2024 Author: Erin Ralphs | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-19 11:42
To start the engine, the mixture in the cylinders must be ignited. For this, a spark plug is used, between the electrodes of which a spark arises, igniting the mixture in the car engine. Normal starting and engine performance largely depend on the condition of the spark plugs.
All spark plugs have a steel body. On its lower part there is a thread for screwing the candle and its side electrode into the chamber part. Inside the body of the candle, in a sealed insulator, there is a metal rod, it serves as a central electrode. On its upper part there is a thread for bringing the tip of the armored wire. The basis of the candle is a ceramic insulator.
For proper and durable operation, the lower part of the insulator with the engine running must reach a temperature of up to 6000 C. Under these conditions, the oil that falls on the electrodes is completely burned and no oil is formed soot. With this temperature regime, self-cleaning of the candle is ensured.
If the temperature is lower, the oil does not burn completely and carbon deposits form on the electrodes, insulator and plug body. The result of this is the failure of its operation, the disappearance of the spark supply (the discharge cannot break through the layer of deposits). In such cases, glow ignition occurs, that is, the fuel mixture is ignited not from an electric spark, but from interaction and direct contact with the hot parts of the candle.
The design features of the central electrode and the insulator divide the candles into cold (with the greatest heat transfer) and hot (with low heat transfer). The ability to accumulate heat characterizes the glow number of the spark plug. It is indicated on the candle and means the time (in seconds) after which the glow ignition will occur.
Every car owner who takes care of his car knows how to check spark plugs for dirt and deposits. With a good running engine, properly tuned carburetor/injector and ignition, with the correct operation of the candles themselves, you can see deposits of a light brown color on them.
The appearance of a light gray or whitish coating on the cone of the insulator indicates the presence of such problems as a low octane number of fuel, overheating of candles due to incorrect ignition settings, poor composition of the working mixture.
Dry black loose soot indicates over-enrichment of the mixture, late ignition, quite frequent engine idling. If you adjust the ignition system, the carbon deposits will disappear.
An oily black coating is a sign of a coldcandles. There is no spark, or there is no compression in the cylinder, and it does not give the required power, as a result of which the engine runs unevenly.
Red-brown deposits on the cone of the insulator are the result of burning fuel, which contains a lot of additives. This spark plug must be replaced or mechanically cleaned.
You can safely say that the spark plug is not working if: its thread is in oil, the body rim is covered with loose black soot, dark brown spots on the electrodes and insulator, chips and burnouts on the insulator cone. Oily spark plugs in an engine with high mileage indicate wear on pistons, cylinders, and rings.
Qualified car maintenance every 15-20 thousand km, and timely troubleshooting will help reduce and eliminate various troubles.
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