Spark plugs: what they do and how they help your mileage PA

Spark plugs are a basic component of your vehicle, but they're an even more important piece than you might think.

 

The Basic Function

Spark plugs are the parts that create the combustion in the internal combustion engine. In fact, without the spark plug, the entire engine won't be running the way it should! As the name implies, they work by delivering a spark of electricity straight into the ignition chamber, where they endure the blast and keep going. Spark plugs also help to maintain pressure within the combustion chamber; if the chamber had to create an opening, the overall performance would drop in a small but measurable way. Spark plugs don't have this problem, allowing the combustion process to work the way it should.

It's easy to think that one spark plug is as good as any other, but small changes in the plug itself can have an affect on the engine in the same way that openings in the chamber would. To get the best performance from an engine, you should always use OEM parts specifically designed for your engine, and if your spark plug's wearing down, our service department can help you with ordering a new one.

Mileage and Efficiency

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence, often known by its acronym ASE, has noted that fuel efficiency can drop a lot when a spark plug misfires. In fact, it could drop by as much as 30% (particularly if the problem isn't resolved quickly), and that's a lot of wasted money over time. The critical part here is how well the internal combustion engine actually functions.

In order to move thousands of pounds of metal and plastic, the car needs to pull a lot of energy from its fuel source. The more efficient the car pulls, the less fuel it requires and the farther it will be able to go on a single tank. Improper combustion drastically reduces the amount of energy the car gets from the gas, which means the engine will quickly start needing more gas to run the way it should.

On the other hand, proper combustion of fuel will have a noticeable improvement on your vehicle's ability to function. Vehicle manufacturers are constantly looking for better ways to mix fuel and air and ignite them to create the power necessary to move your vehicle. More than a few parts of the mileage improvements in modern vehicles came from this research.

Repairing and Replacing Spark Plugs

The average spark plug will last between 10,000 and 20,000 miles or as much as 60,000 if your vehicle happens to have a particularly well-made type of plug. However, a few things can affect this, especially on high-performance vehicles, which will wear through the spark plugs much faster than usual.

While it can be tempting to replace a spark plug with a custom one from the shop, you should also keep in mind that Kia does not warrant parts like these. If they cause damage to your engine, you may find yourself paying far more for repairs than you saved by getting a plug by another manufacturer. Professional repair is fast and affordable, and it will continue to protect your warranty for as long as the vehicle is covered. Fortunately, this issue isn't likely to come up more than once or twice over the course of owning the car.

As you can see, spark plugs are more important than they seem. For such a small and inexpensive component of your vehicle, they can have an incredible effect on mileage and save you a lot of money over time.