5 Signs of Bad Spark Plugs

A spark plug that is in an excellent condition will help start up your engine quickly whereas a bad or faulty spark plug won’t be able to start the engine. Just like motor oil and air filters, spark plugs also require scheduled maintenance. Most professional mechanics suggest that you should replace spark plug after 50,000 miles. There are a bunch of modern cars in the market that require no spark plug replacement at all.

See Also: Best Spark Plugs Reviewed

5 Signs of a Bad Spark Plug

Below, you are going to see a list of 5 signs of faulty or bad spark plugs. If you are facing any of the symptom given below then you should immediately get your vehicle’s spark plug replaced by a professional. So, you can keep driving your vehicle without any worries.

Terrible Fuel Economy

If you have a bad spark plug then it can give you terrible fuel economy because it won’t be able to effectively light up the fuel in the combustion cycle. A reduced fuel economy doesn’t necessarily mean a faulty spark plug, this also occurs due to the gap between the electrodes in a spark plug that can only be adjusted properly by a professional mechanic.

Poor Acceleration

You might be wondering that how can a bad spark plug be the cause of poor acceleration. Well, it’s because many modern vehicles come with multiple sensors that constantly communicates with the ignition system about the frequency of electric pulses sent to the spark plug. However, a bad sensor may also be the cause behind slow acceleration. Most of the times, the issue is usually because of a worn out spark plug.

Engine Misfires

Engine misfires are normally caused if you have a problem in ignition system. If you own a modern car then it’s probably because of a faulty sensor but there are also chances that it might be caused by a bad spark plug. If you are experiencing engine misfires then quickly take your vehicle to a professional mechanic because if you won’t then vehicle’s engine power will decrease dramatically along with the fuel economy.

Engine Not Starting

This is one of the most common sign of a faulty spark plug. If you are unable to start your vehicle’s engine then there’s a good chance that you have a worn out spark plug. But keep in mind that this might not be the case all the time because there are various small components that make the engine work and if any single one of them goes bad then you might face a problem starting up your vehicle.

Strange Smell From Exhaust

If you notice some strange fuel smell coming out of your exhaust then there’s a good reason that your spark plug needs replacement. This is caused when the spark plug isn’t able to fully ignite the fuel in the combustion chamber and the rest of the unburned gasoline goes out through the exhaust pipe.

So, these were the 5 signs of a bad spark plug. If you would like to increase the life your vehicle’s engine then make sure to see a trusted mechanic that can replace spark plug for you. If you have any questions or suggestions related to this post then please don’t hesitate to drop them in the comments section.

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