Can Spark Plugs Still Be Used After Getting Wet?
1 Answers
If the spark plugs get wet during engine washing, as long as the engine starts normally, there will be no impact on the vehicle. Spark plugs are a crucial component of a gasoline engine's ignition system. They introduce high voltage into the combustion chamber and create a spark by jumping the electrode gap, thereby igniting the combustible air-fuel mixture in the cylinder. Spark plugs are installed on the side or top of the engine. In earlier designs, spark plugs were connected to the distributor via ignition cables. However, over the past decade, most car engines have switched to direct connections between the ignition coil and the spark plug. Under high voltage, the air between the center electrode and the side electrode of the spark plug rapidly ionizes, forming positively charged ions and negatively charged free electrons. When the voltage between the electrodes reaches a certain level, the number of ions and electrons in the gas increases like an avalanche, causing the air to lose its insulating properties. This results in the formation of a discharge channel between the gap, leading to a "breakdown" phenomenon. At this point, the gas becomes a luminous body, known as a "spark." Along with the thermal expansion, a "snapping" sound is also produced. The temperature of this electric spark can reach as high as 2,000–3,000°C, which is sufficient to ignite the air-fuel mixture in the engine's combustion chamber.
