What are spark plugs?
Spark plugs are small equipment that ignite a spark which helps in burning the fuel to start the engine of your vehicle. These are small parts of the engine that actually play a huge role in running the vehicle. Without this small equipment your favorite bike would not run at all.
In this blog, you will learn about the importance of spark plugs and when is the right time to replace your old spark plug with a new one.
What role does your spark plug play?
Most people hop on their bikes and run to their workplaces every day, without giving much thought to their bikes’ engines or how they operate. The engine of your bike is actually a pretty amazing machine that converts fuel (chemical energy) into kinetic energy, which results in movement of the vehicle. This process of conversion of energy takes place with the help of combustion. Spark plugs produce electricity by igniting the mixture of air and fuel within a small gap in the engine that ultimately gets your vehicle moving. If your spark plug is old and worn out, it won’t produce any spark that is necessary for running your vehicle. Worn out plugs can even damage the engine of your bike. Therefore, if you want your favorite two-wheeler to keep running smoothly all the time, you need to check all its parts and maintain them regularly.
Why is it necessary to replace old spark plugs with new ones?
Maintaining your bike includes replacing old parts with new ones. Various benefits of installing new spark plugs include-
- It reduces fuel consumption.
- New spark plugs make your bike’s engine run smoothly. It improves your vehicle’s performance.
- New spark plugs reduce emissions.
- With a good quality spark plug you can experience increased horsepower of your bike.
When should you replace your bike’s spark plug?
Faulty spark plugs can cause serious damage to your bike’s engine. Worn out spark plugs can even damage the converter or the engine cylinder due to incomplete combustion. You will notice an increase in space between the two leads in your spark plug if you have not changed it for a long time. In addition to reduced speed and low performance, your bike can also experience misfiring due to increased gap in the old spark plug. Therefore, it’s always better to change old plugs before you experience any inconvenience while riding your bike. But the real task is knowing when it’s time to get rid of your old spark plug. Rough movement, slugging speed, or increased fuel combustion are some of the symptoms that indicate that you should change your spark plug. New spark plugs will make sure that your bike runs smoothly while improving its speed and overall performance.
High quality spark plugs come with ‘extended life’. Although they are a bit expensive, most manufacturers are installing these plugs nowadays. Now customers can enjoy spark plugs with lifespan up to 100,000 miles. Be careful to go past the rated mileage.
What causes your bike’s spark plug to go bad?
Riders should have basic knowledge about the mechanics of their favorite two-wheeler. Regular usage makes machines susceptible to wear-and-tear. It’s a common phenomenon. All technologies go bad after a while if you are not maintaining them from time to time. But you can minimize the damage if you are careful in handling the machine. Spark plugs can go bad due to various factors. For one, spark plugs become greasy with buildup oil and carbon gas. Accumulated carbon and oil reduce the effectiveness of the tool. If your bike has a faulty or incorrect fuel-to-air ratio, then it leads to overheating of the spark plug. And overheating is one of the main reasons why the spark plug is wearing down faster. Carbon buildup can happen due to the usage of poor-quality fuel. Consumers need to look out for all these factors to ensure smooth operation of their bikes. Loose wire connections or faulty engine tuning are some of the other things that you need to check from time to time. If you take care of these small things, you can prolong the life of your spark plug.
Types of spark plugs
Spark plugs are necessary tools that make sure your vehicle runs smoothly. These tools are responsible for igniting sparks in the combustion chamber of your bike. Quality spark plugs ensure smooth operation of your bike as well as reduce fuel consumption. Good quality spark plugs not only provide fast speed but also improve the longevity of your bike. There are different types of spark plugs manufactured by the automobile industry. You need to choose the right one for your bike.
There are basically three varieties of spark plugs that you can choose from- copper, platinum, and iridium.
Copper spark plugs
Copper spark plugs are the most common kind of spark plugs generally used by the majority of bike owners. It is the cheapest one. The outer layer of copper spark plugs is made up of nickel alloy. Nickel alloy also wears down easily due to constant heat and pressure generated by the engine. As the outer layer wears down, these spark plugs become ineffective.
Platinum spark plugs
Platinum spark plugs have longer life span compared to copper spark plugs. As platinum has a high melting point it does not wear down easily due to high temperature. Also, the material is much more harder than copper. Due to its hard exterior the platinum spark plugs do no break down easily even after regular usage. Platinum spark plugs are better equipped to handle heat and pressure for longer periods of time.
Iridium spark plugs
This is the best one available on the market. Iridium has the highest melting point amongst the three. It is also the strongest material. Another benefit of iridium spark plug is that it has a thin wire of electrode which is a good conductor of electricity and thus improves efficiency.
Apna Mechanic: A Popular Bike Service Center.
For more information about spark plugs, contact Apna Mechanic. We provide doorstep bike services that you can book online from our Apna Mechanic app. It’s smarter to take advice from professionals before making any decision when it comes to advanced machines and technology. Get your bike washed, repaired, or inspected at home.
