In this age of high technology and computerized management systems, Spark plugs seem to get neglected more and more. But, you should remember that sparks plugs are just as important to the tuning of your car now, as they were in the 'old days'.
Actually on the newer cars installing new spark plugs is one of the few maintenance/tune-up jobs that most people can perform at home. Ignoring your spark plugs can lead to lost fuel mileage, rough running, and even engine damage.
The important things to remember when changing your spark plugs are:
Take some masking tape and label your plug wires before removing them from the plugs. It's a lot easier to take a few minutes to do this than it is to try and figure out the jumble of wires later.
Never install a spark plug without first checking its gap. The gap is the clearance between the electrodes at the firing end of the plug. Many people believe that 'however they come out of the box is fine'. Spark plug gaps are set at the factory, but this adjustment is easily effected by movement during shipping and handling. Another thing to consider is that a specific plug number may fit several different vehicles, not all requiring the same gap.
If you ever happen to have a 'stuck' spark plug, this can be very frustrating. This can be caused by a few different things. The plug may have been over tightened, cross-threaded, or just plain left in too long. Whatever the case make sure that you don't try to 'force' the plug out. If the plug will move at all, you can usually remove it by working it back and forth, each time gradually moving the plug a little farther. You can also try applying some lubricating oil to try to lubricate the threads.
When you're installing the new plugs, start them by hand. Be careful not to cross-thread the plugs and don't over tighten them. Gasket-seat plugs shouldn't be screwed in more than 1/12 turn past the point where they contact the engine; tapered-seat plugs shouldn't be torqued more than 1/16 turn.
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