The Impact of Not Replacing Spark Plugs on a Vehicle
3 Answers
If spark plugs are damaged, it can directly cause various issues such as leakage in the vehicle's ignition system, increased fuel consumption, and reduced power. The most significant problem is difficulty in ignition, which affects the normal operation of the vehicle. 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 insulator skirts and electrodes that 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 plugs are contaminated with 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, 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 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 personally experienced the impact of not replacing spark plugs on my car. I found that with aged spark plugs, the vehicle's power noticeably decreased – when accelerating, it felt like pressing the gas pedal had no effect. Incomplete ignition caused severe engine vibrations, especially during cold starts. Even worse, fuel consumption suddenly increased; a full tank that used to last 500 kilometers could only reach just over 400 kilometers later. I also noticed unstable idling – the car would shake at traffic lights. Over time, severe carbon buildup on the spark plugs could damage the ignition coils or even the catalytic converter, leading to much more expensive repairs. Eventually, I replaced the spark plugs, which cost just a few hundred yuan, but the improvement was immediate – the engine ran smoothly again and became much more fuel-efficient. This taught me the importance of regularly checking spark plugs and not waiting until major problems arise to regret negligence.
The impact of not replacing spark plugs is something I've seen too many cases of. Worn-out spark plugs lead to low ignition efficiency and incomplete combustion of the air-fuel mixture, directly affecting engine power. You'll notice sluggish acceleration, difficulty climbing hills, and often experience shaking and unstable idling. More importantly, fuel consumption increases significantly because of combustion waste – fuel gets expelled before being fully utilized. Long-term neglect causes carbon buildup on spark plug electrodes to accumulate, potentially corroding surrounding components like fuel injectors or catalytic converters, leading to higher repair costs. I recommend checking them every 20,000 kilometers or so. Timely replacement can extend engine life. I've observed many car owners overlook this small component, only to end up spending big on repairs later.
