NGK information on care in the maintenance of spark plugs and ignition cables

10.12-NGK-Dicas-VelasA NGK, largest manufacturer and specialist in spark plugs in the world, gives some tips on this component that suffers wear during engine operation and should be examined periodically. Some common defects in vehicles are caused by misfires, among them can stand out: difficulty in starting the vehicle; high fuel consumption; irregularities in functioning; failures during resumes; and increased levels of pollutant emissions. The vehicle maintenance and warranty manuals have the maintenance plan with the recommendations of the automakers and the repairer can follow the recommended plan for each model. In many of them there is a recommendation that in vehicles used in adverse conditions such as heavy traffic, cut the maintenance plan in half, that is, if the automaker recommends changing the spark plug every 20.000 km, it must be replaced when it reaches 10.000 km. This is because when the vehicle is stopped in traffic, the engine is running and suffering wear and tear, however, there is no increase in mileage. Often, When the misfire is at the start, it is not perceived by the vehicle user. This only occurs in acceleration resumes or partial loads, but from the moment it becomes noticeable, It's a sign that's been going on for some time. These misfires are very damaging to the vehicle's catalytic converter as they contaminate it with unburned fuel. The need to change the spark plugs can be verified by mileage driven or with a visual inspection of the electrodes. A new candle has sharp corners, that provide a spiked effect, increasing the ignition (ease of jumping the spark of the candle). with wear, there is a rounding of these electrodes, increasing your slack. This can cause the voltage required for the spark to occur, which will damage various components of the ignition system like rotor, distributor cap, ignition cables and even in the transformer (ignition coil). NGK recommends that all spark plugs in a vehicle be removed for inspection every 10 minutes..000 km. The most common failure resulting from lack of maintenance is "flash over", which occurs when there is accentuated wear, a very poor air/fuel mixture condition or even the use of the vehicle with the point unregulated, that is, Very late, making it difficult for the spark to occur inside the combustion chamber. In this situation, the spark can occur between the terminal pin of the spark plug and the metal bonnet. The flash over causes a characteristic mark on the spark plug. When it occurs, the repairer must also replace the ignition cable simultaneously. As the two pieces work together, when one suffers the flash over, the other part is also damaged. If the repairer only replaces the spark plug or cable, failures may cease, although, After some time the old part will damage the new part and the failures return. Only after replacing the spark plug and ignition cable assembly is the problem eliminated. Another advantage of removing the spark plugs is that through visual analysis we can get a good idea of the internal conditions of the combustion chamber. NGK do Brasil provides a diagnostic poster that guides the repairer in the visual analysis. This poster can be requested free of charge through your SAC 0800 197112. According to Hiromori Mori, NGK Technical Assistance technician, candles are an important source of diagnosis.. "This because, through its aspect, it is possible to identify several problems arising from the engine. For this reason, we recommend that it be checked periodically by a trusted professional", Mori reiterates. NGK do Brasil makes its application table available to the market, where the mechanic can consult the correct application of the spark plug through the characteristics of the vehicle in the workshop. The NGK application table can be downloaded from the website www.ngkntk.com.br or requested in the SAC. The NGK spark plug packaging also contains information regarding the correct way to install the spark plug. For a better installation, it is important to check the gap between the electrodes before and later screw the spark plug by hand to ensure thread alignment and closure, applying the correct tightening torque for each type of spark plug. Some additional precautions during the installation of the spark plug that the repairer should always remember is to use the correct tool in good condition and avoid tilting the wrench during handling, because, on the contrary, it can cause cracks in the insulator of the new spark plug, that are not always visible. For more information, NGK do Brasil provides the email: duvidas@ngkntk.com.br. Download