Spark plugs are essential for your engine, as they ignite the fuel-air mix that allows your Chevy to move. Plugs are usually replaced every 30,000 miles as they gradually wear out. As your Chevy dealer, we can test and replace worn plugs for you. We want you to know some signs that your plugs are failing and need replacement.
3 Signs You Need New Spark Plugs From Your Chevy Dealer
Starting Difficulties
If you’re having difficulty starting, you could have problems with the plugs. After the starter motor initiates the crank, this mechanical action causes your engine to turn over. The combustion process begins, and the fuel-air mix is injected into the chambers in preparation for ignition.
Worn or damaged plugs can prevent one or more of the cylinders from igniting. If the cylinders don’t ignite, your engine won’t start. The fault could be caused by damaged wiring to the plugs, a high fuel-air mix, or the plugs themselves. Our technicians will need to examine your engine to find the cause of the problem. Once we’ve identified the problem, we’ll repair it, and your engine will start normally again.
Coughing Sounds
Strange coughing sounds from the engine are a sign of a fuel-rich engine. They’re also a sign that your plugs are damaged. Your engine requires more air than fuel for combustion, which makes a continuous flow of air essential for your engine. Air that enters your car must first pass through the air filter situated behind the radiator grille.
The air filter removes dirt and other debris from the air before it enters your engine. In time this filter will clog up and restrict the flow of air. The lack of air in your engine creates a fuel-rich environment that makes it difficult for the plugs to ignite. The high level of fuel in the cylinders will also damage your plugs. This atmosphere produces coughing-like sounds as the plugs struggle to ignite the fuel-air mix.
Poor Fuel Economy
If you find you’re making more frequent trips to the pump than you used to, this can be a sign that your plugs need replacement. Healthy plugs ignite the fuel-air mix in the cylinders efficiently. This produces little wastage of fuel and very little residue for the catalytic converter to convert. As plugs age, their ignition becomes weaker.
Worn plugs don’t ignite the fuel-air mix completely, which means a large portion of the fuel is wasted. This unburnt fuel is forced into the exhaust and expelled from your car. Your engine uses more fuel to compensate, and your fuel economy drops.
These are just a few of the problems caused by damaged plugs. If you have a problem with your plugs, call us at Blue Ribbon Chevrolet.
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