How to deal with common spark plug problems?

Normally, the service life of a spark plug is 15,000 kilometers, and the service life of a long-lasting spark plug does not exceed 30,000 kilometers. However, many car owners' spark plugs often have problems of one kind or another, and cannot reach their normal service life.

Spark plug ablation

When the owner finds scars or damage on the top of the spark plug, and the electrode is melted or ablated, it means that the spark plug has been damaged and the spark plug should be replaced. During the replacement process, the owner can check the symptoms of spark plug ablation and color changes. This phenomenon indicates that the temperature in the combustion chamber is too high. This may be caused by too much carbon deposits in the combustion chamber, which causes the valve clearance to be too small, further causing the exhaust valve to overheat or the cooling device to work poorly. When the spark plug is not tightened according to the specified torque, it will also cause the electrode to melt and the insulator to appear white. Generally speaking, knock combustion is the main cause of insulator rupture. Early ignition time, low gasoline octane number, and high temperature in the combustion chamber may all lead to engine knock combustion.

Deposits on the spark plug

Sometimes, deposits will stick to the top of the spark plug insulator and between the electrodes. Car owners should not underestimate this deposit. In severe cases, this situation may cause the engine to not work properly. After cleaning the spark plug, the vehicle can temporarily operate normally, but similar situations will occur again soon. In fact, the deposits on the spark plug are only a surface phenomenon, which may be a signal of problems with other parts of the vehicle. When oily deposits appear on the spark plug, it means that the lubricating oil has entered the combustion chamber. If only individual spark plugs have oily deposits, it may be caused by damage to the valve stem oil seal. If there are black deposits on the spark plug electrode and inside, it usually indicates that the mixture in the cylinder is too rich. Car owners can increase the engine speed and keep it running for a few minutes to burn off the layer of black soot left on the electrode.