How often should the spark plugs be replaced in a Tiida?
3 Answers
The spark plugs in a Tiida should be replaced approximately every 100,000 kilometers. Methods to determine if spark plugs are damaged: Remove the spark plugs and observe them. The condition of the spark plugs can be judged based on their appearance and color. Normal spark plugs have an insulator skirt and electrodes that appear gray-white, gray-yellow, or light brown. A properly functioning spark plug has a reddish-brown insulator skirt, an electrode gap between 0.8-0.9mm, and no signs of electrode burn. If the spark plugs are covered in oil or deposits but are not damaged, they can continue to be used after cleaning off the oil and deposits. If the spark plugs are severely damaged, showing 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 plugs with new ones. Additionally, if the spark plugs appear black as if smoked, it indicates that the wrong heat range was selected or that the air-fuel mixture is too rich, with oil creeping up.
I've been driving my Tiida for five years and just completed the sixth maintenance. The mechanic said the original nickel alloy spark plugs need replacement every 30,000 km, but it actually depends on driving habits. With my daily commute stuck in city traffic, prolonged idling causes heavy carbon buildup - the electrodes were already eroded when checked at 25,000 km. After switching to iridium plugs that can last 60,000 km, acceleration became noticeably smoother and fuel consumption dropped by 0.5L. It's recommended to monitor your car's condition - difficulty starting when cold or idle vibration are warning signs. A group member delayed replacement until 40,000 km, then suddenly experienced cylinder misfire on the highway and needed towing, which cost more than two sets of spark plugs.
I never miss the maintenance intervals for my Tiida as outlined in the manual. Nissan officially recommends replacing the spark plugs every 30,000 kilometers, but the 4S dealership suggests checking the electrode gap at 20,000 kilometers. During the last service, the technician showed me the combustion chamber condition using a borescope and mentioned that frequent short-distance driving makes it more prone to carbon buildup. I've now switched to double platinum spark plugs—they're more expensive but offer better durability. The key indicator is actually the air-fuel mixture concentration. If you smell gasoline in the exhaust or notice sluggish RPM response during acceleration, it's usually a sign of ignition system issues.
