How spark plugs work and what they can tell you about your engine

How spark plugs work and what they can tell you about your engine | DIY

Рет қаралды 61,482

3 жыл бұрын

Spark plugs may seem like a small and simple component to a combustion engine, but they alone can determine the fate of your most prized possession. In this episode of DIY, Kyle Smith covers all the different components of a spark plug from the valve seat, porcelain housing to the electrode and even teaches you what a spark plug can tell you after you pull it from your engine.
#DIY #SparkPlugs #KyleSmith
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Пікірлер: 75

@Ipwnnoobs7 3 жыл бұрын

This is the best video on spark plugs I've ever seen and I used to work for NGK. Concise, accurate, relevant, and easy to understand. Keep it up folks.

@Che1seabluesdrogba11 3 жыл бұрын

I put NGKs in everything german or japanese

@Sophia-io8qg 3 жыл бұрын

I recommend watching Project Farm videos that function tests many different spark plug designs and rates them. It's very informative, will help you better desire witch plug is better for your application

@averagecarguy420 3 жыл бұрын

I work on 2 strokes all day and plug reading is one of the most important things for me, really the only accurate way to tell what’s going on inside the engine

@kenlowe8659 3 жыл бұрын

I have a 2005 one ton Silverado four wheel drive 6.0 with 210,000 miles. I bought new. It still has original spark plugs and it runs as good as the first day I bought it new. No misses no spark issues at all. Even has original wires and coil packs. Chevrolet like a rock.

@opera93 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, interesting... I am coming up on my 90,000 miles on GMC Canyon 4 CYL/2007( early first plug Replacement @60,000 miles. OEM)........Also,interestingly, my 2015 DODGE JOURNEY 4CYL, is Every 30,000 miles PLUGS, ODDLY .....WHICH imhad Dealer do, as got “THE Lifetime Conventional Oil Change “, with new **Car purchase ( first time in 50:Years for me , as generally done ,much Work myself over the years)....

@im-that-guy-pal 3 ай бұрын

Wow your lucky. 2001 Silverado one engine replaced second beginning to knock transmission slipping and goong on 3rd transfer case chain. Regular services since bought new. Never pulled a trailer or pushed a plow. Like a rock.

@hoomee7605 3 жыл бұрын

When i was a kid, i used to help dad take out the plugs, clean them, check the gap and put it all back in.

@rocketkinger2506 3 жыл бұрын

cute

@CanadaBud23 3 жыл бұрын

Did the same. I still do it even now. Most of the time they just need cleaning.

@Hammer-vr7or 3 жыл бұрын

Still do and we rebuild small engines

@muirallie 3 жыл бұрын

I read the old rally teams used to file the ground strap to more of a point to quicken the explosion spread. As in to stop the wide strap hindering initial spread of combustion

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

It’s true and it works, even some spark plugs manufacturers like BRISK has such a models spark plugs for passengers cars .

@jagvette1 3 жыл бұрын

Very interesting, and while I knew which was best I did not know the details and I have been a mechanic for many years, thank you for his video.

@frederiksmit563 3 жыл бұрын

Great video, very helpful!

@PCMenten 3 жыл бұрын

Fuel quality also effects deposits on plugs, as does oil type. Ashless motor oils v. oil with heavy additives slso have an effect. Also mention that using a hotter plug can compensate for blow-by. Demonstrate it! Also, the spark starts at an edge on the electrode, that’s why the electrode gets rounded. Also, fuel mixture and oil contamination change combustion characteristics, which effects plug choice and plug life. Then there’s extended tip plugs like Autolites v. recessed tip. These variations affect spark timing. In addition, ignition coils can effect plug life. Lots more to the subject that what’s covered here. Resistor plugs, specialty plugs, indexing the electrode, multiple spark discharge ignitions. Fun!

@w2tty 3 жыл бұрын

Fantastic video

@ralphd2085 Жыл бұрын

This was an incredible source of information. Lets see what other videos you guys have :)

@SpatialDragon 3 жыл бұрын

How can reading plugs be a dying art? Cars still use them, well I.C.E. engines, not electric motors... Keep the knowledge going. Good job.

@CanadaBud23 3 жыл бұрын

People don't touch their motors anymore. So skills like that kinda fade away from not practicing anymore.

@MyGorilla1 3 жыл бұрын

Hi there ✌🏼 Very interesting 👍🏼 From France with passion and respect ✌🏼⚜️🇨🇵😎🏁

@100amps 3 жыл бұрын

You didn't mention the lean/rich running evidence. The good mechanics are looking at the plugs and saying it's running rich or lean. What are they see seeing?

@PhilipBeresford 3 жыл бұрын

Please do one of these for 2 strokes

@davidheal4623 3 жыл бұрын

Good info and pictures. Mention resistance aspect and checking SP resistance. Show pictures of carbon fouled SPs as well. Don't reuse a dropped SP. Corona discharge at junction of SP base and insulator.

