Changing your spark plugs every 30,000 miles helps keep your car's ignition system running smoothly. To learn how to change your plugs yourself, keep reading this post by Syntex Lubricants in Kyle.

Spark plugs may appear small and simple; however, your vehicle could not start without them. As their name implies, spark plugs are responsible for generating the spark that ignites the gasoline-oxygen mixture in your engine. Although designed to last a long time, spark plugs have their insulating tip exposed to high temperatures, combustion gases, and corrosion; therefore, they wear out over time and need to be replaced approximately every 30,000 miles. Fortunately, replacing a vehicle's spark plugs is a safe and relatively simple maintenance job that you can do at home. Read on if you want to learn the steps to perform this task.

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How to Change Your Vehicle's Spark Plugs

Get the Right Tools

To get started, make sure you get the tools you need to make this maintenance job a safe and easy task. Here's what you'll need:

• New spark plugs (the type recommended by the manufacturer in your operator's manual)
• Ratchet
• Spark plug socket
• Extension
• Gap gauge
• Torque wrench
• Air compressor

Check the Gap in the New Spark Plugs

Next, look at the gap between the electrodes on each new spark plug. Ideally, the gap should measure the inches indicated in your operator's manual. Checking the size of this slight gap is extremely important because that's where the spark your engine needs to ignite is produced. If the gap is the wrong size, the spark plug may have trouble generating the spark and thus igniting your vehicle. To follow this step, consult your operator's manual to verify how many inches there should be between the center electrode and the ground electrode. Next, take your gap gauge and measure the gap on each plug. If any of them has a larger or smaller gap than specified by the manufacturer, adjust the ground electrode with the gap gauge, opening or closing it as needed.

Make Sure the Engine is Cool

Changing your spark plugs when the engine is cool is better for two reasons: first, to avoid burns; second, to minimize the friction between the spark plug thread and the cylinder head. To better understand this point, it is necessary to clarify that when the engine is hot, its materials expand a little; among them, the steel of the spark plug and the aluminum of the cylinder head. If you try to unscrew the spark plug when the engine temperature is high, you risk that its thread generates friction and gets damaged. To avoid this risk, change the spark plugs when the engine is completely cold.

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Locate the Spark Plugs

The next step is to check how many plugs you need to change and where they are. Your engine has one spark plug for each cylinder; hence, if your engine is a V4, you will have to locate four spark plugs; likewise, a vehicle with six cylinders will have six spark plugs. Usually, the plugs are in wells covered by the boots of your engine wires; therefore, follow the path of the wires to find them. You can also consult your operator's manual to locate them.

Remove the Old Spark Plugs

Once you locate your spark plugs, remove them, but first, you should know that each spark plug is attached to a specific wire; therefore, be sure to replace the plugs one at a time to avoid mixing or confusing the wires. That being said, proceed to remove the dust from the cylinder head with compressed air. Then, wiggle the wire boots carefully to remove them; inside, you will notice a well where the spark plug is, but there could also be loose dirt; therefore, blow compressed air inside to clean the spark plug well. Next, take your spark plug wrench and attach it to your extension to insert it into the gap. Once the wrench grips the spark plug, install your ratchet to the extension to help you loosen the spark plug. Carefully unscrew it until it comes out.

Check the Spark Plug's Condition

Each time you remove a spark plug, inspect it. Ideally, you should continue to use your spark plugs if they show no signs of deterioration; however, be sure to replace them if they have a rounded insulator tip, cracks in the insulator, or worn electrodes.

Install New Spark Plugs

Of course, the last step is to install the new spark plugs. First, connect the new spark plug with the wrench attached to the extension and insert it into the appropriate well. Once the plug is in place, twist the extension by hand to screw the spark plug in little by little. When you feel it's sufficiently screwed in, connect the torque wrench to the extension to tighten the spark plug. Finally, cover the well with the wire boot and repeat the same steps with the other spark plugs.

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