, which are channeled by the spark plugs, so these are the ones in charge of channeling the electrical current from the ignition system, starting gas. Like any element that is used, they suffer wear and tear and that is why their condition must be checked and changed frequently.
What do you need to change spark plugs?
- Vehicle
- Spark plug
- Tools
Instructions for changing spark plugs
- Locate the spark plugs in your car: As we mentioned before, spark plugs are a small part of all the elements that make up a car engine, so to locate and recognize them, the first thing you have to do is look for the user manual that comes with your vehicle if you bought it new, but if it is used, the manual may have been lost, in this case, we will indicate where they are. Once you open the hood of your car, you can easily identify a series of cables that are relatively close together and that lead to a part of your car’s engine, the spark plugs are actually in the car’s engine, under the final coating of these cables. that you previously recognized. Now, you also have the possibility of locating them if you know how many cylinders the engine has of your car, because in these cases the location is usually standard. If it’s a 4-cylinder engine, the spark plugs will most likely be on the side of the engine arranged in a row or on top of it. If your engine is a 6-cylinder, they may be at the top. Now if your car has a V6 and V8 engine they will be arranged on each side of the engine evenly. Depending on the model of the vehicle, the engine could have a casing that covers them and that you must remove when changing. You will only know all this if you have the manual or if you ask the corresponding questions to the person who sold you the car, it is also valid to ask someone who has a car of the same model.
- Wait for the vehicle to reduce its temperature: It is very important that you take into account that car engines, due to their operating principle, combustion, get too hot and since almost all the parts of the vehicle are metallic, the heat is conducted and everything is heated to temperatures that can burn you. So we recommend that you wait for your car to cool down before changing them to avoid accidents that you will later regret.
- Have all the tools you need at hand: To change the car’s spark plugs you will need a series of essential tools, we recommend that you have them located somewhere in the car so that you do not stress looking for them. Make sure that you do not lack any and you will be prepared in terms of materials to make the pertinent change.
- Change the spark plugs: Before changing the spark plugs in your car, you must have previously removed the worn spark plugs, removing them is very simple, but you have to be very focused when you do it because it is something that requires attention. Remove the cable, do it from the base and try to be careful because if you pull the cable from above you can spoil it. Proceed to place the wrench next to the extension and use the ratchet to remove the spark plug. During this process there are several things to consider: the spark plugs are activated in a certain order, so never take them all out at once, change them one by one so you don’t lose the order, because if you connect them wrongly the engine will not work. is disturbed and may not light or even be damaged. On the other hand, if you just want to see if they need a spark plug change, we recommend that you only take one out and see if the contact plate is burned, if so they will need to be replaced, go to your nearest supplier and buy them.
- Consider the gap of the spark plug: Spark plugs, depending on the car and the engine, have a predetermined gap, it is important that when you buy them you know which one your car requires, for that the ideal is to consult the manual. Nowadays most spark plugs come pre-set depending on your car model, but it never hurts to check them.
- Know how often you should change the spark plugs in your car: Once again you will find the answer to this question in your car manual, however in case you do not have it, it is recommended that the spark plugs be changed every 000 km of travel, which which is equal to 12,000 miles. But we suggest that you change them regularly, that you do not strictly wait for the suggested times, but that you play with the margin of error in your favor and thus you can have your engine and the operation of the car in general in the best condition.
- Recognize anomalous situations: If when you remove the spark plugs from the engine you notice that they are bent, broken or burned, we recommend that you visit an expert, take your car to a workshop to have it checked, since these signs are indicators that there is a mechanical problem with the engine.
- Install some new spark plugs to your car’s engine: Once you have followed the instructions and reached this step, what you should do is proceed to install the spark plugs that are in good condition to replace those that were not. It is important that you make sure that you are replacing them with the same ones, since if your car worked well with them, it is then the reference that you have to acquire the new ones. Do not look for the cheapest ones because sometimes by reducing expenses you could end up damaging very important and really expensive parts like the engine.
- Bet on preventive maintenance: Whenever you have the opportunity to do preventive maintenance on the parts of your engine, do not stop doing it, because they guarantee many benefits such as detecting a breakdown on time or preventing an accident, in addition to giving your vehicle a longer duration. So we recommend you take advantage of changing the spark plugs to check the cables and clean the threads of the connectors, you can use a small brush to make them perfect, if you notice something strange in them you can consider having a mechanic check them a second time and change them if necessary.
- Lubricate the spark plugs before installing them: If your engine is made of aluminum, it is ideal that you use an anti-seize lubricant on the threads, this is done in order to avoid possible reactions between different metals. You can apply this lubricant to the wire threads to ensure a smoother spark plug removal process the next time you need to change them.
- Proceed to install new spark plugs: If you have followed all the steps and you are in this one, you have done very well, this is the final step, what remains is to proceed to install the new spark plug in the place where a worn one was, for this it is Ideally, first adjust it by hand and then do a very gentle readjustment with the key. Remember that if you apply a lot of force you can damage the thread on the motor and this is a big and expensive problem, the repair of which is also slow.
- You have already learned to change the spark plugs of the car, replacing the ones that do not work with new ones, when someone asks you how to change spark plugs, you will be prepared to give a good answer and guide the person properly.
