INTRODUCTION
Hi, everyone, its being a long while since the Christmas holiday. Hope you guys had a swell time, enjoying yourselves?

Well, I'm going to talk about one of the most often neglected replacement parts when driveability issues come up.

It's SPARK PLUGS.
Spark plugs are parts of an ignition system, especially petrol based internal combustion engine applications, like your SUVs, and even your generators.
Our focus in this article today, would be on your car.

WHAT DO SPARK PLUGS DO?

You'll never move an inch, if the fuel/air mixture in your car's internal combustion chamber, isn't ignited by a spark.
Spark plugs are the conduit through which sparks are created to burn the fuel/air mixture in your car's engine.

The source of this spark, comes from the ignition coil, or coil on pack system, via the car's ignition module(as seen on some American made cars, such as Chevrolet Ventures, and the likes).

HOW DOES SPARK PLUGS CONTRIBUTE TO MOVING YOUR CAR?
This is how it works.
Thousands of volt are sent to the spark plugs, via the ignition coils or spark plug wires.
In each of the individual combustion chamber, during the compression stage, the compressed fuel/air mix is ignited by the plugs, thereby setting in to motion turbulency in the combustion chamber. Its this turbulency that forces the pistons downward, creating a reciprocating motion, setting the crankshafts in to the final motion, before the driveshafts are driven.
If there isn't spark, there won't be movement.

WHAT SPARK PLUGS SHOULD YOU USE FOR YOUR CAR?
The choice of spark plugs for your cars usage, depends on the application, and the specifications recommended by the manufacturer.

*If for instance the engine has being overhauled, other spark plugs could be used, if modifications have being done on the engine.

If for instance, your car's spark plugs are stock plugs(I mean the ones that came with the car originally), follow the recommendations.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD THE SPARK PLUGS BE CHANGED
Depending on the manufacturers recommendations, all spark plugs aren't the same. Some plugs are special plugs(iridium and platinum), and the normal standard plugs(non iridium and platinum).
Special plugs like platinum and iridium, can serve a car owner up to 100, 000miles. They improve driveability, and fuel economy.
The problem is, they are expensive.
Whilst the normal or standard plugs, are often replaced at approximately 30-45000miles. They're prone to misfires.


WHY CAR MAKERS PREFER SPECIAL PLUGS

*Automakers in a bid to improve fuel economy and emissions, and engine misfires, have opted for special plugs in almost all petrol based applications. This, has significantly increased the sales of spark plugs for these companies, as another source of revenue stream.
These types of plugs have being in the past on V6 and V8 engines in the past. But there seem to have being a progressive review in recent times. New four cylinder engine applications are now incorporated with special plugs, because of the enormous benefits such plugs afford the owner.

*They're are resistant to chemical and electrical corrosions.

HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOUR CAR'S ENGINE'S GOT A SPECIAL OR STANDARD SPARK PLUG?

**Special plugs:
∆The centre electrode has a very tiny pointed edge. This pointed edge is usually made of platinum/iridium, or an alloy of both transition metals. That pointed edge, concentrates the spark directly at the fuel/air mixture region, in order to provide spark that won't cause preignition, or detonation.
∆They cost a fortune. But the benefits at the long run, outweighs the initial cost of purchase.

**Standard spark plugs:
∆They're the opposite of the special plugs.
∆They're not much expensive


SHOULD YOU CONSIDER REPLACING YOUR SPARK PLUGS?

The next time you go for an oil change, or a replacement maintenance service for any of your car's component, do ask your mechanic to help check those spark plugs for you.
Yes, you got to replace your spark plugs. They hold the key to your car's driveability and fuel economy efficiency.

WHAT HAPPENS IF YOUR PLUGS AREN'T REPLACED?

¶Poor fuel economy. You'll be a regular visitor to the filing station.

¶Frequent or intermittent engine misfires. This type of misfires occurs as a result of ignition misfires.
Misfires are terrible. They could cause damage to the car's catalytic converter, and opt emissions s level. If you're in a country/state where emissions regulations are in place, you'll never pass the test. States like California in the USA, is an example.

¶Engine overheating. If you suddenly realizes that your car's overheating, and you've carried out basic maintenance checks, it could be that the spark plugs in that car are severely worn out, or has a different heat range.

¶The engine may not start. The engine may not start, no matter the number of times you crank the engine.
There could be the availability of fuel, air, but without spark, from the spark plugs, the engine would never start. Cranking the engine without the necessary spark, would drain the battery of "juice".


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When replacing the spark plugs in your car, always take cognisance of the HEAT RANGE of the stock plugs on that engine.
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WHAT IS A SPARK PLUGS HEAT RANGE?
This simply means the plugs ability to transfer heat from its centre electrode to the cylinder head cooling systems.
The heat range of plugs are usually denoted with numbers, imprinted on the spark plugs. This varies according to spark plug manufacturers.

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Some piece of advice for car owners

***If you drive your car in a go and stop area, like in the Ajah or Lagos Third Mainland bridge traffic gridlocks, this info is for you.

***You drive only short distances within let's say,
daily from the mainland to the island in Lagos state, thus info is also for you.

This is the dynamics.
All spark plugs have a self cleaning ability. This is usually possible, because of the heat range of the plugs. Their operating temperatures are between the range of 350-800°C. At thus temperatures, every carbon deposits on the spark plug centre electrodes are burnt off, providing more sparks for the ignition of the fuel/air mixtures in the individual combustion chambers.

So, let's take an example. Cars driven at a go-and-stop manner, do not tend to get to the operating temperatures of the spark plugs. This, encourages carbon fouling on those plugs, and causes the driveability issues you might experience, such as engine misfires, stallings, etc.
In taking care of a situation like the enumerated above, its recommended, the stock plugs are replaced with a hit ranged spark plugs. This would ensure carbon fouling and engine misfires are prevented, and also dissipated excess heat from the centre electrode of the plugs to the cylinder head cooling system.


CONCLUSION
Spark plugs, though are often neglected, as a necessary replacement part, are one of the culprits responsible for major driveability issues.
Replacing spark plugs shouldn't be something that's tough.
Don't replace a spark plug, without considering it's heat range.


PS: If you've got the means, pls replace your spark plugs with new ones. I don't subscribe to used(Tokunbo) ones. Reason being, you're not sure of the heat range on that plugs, and the plugs lifespan is in question.


Regards,
Joseph
08066643532(WhatsApp/call)
Twitter: @dw_nig

very very educating piece....op thanks a million!

@SymbianDON. Longest time. How's being the holiday? I hope you allowed the "spark"!, to ignite the celebration's combustion chamber(s)? Its an analogy though.

TRYGO:
@SymbianDON. Longest time. How's being the holiday? I hope you allowed the "spark"!, to ignite the celebration's combustion chamber(s)? Its an analogy though.

lol....yeah! my sparks for the year 2017 are iridium tipped

@symbianDON. You're funny.