Spark Plug Inspection
A spark plug that has racked up miles should have a brownish or grayish color on the insulator and electrodes, but some gas additives have been known to turn fresh insulators blue, pink or purple.
Picking The Right Spark Plug
If you understand why the manufacturer specified a particular plug technology, you can pick the correct replacement plug.
Top 5 Spark Plug Tips
Here are 5 little-known tips about spark plug replacement that you might not learn in the classroom.
Finding That Spark Of Genius: Diagnosing Cranking, No-Start Failures
By the dawn of the Industrial Age, the gasoline internal combustion engine had replaced steam power as the driving force behind America’s great economic expansion. In that day, a cranking, no-start condition could easily be diagnosed by testing the available spark at the spark plug. If there was no spark, we touched a test light to the coil negative terminal to determine if the distributor contact points were switching the coil on/off. If the test light blinked, the primary circuit was switching as designed, so we replaced the coil. A pretty simple diagnosis, right?
Don’t Be A Spark Plug Zombie
The “conscious” steps you should perform during spark plug replacement, instead of performing the job like a zombie.
VIDEO: Spark Plug Installation At The Correct Engine Temperature
Andrew Markel explains at what temperature the engine should be to install spark plugs without future issues.
VIDEO: Spark Plug Insulators And Flashover
Andrew Markel shows the importance of keeping a spark plug’s insulators clean to prevent flashover.
VIDEO: Choosing The Right Spark Plug Replacement
Andrew Markel shows the importance of choosing a spark plug replacement with the OE-recommended or better material.
Spark Plug Replacement Basics: Removal, Installation And Choosing The Right Plug
Spark plug replacement is often considered one of the least complicated tasks at a shop. But, ignorance of what you are dealing with can get you into trouble before, during and after the new plugs are installed.
Sparks Fly During ACDelco Demonstration
Hot rod builder Adam Genei uses a Tesla Coil to demonstrate spark plug technology.
