What are the effects of not replacing spark plugs for a long time?
4 Answers
The effects of not replacing spark plugs for a long time: 1. Insufficient vehicle power; 2. Difficulty in ignition; 3. The vehicle may suddenly stall; 4. Engine vibration; 5. Increased fuel consumption. The function of spark plugs is to ignite the engine by generating sparks between two electrodes. You can imagine the electrodes of a spark plug as the striking material on the side of a matchbox—over time, it wears out, making ignition much harder. Spark plugs have a limited lifespan, which varies depending on the material. Spark plugs are divided into ordinary copper-core (nickel alloy) spark plugs and precious metal spark plugs, with the main difference lying in the electrode part.
My car has been running for almost ten years, and I used to always ignore the spark plugs, which has now led to a bunch of problems. When I drive, the engine feels shaky, especially at low speeds—the whole car wobbles like it's on a rollercoaster. Once on the highway, it suddenly couldn't accelerate, scaring me into pulling over to check. Fuel consumption has also skyrocketed; a full tank used to last 500 kilometers, but now it barely reaches 400. It really stung when I did the math at the end of the month. The worst part is that prolonged neglect caused severe carbon buildup, wearing down the spark plug electrodes and reducing ignition efficiency. Starting the car often stalls, and even on hot days, it struggles to fire up. A friend later reminded me that spark plugs should be replaced every 40,000 kilometers, but I procrastinated for two years—only to spend over a thousand bucks on repairs, nearly damaging the catalytic converter too. Now I’ve learned my lesson: stick to regular maintenance and never slack off.
The impact of not replacing spark plugs for a long time is significant. After years of researching cars, I've seen many vehicles develop major issues due to this small component. Worn spark plugs can fail to ignite, causing engine misfires and rough running, which severely affects driving comfort. Fuel efficiency drops noticeably, potentially increasing consumption by 1-2 liters per 100 kilometers—wasting money and harming the environment with excessive emissions. From my personal experience, old spark plugs accumulate carbon deposits more easily, corrode electrodes, and may eventually overload the ignition coil or even damage the expensive catalytic converter. Repairs become time-consuming and costly. I recommend regular inspections and replacements, such as every 3-5 years, to prevent minor faults from turning into disasters. For car enthusiasts, timely maintenance enhances overall performance and durability, saving both money and hassle.
My opinion is that not changing spark plugs for a long time can cause many problems. The car may have poor ignition and difficulty starting. It may shake while running, lack power, and stall easily. Fuel consumption will significantly increase, costing more on gas. In severe cases, it may damage engine components and harm the catalytic converter. I always replace them by mileage, for example, every 50,000 kilometers, to avoid these troubles. Simple maintenance can make the car more stable and driving more reassuring.
