It may seem like the times when you changed your spark plugs every few years are over.
Why is that the case? Well, back in the day, spark plugs really did wear out that often. There are many things that are different now.
Firstly, spark plugs are made of higher-grade materials that allow them to last longer, and they are designed better overall. The second reason is that spark plugs used to have to be changed because they were filled with carbon deposits.
These deposits would build up when fuel was not completely burned. That does not happen as often now with modern engine controls. Engine control computers precisely the time when fuel is injected into the engine and when the spark plugs fire. Unless something goes wrong, spark plugs just do not go bad as soon as they used to.
How Do Spark Plugs Work?
Let’s take a closer look at the spark plug process.
- Electricity from the battery goes into a coil, allowing power to build up anywhere from 12,000 to 45,000 volts depending on the type of vehicle.
- The engine management computer controls when the coil (certain engines may have more than one) releases the power to the spark plug.
- The electricity travels through a wire from the coil to the spark plug.
- At the tip of the plug, a spark jumps between two electrodes, igniting the gas in the combustion chamber.
These coils will wear out and need to be replaced from time to time, and spark plug wires will also wear out and have to be replaced. Modern engines deliver more power with greater fuel economy, and that is largely due to faster engine control computers, advanced sensors, electronic ignition, and improvements in the lowly spark plug. It will be interesting to see where future technological developments will bring vehicle technology.
Get the Right Spark Plug for Your Vehicle
There is one last thing to touch on. It is extremely important to have the right kind of spark plug for your car. Engines are meant to run with different internal temperatures, so spark plugs have different designs to work properly within those set temperatures. Your auto mechanic in San Diego at Automobile Repair Shop San Diego will be able to help you pick out the right plugs for your car and will be able to recommend when you should replace your spark plugs. Give us a call today to have your vehicle checked out for auto repair in San Diego.
Auto Maintenance San Diego
Automobile Repair Shop San Diego is a family-owned and operated repair shop that has provided quality auto maintenance in San Diego for years. We offer you hassle-free estimates and repairs in San Diego starting with a precise assessment of your vehicle’s current issues. We will tow your vehicle for FREE to our shop, organize a rental car, and work directly with the insurance company to streamline the repair process. We will even pay up to $500 of your deductible. Contact us today at (619) 330-0862 to see how we can help.