Spark Plugs 101 | Mercedes, TX
When you buy a used vehicle at family-owned Bert Ogden Auto Outlet, you can be sure it is up to date on all maintenance needs. However, as it ages, you will need to stay on top of important maintenance milestones, like oil changes and tire rotations. Less common but still important for vehicle maintenance is spark plug replacement.
What are spark plugs?
Before understanding why you will need to replace your spark plugs at regular intervals, it’s helpful to understand what spark plugs are and what they do for your vehicle.
Spark plugs are really important for getting your vehicle to start. Much like your car’s battery, without functioning spark plugs, your vehicle simply won’t start. That’s because spark plugs quite literally spark a tiny jolt of electricity that your ignition needs to start the car.
When spark plugs begin to degrade, it leads to weaker engine performance. You could encounter cold starts or engine misfires, and without high-performing spark plugs, your engine won’t be able to sustain full power, and you may notice a dip in fuel economy. Eventually, if the spark plugs stop working, you will need a tow to get to a Bert Ogden service bay.
How often should I replace spark plugs?
Obviously, it’s important to replace your spark plugs. But just how often do you need to do it? Check your owner’s manual, which will spell out the intervals at which you should replace these. Most vehicles have 30,000-mile intervals. That means, if you do oil changes every 5,000 miles, you will need a spark plug replacement every six oil changes.
The longevity of spark plugs does vary depending on the type you use. Spark plugs that are more costly, made of durable materials, may last longer than 30,000 miles — up to four times as long as the most affordable (and thus least effective) copper spark plugs.
Ready to upgrade your ride? Check out the large inventory of high-quality models from a variety of brands at Bert Ogden Auto Outlet in Mercedes, Texas.
