Like most individuals, you presumably don't know too much about car spark plugs. In fact, unless your car is having problems, you may not have even given them a thought. But believe it or not, understanding your car's spark plugs is truly pretty important.

Okay, so you know that your car needs to spark plugs to run. But do you really know what they do and why they need to be replaced? Here's a quick primer on the basics you need to know about car spark plugs by Hudson Honda. We'll cover how they work, when to replace them, and what happens when you don't replace them. 

You'll be a Spark Plug Expert by the end of this post! Well, perhaps not an expert, though you'll know more than before. So, let's get started!

Car Spark Plugs: What Are They?

Your car's spark plugs are among the most critical parts of your engine. They create the spark that ignites the fuel in your engine, which makes your car run. Pretty simple, right?

Spark plugs are made up of a metal shell connected to a central electrode. The metal shell helps ground the plug while the electrode delivers the spark. When the spark plugs fire, it sends a burst of electricity through the air gap between the electrodes. This causes a spark, which ignites the fuel in your engine and gets your car running.

Where Can I Find Them Under the Hood?

Spark plugs are usually located at the top of your engine's cylinders. They sit on the lid of the combustion chamber and screw into the cylinder head. Each cylinder in your engine will have its own spark plug.

What Happens If You Don't Change Your Spark Plugs?

There are a couple of bad things that can take place if you don't change your spark plugs on time, aka the manufacturer’s recommended intervals!

1. First and foremost, your car's engine will have to work harder. This is because the spark plugs will slowly become encrusted with deposits from the combustion process. As they become caked with this stuff, it becomes more difficult for them to create a spark. When this happens, your engine has to use more fuel to compensate for the loss of efficiency.
2. Not only will your motor have to work harder, but it will also be less effective at doing its job. This loss in performance will eventually lead to a decrease in fuel economy. So not only will you have to spend more money on gas, but you'll also be visiting the pump more often than you'd like.
3. If you let your spark plugs go for too long, you could do some severe damage to your engine. The deposits that build upon the plugs can eventually cause them to misfire. When this happens, the unburned fuel in the cylinders can start to eat away at the cylinder walls. This can cause dangerous pressure levels to build up, and it can even lead to engine failure.

When Do You Need to Change Them?

Spark plugs need maintenance & changing to keep your car running smoothly. The frequency at which you need to change them depends on the make and model of your car and the type of spark plugs you're using. However, a general rule of thumb is to change your Honda's spark plugs every 30,000 miles for the best performance.

Ending Note

Even if you don't have time to change your spark plugs yourself, it's essential to change them at recommended intervals. Hudson Honda, serving Cliffside Park, NJ, can help you out with that. We're experts in all things Honda, and we want to make sure your car is running as smoothly as possible.