When to Change Spark Plugs of Your Vehicle?

When to change spark plugs of your vehicle? You might be wondering about this question, well wondering no more because we will break it down for you!

Because of their crucial role in your vehicle, you should know when to replace your spark plugs.

Because using spark plugs that are over their limit can reduce your vehicle engine performance, and continuous use can permanently damage your engine components.

Well, there are several signs that your vehicle gives that you can identify when the spark plug should be replaced, what are they? Check out the explanation below!

Signs When to Change Spark Plugs

1. Your Vehicle is Hard to Start

The obvious one is that your vehicle is difficult to start. Usually when a vehicle is difficult to start, the battery is to blame.

But, most of the time it’s because the spark plugs are past their prime and need to be replaced.

If the spark plug is not functioning properly, then your vehicle becomes more difficult to start.

This is because spark plugs that have passed their service life or are clogged and dirty will cause the spark process to not occur so that the engine does not start.

2. Bad Fuel Efficiency

A worn spark plugs can cause an increase in fuel consumption of your car and reduce its efficiency.

It is because worn plugs make your engine work harder than it has to, which in turn sucks up extra gas and also your money.

A worn spark plug can cause fuel to not burn completely and efficiently in the combustion chamber.

Hence, if you feel that your car or motorcycle is more wasteful than usual, try checking the spark plug of your vehicle.

3. Power Loss

After that, you may start to notice that your motorcycle is slowly losing power. One of the common causes of this problem is dirty or malfunctioning spark plugs. 

Spark plugs are responsible for producing the spark required to burn the fuel and air mixture inside the engine’s combustion chamber.

Therefore, if the spark plugs become dirty or experience a decline in performance, the spark they produce can become inconsistent or even non-existent. 

As a result, the combustion process does not run perfectly, so the engine loses its power and its response becomes less than optimal.

Also Read: “Spark Plug Buying Guide: 4 Things to Consider“

4. Your Engine Idles Rough

If you’ve ever felt that your vehicle’s engine sounds rough and like something is wrong, one of the reasons might be the spark plugs that you need to replace.

Replace worn or dirty spark plugs with new ones to ensure that the combustion process is optimized again. 

By performing regular maintenance and timely spark plug replacement, you can keep your engine performance stable and avoid more serious problems in the future.

5. Low Acceleration

A worn spark plug cannot produce the spark needed to ignite the air and fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. 

So, if your vehicle doesn’t accelerate well, it may be due to spark plugs that aren’t working properly. 

Since a lack of acceleration can cause problems on the highway, especially when traveling on the expressway, it is very important to check the condition of the spark plugs.

6. Surging

The next symptom that you can encounter when the spark plug is no longer viable is surging on your vehicle. 

Surging is a condition where the air supply in the combustion chamber is too large than it should be. 

This excess air causes the combustion that occurs in the combustion chamber to not be completed. 

7. Misfiring 

When you feel a rocking or unsteady engine rotation-like the engine revving up and down for no apparent reason-or hear a strange popping sound when the engine is about to stall, this could be an indication that your spark plugs need to be replaced. 

These symptoms indicate that the spark plug may not be providing enough spark to burn the air and fuel mixture efficiently.

There you go! The 7 signs of when to change spark plugs!

One thing that we almost forget is to choose the quality spark plugs for your vehicle!

How do you identify high quality spark plugs for your vehicle? You can spot the SNI logo on the packaging of your spark plugs.

What is an SNI logo? The SNI logo indicates that the spark plug of your choice has already been tested and certified for its performance, quality and also safety aspects.

The SNI logo also signifies that the manufacturer is obeying the Indonesian rules and regulation.

The regulation of spark plugs is clearly stated in SNI 2929: 2008.