How not to ruin the engine when replacing spark plugs

A seemingly routine procedure, like replacing spark plugs, can turn into serious problems for the engine and, accordingly, the owner of the car. Portal "AvtoVzglyad" figured out what to do in order to avoid problems, and at the same time not to pay too much.

When replacing spark plugs, it is important to keep sand and dirt out of the cylinders. After all, all this is a strong abrasive, which over time will leave scuff marks on the walls of each of the cylinders. Which, in turn, will lead to a loss of compression and increased oil consumption for waste. To avoid this, let's remember the method used by experienced drivers.

When changing spark plugs, first turn them halfway out, and then clean the spark plug wells with carburetor and throttle body cleaner—these are often sold in aerosol cans. The advantages of such a package is that you will blow out the sand, and the liquid itself will clean the dirt and dry quickly. Then boldly turn out the candles without fear of foreign bodies getting into the candle wells.

It happens that after replacing the spark plugs, strange things begin to happen to the engine: a vibration appears that was not there, or even the engine starts to “troit”. In this case, let the engine cool down, and then remove the spark plugs and inspect them. If the insulator of one of the candles is white, this should alert. The fact is that on the insulator of a serviceable candle, even with a small run, a light brown soot appears. Therefore, the snow-white color of the insulator is a sign of improper operation of the spare part. This spark plug needs to be replaced. Most likely, the vibrations will stop after that.

Well, if you notice that the ceramic "skirt" of the central electrode is destroyed - just immediately change the candle to a new one - you have a defective part in front of you. But keep in mind that this can also happen due to engine detonation, if you regularly save on gasoline and fill it incomprehensibly.

The candles themselves can also tell a lot about the condition of the engine. For example, black soot on the skirt of the insulator will tell you about an over-enriched mixture and increased fuel consumption. A thick oil soot on the threaded part is a clear indication that the valve stem seals are worn out. After starting, such a motor has a white-gray exhaust and, of course, increased oil consumption. All this suggests that it is time to visit the service, otherwise the engine will face serious repairs.