The fleet in circulation in large cities is in continuous growth. Only in the two largest Brazilian cities, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, There are 7,8 million and 2,7 million vehicles, respectively, causing daily slowdowns and congestion. Long time in traffic poses a problem for vehicle maintenance, especially for components that wear out beyond the kilometers driven, like spark plugs. The alert is from NGK, ignition system specialist brand. "That happens, because, even with the car stopped in traffic, the engine continues to run under conditions that are not suitable, such as low rotation and high temperature in the combustion chamber, which exposes spark plugs to more severe conditions of use", ressalta Hiromori Mori, NGK Technical Assistance Consultant. Deteriorated spark plugs can cause difficulties in starting the vehicle, high fuel consumption, irregularities in functioning, failures during resumptions and increased levels of pollutant emissions. According to the expert, drivers who frequently face traffic jams should not rely solely on the mileage traveled as a reference for component review. "The automakers themselves recommend that, in these cases, the maintenance plan indicated by the manufacturer is brought forward by half. If the owner's manual directs the inspection of the candles every 20.000 kilometers, They should be analyzed by a specialist after 10.000 kilometers", orient Mori.
Spark plug appearance can signal engine problems At the time of review, the visual inspection of the sail by a qualified professional allows to identify, by the appearance of the tip of the piece, possible engine problems, like excess fuel, infiltration of oil and coolant into the combustion chamber and use of poor quality gasoline or ethanol. "This is one of the reasons why preventive maintenance of the component should be prioritized. In addition to preserving the part and the ignition system, can identify other engine problems, in addition to generating savings for the consumer, since the corrective repair value can most of the time be higher", says Mori. It is also important that the entire ignition system, like cables and coils, be checked when analyzing the candles, since the wear of the part can compromise the other components. Only with a visual analysis is it possible to detect cracks and cracks in the coil body and oxidation in the high voltage towers and terminals. We capes, the inspection allows to observe cuts, oxidation and degradation in the rubber area. "In some cases, it is also recommended to measure the resistance of cables and coils. The reference values for this analysis can be consulted through NGK's SAC by telephone 0800-197-112”, recommends NGK expert.
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