@JuanLopez-oz9kh 3 жыл бұрын

Is it worth upgrading your plug for more expensive unit or just get oem. Since theynare design for ultimate performance

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

Try Denso IridiumTT (double fine tips electrodes) and you will figure out by yourself :)

@JuanLopez-oz9kh 3 жыл бұрын

@@flappingflight8537 thanks; Have two cars with over 120k that need plugs.

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

@@JuanLopez-oz9kh 120k miles or km ? If it is yours cars first plugs service most probably they are already iridium plugs . Denso iridium TT are performance oriented plugs . Better start,smoother idling , better throttle response, better acceleration , better exhaust emissions and better fuel consumption. They achieve all that with very thin electrodes , only 0.4 mm the central one and 0.7 the ground one . This is the reason their lifespan to be shorter , around 100k km . The OEM iridium plugs that the cars come originally from the factory are with ticker electrodes in order to be good for around 115-120k miles .

@JuanLopez-oz9kh 3 жыл бұрын

@@flappingflight8537 thanks; neither of my cars are for performance cars; just family taxis; lol 120k plus miles

@joshuapasweeney 3 жыл бұрын

Yeah Kyle!!!!

@pablorikemberg2285 3 жыл бұрын

Caballeros, buen video, les agradecería Subtitulado en español. 👍😎 Abrazo grande desde Neuquén Argentina.

@guitarshred863 8 ай бұрын

hello, recently a spark plug boot sleeve ruptured and the spark plug was loose and I was able to take it out. Now the broken pug about 1/2 inch down where sprk plug connect , the issue is where it broke is the hard plastic , over time its even became harder . now since I have the sparkplug out . and I tried almost everything to take it out . I lube it with silicon spray . If I grill it with a circular saw 7/8 , which fit in there. would the debris go inside the piston ? or valve? the car is in my garage . . please help. thank you in advance. Thank you. More power to you and your channel.

@jim_cathymcclendon6091 3 жыл бұрын

Service four-wheel-drive light is on in my 99 Chevy Tahoe 5.7 engine. 4 Wheel Dr. push buttons are good where do I go now?

@gimmefuel7268 3 жыл бұрын

Nice, very informative video. However, iridium plugs still do need to be gapped out of the box.

@dirtyoldfarmhand3 3 жыл бұрын

Commenting for the algorithm

@gedavids84 3 жыл бұрын

I've never heard of nor seen a double platinum plug before, neat.

@binodajuan4342 3 жыл бұрын

English is hard

@gedavids84 3 жыл бұрын

@@binodajuan4342 More like my fingers can't keep up with my brain. :P Fixed it.

@tinman5322 3 жыл бұрын

A critical point, even though no one is likely to mix them up: never use the incorrect "reach" plug in any head. Generally standard length for iron castings and long reach for aluminum. A long plug in an iron head will likely crash and a short one in aluminum will cause catastrophic burning of the exposed aluminum threads.

@akashtk2343 3 жыл бұрын

❤️

@MURDOCK1500 3 жыл бұрын

What about resistor plugs?

@89StarquestTSi 3 жыл бұрын

The days of reading electrode tips and ceramic for rich/lean afrs and knock/det from ignition timing are long gone.... Still a handy skill to learn though if you tune engines

@bradfordeaton6558 3 жыл бұрын

If you see spots on the electrode you'd better fatten up the mix quickly or you'll be buying pistons!

@beachboardfan9544 3 жыл бұрын

Whats better an why, gasket seat or tapered seat?

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

Tapered seat transfer heat better since there is direct contact with cylinder head , but this only in case of ideal matching of the surfaces and avoiding of any dirt between them . When the gasket introduce some resistance for the heat transfer, it is much more tolerable for poorer matching of the surfaces and accommodation of some dirt . So tapered are theoretically better when gasket type are practically better . M16 vs AK47 the same thing:)

@beachboardfan9544 3 жыл бұрын

@@flappingflight8537 O dude, M16 all day!!! No comparison!

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

@@beachboardfan9544 Sure, on the range :)

@BadAssEngineering 3 жыл бұрын

What about the myth that Copper plugs are the best performing before they wear out? Is this true for performance/upgraded engines that require colder plugs, or would platinum/iridium plugs work as good ??

@joshuagibson2520 3 жыл бұрын

Y'all are killin it with the content lately. Keep on! I'd also like to note that MotorTrend is garbage. :)

@dragospahontu 3 жыл бұрын

The 4th example is probably a TSI

@ericsevern 3 жыл бұрын

Where’s the part about how they work? Does it have something to do with the 12 volts from the battery being converted by a coil into thousands of volts to promote electricity jumping between the electrodes in the form of light energy (the spark) and heat energy and it’s the heat that ignites the fuel, etc.? Also, you mentioned compression rings, but I suspect that many people haven’t heard it spelled out as “it deforms as it’s compressed by the screwing of the plug to a particular torque to conform to any irregularities between the shape of the plug and the hole in order to completely seal the cylinder” or some such thing.

