At how many kilometers should car spark plugs be replaced?

[DelJayce]

Under normal maintenance conditions, car spark plugs should be replaced after driving 40,000 to 60,000 kilometers. However, this may vary depending on the brand and engine type, so it is recommended to follow the user manual. The following standards can be referenced for maintenance and replacement: Platinum spark plugs should be replaced at 40,000 kilometers, ordinary nickel alloy spark plugs at 20,000 kilometers, and iridium spark plugs at 60,000 to 80,000 kilometers. Methods to determine if spark plugs are damaged: Remove the spark plug and observe its appearance color to assess its condition. A normal spark plug's insulator skirt and electrodes should appear gray-white, gray-yellow, or light brown. A properly functioning spark plug's insulator skirt should be reddish-brown, with an electrode gap between 0.8-0.9mm and no signs of electrode burn. If the spark plug has oil stains or deposits but is not damaged, it can continue to be used after cleaning the oil and deposits. If the spark plug is severely damaged, with signs such as blistering at the top, black streaks, cracks, or melted electrodes, the cause of the damage should be identified. After troubleshooting, replace the spark plug with a new one. Additionally, if the spark plug appears black as if smoked, it indicates the wrong heat range was selected or the mixture is too rich, with oil creeping up.

[StKeegan]

Last time I went to the mechanic and asked about spark plugs, he told me there's quite a difference between materials. Regular nickel alloy spark plugs need replacement every 20,000 to 30,000 km - aggressive driving might wear them out even sooner. Platinum ones are more durable, lasting 40,000 to 60,000 km, making them suitable for frequent highway driving. The most resilient are double iridium spark plugs - some vehicles can go up to 100,000 km before replacement. But don't just focus on mileage - my neighbor's car went 40,000 km without replacement and ended up shaking violently during cold starts while burning 15% more fuel. It's best to consider both the maintenance manual and actual vehicle condition - for older cars, early inspection is the safer approach.

[Justin]

After driving three cars, I realized that spark plug replacement isn't a one-size-fits-all solution. When I changed them at 60,000 km on my naturally aspirated engine, the electrodes were nearly worn flat. Now with my turbocharged car, the manufacturer recommends mandatory replacement at 40,000 km. City driving with frequent traffic jams wears spark plugs faster than highway miles - those short trips with constant cold starts are especially hard on electrodes. I remember once forgetting to replace them, and the engine stuttered like an asthma patient during acceleration. Now I make it a habit to inspect one plug every 30,000 km - if the ceramic insulator shows yellowing or severe electrode erosion, I replace the whole set immediately. After all, the cost of four spark plugs doesn't even equal half a tank of gas.

[FernandoLynn]

The key to spark plugs lies in material compatibility. Standard ones are recommended for replacement every 20,000-40,000 km, platinum ones around 50,000-80,000 km, while double iridium types can last over 100,000 km. I've tested a car with mismatched spark plugs that showed ignition delay at just 30,000 km. Modified cars especially need proper heat range matching – I once handled a case where cold-type spark plugs caused severe carbon buildup for a friend. Direct injection engines demand higher spark plug performance, with German cars typically requiring shorter replacement intervals than Japanese models. Regularly checking electrode gaps can save you major repair costs.