Spark Plug is an extremely important part in the ignition system of a gasoline engine. Its main task is to provide an electric spark to ignite the fuel and air mixture in the combustion chamber of the engine cylinder.
In the world of modern automotive technology, spark plugs play an indispensable role as an “ignition” of the internal combustion engine. According to statistics from the International Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in 2023, about 35-40% of engine failures are directly related to the ignition system, of which spark plugs account for up to 70%. An inefficient spark plug set can increase fuel consumption by 15-20%, while reducing engine power by up to 25%.
With the ability to create an electric spark with a temperature of 4.700°C to 6.500°C, the spark plug is responsible for igniting the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chamber. Modern spark plug technology has developed significantly with advanced materials such as iridium and platinum, allowing for a service life of up to 100.000 km, 4 times longer than traditional spark plugs.
This paragraph, Thanh Phong Auto will give readers a comprehensive view of the "fire heart" of the engine: from detailed structure, operating principles, signs of damage to professional maintenance and replacement processes and share secrets to prolonging the life of spark plugs that 89% of car owners often ignore. Let's learn together to become a smart car user and save maintenance costs in the most effective way.
Spark plugs are an essential part of the ignition system of an internal combustion engine, responsible for creating an electric spark to ignite the fuel and air mixture. They are extremely important because the efficient combustion process that spark plugs provide will determine the performance, fuel consumption and durability of the engine.
Spark plugs are a part of the ignition system of an internal combustion engine, which creates an electric spark to ignite the fuel and air mixture. Spark plugs are the last part of the ignition system that stimulates the "life" of the engine. Spark plugs must operate stably under compression pressure conditions of up to 50 kg/cm2 and temperatures of 2.500°C.
Spark plugs are important because efficient combustion determines the performance and durability of the engine. Spark plugs provide heat in the form of small electric sparks, with a voltage of 5kV – 45kV, creating temperatures of 4.700 – 6.500 degrees Celsius to ignite the air-fuel mixture. If the spark plugs do not work effectively, the combustion process will be interrupted, leading to reduced engine power, increased fuel consumption and toxic emissions.
According to a 2022 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), faulty spark plugs can reduce fuel combustion efficiency by up to 30%.
Car spark plugs consist of two main parts: the electrode (which creates the spark) and the insulating shell (which ensures safety). Other parts such as ribs, hexes, gaskets, threads and insulating tips all have their own functions. Spark plugs are made from many different materials such as copper, nickel alloys, platinum, iridium and alumina ceramics, which affect their life and performance. In addition, spark plugs also have many variations in heat dissipation capacity (hot/cold), electrode material and number of electrodes, suitable for each type of engine.
Car spark plugs consist of 8 parts, each part has a separate function:
The main materials used to make spark plugs include:
Spark plugs are classified based on heat dissipation capacity, electrode material and number of electrodes:
Car spark plugs create an electric spark to ignite the fuel-air mixture in the engine, thanks to high voltage current and close coordination with other parts in the ignition and fuel supply system to optimize the combustion process.
For combustion to occur in an engine, three elements are needed: fuel, air (oxygen) and heat. In which:
Spark plugs generate electric sparks thanks to high voltage current transmitted from the ignition coil (also known as the coil) under the control of the ECM engine control module. The spark is formed by the electric charge jumping between the two electrodes of the spark plug, with a voltage of 2 - 5 kV. The spark temperature is very high, from 45 - 4.700°C, enough to ignite the compressed fuel mixture in the combustion chamber.
Many factors influence the combustion process, including:
Spark plugs operate in close connection with many other parts in the ignition system and fuel supply system such as:
Bad spark plugs reduce engine performance by 15-25% and increase fuel consumption by 10-20%, according to a 2023 study by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). You can recognize them early by common signs such as: engine difficulty starting, rough running, reduced power, increased fuel consumption, exhaust fumes that smell like gasoline, and the check engine light coming on.
In addition, visually inspecting the spark plugs also helps detect damage through signs such as: worn electrodes or carbon deposits, cracked insulation, and abnormal spark plug color (black due to rich mixture, white due to lean mixture, different from the normal light brown color). For more accurate diagnosis, mechanics often use an ohmmeter, spark tester, or air compressor to assess the condition of the spark plugs and related parts. Timely recognition and repair will help your vehicle operate more stably and save fuel.
Signs that your spark plugs may be bad include:
Visually inspecting spark plugs helps you detect obvious signs of damage:
To accurately assess the condition of spark plugs, you should use specialized testing equipment:
Replacing car spark plugs is a necessary process when the spark plugs are damaged, helping the engine to operate stably again. This process includes preparing all the tools, carefully removing the old spark plugs and installing the new spark plugs properly, and always following safety precautions to ensure the process goes smoothly and effectively.
