What Happens If You Don't Replace Spark Plugs?
1 Answers
If spark plugs are not replaced for a long time, it can lead to various issues such as leakage in the vehicle's ignition system, increased fuel consumption, reduced power output, and most importantly, difficulty in ignition, which affects the normal operation of the vehicle. Severe erosion of the spark plug—such as blistering at the top, damage, or melted electrodes—indicates that the spark plug is damaged and should be replaced. Methods to determine if a spark plug is damaged: Remove the spark plug and observe its appearance. The condition of the spark plug can be judged based on its color. 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, 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—showing signs of blistering, 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, or there is oil leakage.