Spark plugs have always been one of the most important parts of an engine that determines whether the car runs or not. It’s important is quite obvious that it can stop a car from running.
When a spark plug goes bad, the solution would be to replace it. However, often times when a spark plug is replaced, it causes more problems to the car. So what problem would you face after changing spark plugs?
Problems After Changing Spark Plugs
Here are the problems to face after changing spark plugs:
1. Misfire
Oftentimes, the reason why spark plugs are replaced is because of engine misfire. However, you may continue to experience this same problem even after changing your spark plugs if you do not install quality spark plugs.
If you just want it cheap and installed spark plugs with less quality or fairly used spark plugs that have gone bad, it will cause the misfiring problem to continue.
However, apart from buying a less-quality plug, if you fail to tighten the spark plug in its hole very well, it will definitely misfire. The same goes for when you buy a spark plug with bad gaping.
2. Engine Noise
You may start hearing engine noise after doing a spark plug change. This has happened to me so I’m a living witness.
On that very day, I took my car to my technician to replace all six plugs with brand-new ones. After the replacement, there was no rough idle. The car idled fine.
However, when I took the car for a drive, I’d not driven up to 5 miles, and I started hearing a disturbing knocking noise from my engine.
This alone reduced the working capacity of the engine. The v6 could not move as it used to. I had to take the car back to the technician and it happened that 3 out of the 6 new plugs he installed in the car were bad. I got angry, bought another 6 plugs by myself and after it was installed, the problem did not come back again.
Therefore, the importance of buying a quality plug with good gapping cannot be overemphasized.
3. Reduced Engine Power
You may experience reduced engine power after performing a spark plug change if the spark plugs replaced are not in good shape.
Just like what happened on that very day, the engine noise started, and the car could not accelerate as usual. Imagine driving a v6 that does not respond when you push the acceleration pedal. It’s a waste of v6.
4. You May Find it Difficult to Start the Car
You may find it difficult to start the car after changing your spark plugs. In some cases, the car may not start at all. It is a result of a bad spark plug.
5. Poor Gas Mileage
Your fuel consumption may increase after replacing your spark plugs. Imagine driving a V8 engine with poor fuel efficiency, the gas station will become your second home.
If the spark plugs you just installed irrespective of how new it is is faulty, the problem of poor gas mileage is bound to occur.
How to Avoid Problems After Changing Spark Plugs
- Avoid buying cheap and fairly used spark plugs
- Ensure the gapping in the spark plugs is OK
- After inserting the spark plugs into their holes, ensure they are properly tightened to avoid misfire
What Can Go Wrong When Changing Spark Plugs?
When changing spark plugs, dirt, and debris may find their way into the spark plug holes causing more problems than before. Therefore, when changing the spark plugs, ensure you cover the holes, and don’t just leave them open while doing other things to avoid dirt from entering there.
Some prefer to replace their spark plug when the engine is very hot. You don’t need to do that. It can cause thread damage. It’s possible to damage the threads inside the engine when installing the spark plug.
Why is My Car Running Worse After Changing Spark Plugs?
Cars are not supposed to run rough after changing spark plugs but when it happens, it means that you installed bad/incorrect spark plugs with bad gapping. This is why it’s very careful when purchasing spark plugs to avoid buying one with less quality and bad gapping.
Why is my Car Still Misfiring After I Change the Spark Plugs?
If your car is still misfiring after changing spark plugs, it could be as a result of several things such as bad spark plugs, spark plugs with incorrect gapping, bad spark plug wire, and cylinder with low compression or an injector issue. The best way to know is to have the car scanned with a good scanner.
Can Incorrect Spark Plugs Increase Fuel Consumption?
Yes, incorrect spark plugs can increase your fuel consumption if the car is misfiring and performing poorly. There’s no doubt about that. However, high fuel consumption can still be caused by many factors.
Can a Misfiring Spark Plug Damage Your Engine?
Yes, a misfiring spark plug can cause significant engine damage to your engine if left untreated for a long time.
Conclusion
Some of the problems you could face after changing spark plugs range from a hard start to engine misfire and poor engine performance. These problems can be avoided if you use the right plugs with the correct gapping in your car.