Before starting, you need to prepare all the tools:
Removing the old spark plug must be done carefully to avoid damaging other parts:
Installing new spark plugs must be done correctly to ensure that the spark plugs work effectively:
When replacing spark plugs, you need to follow these safety precautions:
To prolong the life and ensure the performance of the engine, regular maintenance of car spark plugs is extremely important, including steps such as regular cleaning of spark plugs, checking and adjusting electrode gap, changing engine air filter, using high-quality fuel, avoiding engine overload and checking the entire ignition system.
Clean the spark plug every 20.000 km to remove carbon and oil from the surface. According to Thanh Phong Auto's experience in 2024, regular cleaning improves ignition performance by 25% and extends the life of the spark plug by 15.000-20.000 km. Spark plugs can be cleaned with a specialized cleaning solution or soaked in solvent. After cleaning, they must be completely dried before reinstalling.
Check the spark plug electrode gap every 10.000-20.000 km to ensure optimal ignition performance. Use a feeler gauge to check the standard gap of 0.7-1.1 mm. According to Thanh Phong Auto technicians, a gap deviation of over 0.2 mm reduces spark intensity by 40% and increases fuel consumption by 15%.
A dirty air filter reduces the amount of air supplied to the engine by 30%, creating an overly rich fuel mixture. Replace the air filter after 10.000-15.000 km or 6-12 months depending on operating conditions. A 2023 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) showed that a clean air filter improves spark plug performance by 20% and reduces carbon deposits by 35%.
Low octane fuels below 92 RON contain impurities that cause deposits on spark plugs. Use Euro 5 compliant fuel with a sulfur content below 10 ppm and an octane rating of 95-98 RON. According to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 2022, high quality fuels extend spark plug life by 40% and reduce deposits by 60%.
Overloading the engine increases the combustion chamber temperature to 2.800-3.200°C, exceeding the safety threshold of 2.500°C. Operate the vehicle at the correct load (usually 80-85% of maximum power) and shift gears appropriately when climbing a slope of more than 15%. A 2023 Stanford University study found that 20% overload reduces spark plug life by 50% and increases the risk of electrode burn by 70%.
In addition to spark plugs, other parts of the ignition system such as ignition IC, high voltage wire, ignition switch also need to be checked periodically. Damage to these parts will reduce or eliminate the ignition signal supplied to the spark plug. When detecting signs such as difficulty starting, engine jerking, delayed ignition, the entire ignition system should be checked.
According to the European Automotive Institute in 2023, a faulty ignition IC causes a complete loss of spark, and a leaky high-voltage wire reduces voltage by 40-60%.
Yes, a bad spark plug, carbon buildup or incorrect electrode gap can cause strange noises such as banging or screeching from the engine. If you hear these unusual sounds, you should have the spark plugs checked.
High performance spark plugs such as iridium laser spark plugs and racing spark plugs can provide slightly faster acceleration than regular spark plugs due to their stronger ignition ability. However, acceleration efficiency also depends on other factors such as the engine, gear, vehicle weight.
Overheated spark plugs often have signs such as:
See more articles: Signs that car spark plugs have problems & safe handling.
You should use specialized cleaning solutions for spark plugs such as degreasing solutions, soot removers. Do not use gasoline, kerosene or strong solvents because they can damage the ceramic insulation layer. After cleaning, dry completely before reinstalling the spark plug. See the product now: WURTH BMF Multi-Purpose Cleaner 5L.
New spark plugs that are quickly replaced can be damaged due to the following reasons:
A complete check of the engine and ignition system is required if spark plugs frequently fail.
Yes, inefficient spark plugs will cause incomplete combustion of fuel, creating many toxic emissions such as CO, HC. In addition, weak sparks from the spark plugs may not be enough to burn all the injected fuel, causing an “after-fire” phenomenon (burning back into the exhaust pipe) that damages the exhaust gas treatment catalyst. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain good spark plugs to ensure that the vehicle operates according to emission standards.
Refer to the article How to safely handle car exhaust and protect the environment.
Yes, when switching to E85 fuel with a high alcohol content (85% ethanol), it is necessary to replace the spark plug with a special type with electrodes made from a better heat-resistant alloy such as Nickel Yttrium. In addition, the electrode gap also needs to be adjusted to be slightly wider than when using regular gasoline, usually 1.1mm instead of 0.8 - 0.9mm.
Old spark plugs can be reused by cleaning and adjusting the electrode gap if they are not too worn. However, spark plugs that are too old (over 40.000 - 50.000 km) or have damaged electrodes should be completely replaced to ensure ignition performance. Old spark plugs that cannot be used can be recycled by separating the metal parts such as electrodes and threaded covers to remelt to get the metal.
Thanh Phong Auto proud to be the leading unit in the field of repairing and replacing car spark plugs in Ho Chi Minh City with more than 10 years of experience in the industry. We are committed to providing high quality services at the most reasonable cost to customers.
Outstanding advantages at Thanh Phong Auto:
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