What are the effects of excessive spark plug gap?
1 Answers
A gap that is too small results in weak sparks, which can easily lead to carbon buildup and potential spark plug leakage. If the gap is too large, it requires higher breakdown voltage, making the engine difficult to start and causing misfires during operation. The standard spark plug gap value is between 0.8-0.9mm. Methods to determine if a spark plug is damaged: Remove the spark plug and observe its appearance color to assess its condition. A normal spark plug has 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 plug is contaminated with oil or deposits but is otherwise undamaged, it can continue to be used after cleaning off the oil and deposits. If the spark plug is 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 plug with a new one. Additionally, if the spark plug appears black as if smoked, it indicates an incorrect heat range selection, a rich fuel mixture, or oil leakage.