VIDEO: Spark Plug Torque Specifications
What determines the torque specs on a spark plug? Is it the engine? The spark plug itself? or multiple factors? Find out as Andrew Markel explains! Sponsored by DENSO.
VIDEO: Spark Plug Fouling: The Canary In The Engine Coal Mine
Is it the oil? The gas? Or, the coolant? Spark plugs can be the “canary in the coal mine” for underlying engine issues. Find out 3 things that can foul a spark plug and how to spot the problem with Andrew Markel in this week’s Maintenance Minute! Sponsored by DENSO.
VIDEO: Choosing The Right Spark Plug Replacement
Andrew Markel shows the importance of choosing a spark plug replacement with the OE-recommended or better material. Sponsored by Robert Bosch.
Leading Causes Of Ignition Coil Failures
It may be surprising to learn that the leading causes of ignition coil failures have nothing to do with the coils themselves. Ignition coil damage is often caused by underlying issues never addressed in engine misfire repairs. Issues like spark plug gapping, leaking valve covers or moisture intrusion.
Ultimate Underhood Retro: Ignition Points
The ignition contact points that conduct the battery voltage are typically made of tungsten, and can be slowly eroded by the spark. The contact pad that rides on the shaft of the distributor can wear and change the dwell. The spring can lose tension over time and even break. Most point systems could not go past 4,000 RPM without the timing becoming unstable due to the arm bouncing on the distributor shaft.
VIDEO: The Worst Spark Plug Jobs (Part 2)
Andrew Markel finishes the list of the six most difficult spark plug jobs you may have already dealt with. This video includes the ’67-’69 Ford Mustang, the Chevy Monza, and the AMC Pacer.
VIDEO: The Worst Spark Plug Jobs (Part 1)
Andrew Markel starts on a list of the six most difficult spark plug jobs you may have already dealt with. This video includes the GM Quad-4 engine, the Toyota Previa van, and the Chrysler Town and Country.
The Science Behind Precious Metal Spark Plugs
With the need to comply with ever-increasing efficiency and emission standards, auto manufacturers have been racing to raise the bar in spark plug performance over the past three decades. The use of precious metals like platinum and iridium in the manufacturing of spark plugs, as opposed to the use of nickel, has resulted in plugs that can last much longer and offer better performance than the spark plugs in circulation prior to the mid-1980s.
Spark Plug Replacement
Every time a spark plug fires, the spark burns a few molecules of metal off the plug’s electrodes. Over time, this eats away the electrodes and rounds off their sharp edges. The erosion gradually increases the gap between the electrodes, which, in turn, increases the firing voltage required to generate a spark. Eventually the point
Legendary Spark Plugs: The Six Toughest Vintage Spark Plug Replacements
1. AMC Pacer: The Pacer was supposed to get a GM Wankel rotary engine. If this were the case, the four plugs would have been easy to access. But thanks to emissions problems, the Pacer would get the regular AMC straight six. This forced the engineers to put plugs 5 and 6 under the windshield.
Toughest Spark Plug Changes
We have all been there before: scratched arms, busted knuckles and an aching back caused by a difficult spark plug replacement job. If you think they are getting tougher every year, you are right. Every new engine design is putting the plugs deeper in the heads, and items like intake manifolds are getting in the
Installing Spark Plugs: Torque and Gap Are Critical
When installing spark plugs, a technician must be aware of the torque specifications for that particular plug. Remember that either overtorquing or undertorquing a spark plug will affect the quality of the installation and the performance of the vehicle’s engine. If a spark plug is undertorqued, it will be loose in the cylinder and, as
