How Many Kilometers Should a Car Drive Before Replacing Spark Plugs?
1 Answers
Under normal maintenance conditions, spark plugs should be replaced after driving 40,000 to 60,000 kilometers. However, this may vary depending on the brand and engine, 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 plugs and observe their appearance color to assess their condition. Normally, the insulator skirt and electrodes of a spark plug appear gray-white, gray-yellow, or light brown. A properly functioning spark plug has a reddish-brown insulator skirt, with an electrode gap between 0.8-0.9mm and no signs of electrode burn. If the spark plug is covered in oil or deposits but is not damaged, it can continue to be used after cleaning off 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 that the wrong heat range was selected or that the air-fuel mixture is too rich, with oil seeping up.