@BrycenKauai 3 жыл бұрын

If you're gonna get fancy its called dielectric breakdown of the air....

@ericsevern 3 жыл бұрын

@@BrycenKauai Yes, let's get fancy. This is what I/we want to know. Seriously.

@leoh6515 3 жыл бұрын

Where’s Davin???

@user-lw2ul1iu1e 3 жыл бұрын

Жаль нет русских титров, посмотрел весь ролик, по видео ряду ничего нового не узнал, но вот что он там рассказывал... Может что путное и было.

@mitchellsanders357 3 жыл бұрын

They are nickel, platinum and iridium plugs. A "copper" plug is miss information repeated by everyone. All of those options have copper cores. An iridium plugs is just as much a "copper" plug as a nickel plug is. I can't recall when copper cored plugs started, I think it was the 70's. It was marketed heavily at the time and some brands continue to promote it to this day.

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

The key word is the core :) Cooper CORE . The reason for such design is the better heat transfer of the Cooper . This allow to widen the heat range of the plug so it is able to self clean on light loads and idling and in the same time to do not be a source of preignition on heavy loads . This also allows manufacturers to cover all the engines on the market with much smaller number of spark plugs models .

@matthorse9356 3 жыл бұрын

The coolest thing I ever done with a spark plug was I had a 80cc 2-stroke engine it was running it was hot and I turned it off I turned the motor to where the compression of the piston was at Max and I hit the spark plug with a barbecue push button sparker it must have sparked the spark plug cuz my block it popped zero Revolution to the crank and all of a sudden combustion note to self don't do that again direct that blew the side out like a little shrapnel grenade it was weird the whole top and down the side like popped off

@im-that-guy-pal 3 ай бұрын

I was under the impression you don't gap a platinum plug.

@Cartier_specialist 3 жыл бұрын

All you ever needed to know about sparkplugs.

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

Even it can be unnecessary ( or at least too much ) if you do not maintain your car by yourself:) but if you are a race cars mechanic then this info is way too poor:)

@davidlong1786 3 жыл бұрын

One thing to note about older engines that originally came with copper plugs is to replace those with the same type and NOT to "upgrade" them with the platinum style with the tiny center electrode. I tried those and they didn't last nearly as long and fouled very much more easily.

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

Not true! If you matched correctly the plugs heat range number and your engine is in good condition ( not burning oil one ) you have to notice even some improvement in its performance . Easier starting , smoother idling , better throttle response , slightly lower fuel consumption and maintaining the cruise speed with less pressing on the accelerator pedal . I have tried this as well but my results are exactly opposite to yours . Also since most of the older engines are with two valves per cylinder , spark gaps indexing give much more noticeable results . In the cases where gasoline engines are converted to work on LPG and CH4 such replacement of the plugs is highly recommended.

@davidlong1786 3 жыл бұрын

@@flappingflight8537 Good for you. In my case with a correctly working engine I found the opposite so results may vary.

@flappingflight8537 3 жыл бұрын

@@davidlong1786 The only way what you describe to be true is if your plugs wasn’t originals. There are a lot of copies on EBay and Amazon .

@davidlong1786 3 жыл бұрын

@@flappingflight8537 No they were bought locally at an auto parts store and were name brand.

@ignacioanaya3403 3 жыл бұрын

I like cooper spark plugs

@Sophia-io8qg 3 жыл бұрын

Project Farm has much better operating comparison of video, a science experiment

@spearhead30 3 жыл бұрын

Micro view.

@junky6109 3 жыл бұрын

Kebab på väggen

@jordydereus 3 жыл бұрын

Real cars don't need spark plugs.

@Hituvuvuvu 3 жыл бұрын

Jesus loves everyone

@KJSvitko 3 жыл бұрын

Electric vehicles are so less complicated.

@FastBowtie388 3 жыл бұрын

"Conical" seat? That is NOT a term any plug manufacturer has used. They're called tapered seats. I'm not sure who this video is meant for. Most that came here will already know the things you went over. Those who don't didn't learn enough to make safe changes. If you're discussing heat ranges and timing inspecting the porcelain for specs of metal can be a sign of knock/detonation or extremely lean mixtures. The ground strap cleaning/coloring indicates timing. Recommending changing heat ranges or tune without going into detailed accurate explanations can only lead to mistakes and damage. I'm not knocking your video. It's free and better than nothing (kind of).... just saying the content doesn't seem consistent with the target demographic.

@FastBowtie388 3 жыл бұрын

I walked away feeling like you were learning as you made the video. That's not a good feeling for a resource video if that is what it's meant to be.