Healthy spark plugs are vital as they’re an integral part of the combustion process. Plugs will slowly wear out as time passes, and they can also get damaged. Worn or damaged plugs affect your car’s performance and can damage other engine components. As your Toyota dealer, we want to tell you more about our plugs and how often they need to be replaced.
What Do the Plugs Do?
A plug is screwed into the top of each engine cylinder, and they provide the spark that ignites the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder. Fuel and air mix in the intake manifold and are then drawn into each cylinder. The cylinder closes, and the piston in the cylinder rises at speed and compresses the fuel-air mix. Once the mixture is fully compressed, the plug ignites it to create combustion. Combustion produces the energy that allows your car to move.
How Long Do Plugs Last?
As a general rule, plugs need replacement after 30,000 miles. The correct replacement time for the plugs in your Toyota model is listed in your car manual. Replacement time can vary, as damaged plugs need to be replaced earlier. If you have long-life plugs, they may only need to be replaced after 120,000 miles.
Signs of Worn Plugs
If your plugs are worn or damaged, they will cause various engine problems. These include misfiring, gas smells, and increased fuel usage.
Misfiring
A misfire occurs when a spark plug fails to ignite its cylinder’s contents. There are several causes of this problem, including low compression in the cylinder or a fuel-rich fuel-air mixture in the cylinder. The most common reason for misfiring, however, is a worn plug. If the plug doesn’t ignite the mixture, combustion fails in the affected cylinder, and the cylinder contents are dumped into the exhaust system.
Gas Smell
Under normal circumstances, you shouldn’t smell gas. The cylinders, fuel system, and other engine components where gas is present are airtight. If you do smell gas when you’re driving, you could have a gas leak or a worn plug. Each plug is securely attached to its cylinder, but a damaged plug can become loose. If this happens, fuel vapor will escape the cylinder and waft into your cabin.
Increased Fuel Usage
Worn plugs won’t ignite the fuel-air mixture correctly. When this happens, the unburnt fuel in the affected cylinder can’t be reused, and it is dumped into the exhaust system. More fuel will then be drawn into the cylinder to try and achieve combustion. If you see you’re using more fuel than you should, you could have worn plugs.
Our expert technicians can easily replace your plugs. It’s a fast and affordable process and can prevent engine damage. Call us today at Burien Toyota.
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