Car care and maintenance is a very important part of owning a car. And the key to a well-maintained car is taking care of the engine.
The best way to make sure your car runs well is to have the engine tuned up regularly. This includes checking the spark plug and replacing it if it needs to be.
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Best Spark Plugs for the Money (2020 – 2021)
Updated on May 22, 2022, at 9:22 a.m.; contains affiliate links; pictures from Amazon Product Advertising API
What Is a Spark Plug?
A spark plug is a pair of electrodes that is important to the way your car engine works. It does this by carrying electricity from the car’s ignition system to the combustion chamber.
The engine of a car is powered by the mixture of fuel and compressed air that is lit by an electric spark.
Every time the spark plug makes a spark, a little bit of metal wears away from it. Over time, as the car is used, a gap forms between the spark plugs, which makes the sparking less effective. The car starts to run rough, misfire, and use more fuel, and the “check engine” light eventually starts flashing.
So, if all of these things start happening to your car, the solution is very easy. All you have to do is replace the spark plug, which is so easy you don’t even have to take your car to a service station.
Spark plugs should be changed every 25,000 to 40,000 miles, according to most car manufacturers and mechanics.
If you use high-quality spark plugs, your car will run well and give you the best performance.
Types of Spark Plugs
There are really only four types of spark plugs:
Copper core
Iridium
Platinum
Double platinum
Copper Core Spark Plugs
These are the spark plugs that cost the least. Copper core spark plugs work at much higher temperatures than the other kinds, and they also conduct electricity very well.
Copper spark plugs should last between 20,000 and 40,000 miles.
Iridium Spark Plugs
Iridium spark plugs don’t conduct electricity as well and work at much lower temperatures. Iridium spark plugs usually last between 40,000 and 60,000 miles, but they tend to get too hot.
But in terms of how well they work, they do quite a bit before they need to be changed.
Platinum and Double Platinum Spark Plugs
Platinum spark plugs are better than iridium ones, and they last between 40,000 and 80,000 miles. Single-plated platinum spark plugs aren’t as good as double-plated platinum spark plugs.
Even though these spark plugs don’t have the best conductivity, they are the best in terms of quality. They also last longer and make the engine run better.
Finding the Right Spark Plug for Your Car
Here are some things you need to think about before you choose the right ones for your car.
Knowing Your Vehicle Information
You need to know what kind of car you have so you can buy the right size and kind of spark plugs.
Needed are things like the year it was made, the model and make, the size or displacement of the engine, the type of fuel injection, and the number of cylinders.
This information is on the registration card for your car.
Your car’s manual will also tell you exactly what kind of spark plugs you need to buy for your car.
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You can not only find out what size spark plugs you need, but it will likely also tell you what brand you need.
Quality
You should buy high-quality spark plugs and not try to save money by taking shortcuts. If you buy good spark plugs, you can save a lot of money in the long run.
In fact, you will save a lot more money than if you bought cheaper spark plugs. Also, a good spark plug can save you money over time by making your car use less gas.
You can tell if a spark plug is of good quality by looking at the materials it is made of and how it is put together.
Most people used copper core spark plugs for a while, but now you can get better ones made of materials like double platinum, platinum, and iridium that will help your car run better and last longer.
Other things that show that a spark plug is of higher quality are grooves cut into the electrodes or spark plug seals that are made to control the flashover when the spark plug is turned on.
Car Usage
When you buy a spark plug for your car, think about what your car is mostly used for.
Spark plugs for high-performance sports cars that you only drive on the weekends are very different from those for standard cars that you drive to work and do other things with every day.
Choosing the right spark plugs for your car can be hard, especially since there are so many to choose from.
We’ve looked at some of the best spark plugs and put together a list of some of the best ones for your car.
Reviews of the Best Spark Plugs
ACDelco Professional Iridium Spark Plug
If you live in a cold area, the ACDelco Professional Iridium Spark Plug is a great choice for your car.
The spark plugs have a small electrode on them that makes it easy for your car to start up when it’s cold. The high-quality electrode makes it easy for the fuel to catch fire and keeps your car’s engine running very smoothly.
The suppressor seal is made of a single piece, which helps keep the fuel from leaking out.
Since they are made of iridium, iridium-core spark plugs help your car accelerate more smoothly, keep its idle steady, and last longer than copper-core spark plugs.
Pros
The iridium spark plug makes your car engine easier to start and runs more smoothly.
Because the spark plug has a small electrode, it can move faster.
Offers better gas mileage.
Radio interference is stopped by the suppressor seal on the spark plug, which protects the other electronics in your car.
Before carbon builds up on the tip of the spark plug, it is burned by the electrode.
Cons
It’s possible that the ACDelco Spark Plug isn’t as good as the plugs that come with new cars.
Where to Buy
>> On Amazon
Verdict
Overall, the ACDelco iridium-coated spark plug is very effective, helping your car start up quickly in cold weather and speed up more quickly.
The ACDelco Professional Iridium Spark Plug is strong, durable, and lasts a long time. It is a great spark plug for a utility car or a sports car that gets good gas mileage.
The ACDelco Spark Plug is a great add-on for your car because it has all of these features.
NGK Iridium Spark Plug
If your car has a high-performance engine and you want spark plugs that can keep up with it, you should definitely think about the NGK Iridium IX Spark Plug.
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The NGK spark plug is built to last a long time. The hard retrial iridium and the 0.6 mm laser-welded conductor tip can last between 40,000 and 60,000 miles before they need to be replaced.
The spark plugs make the throttle of your car respond better and give it a stable spark every time it starts up.
The NGK spark plugs have a triple gasket seal and a longer insulator nose than other spark plugs in the same category, so they are less likely to misfire or break.
The anti-seizing properties of these spark plugs are also very good.
Pros
Because the spark plugs are coated with metal, they don’t rust or get stuck.
The spark plug won’t fail because of its long insulator nose.
The triple gasket seal keeps the fuel for combustion from leaking out.
Iridium makes the spark plug strong enough for the engines in the fastest cars.
The ribbed insulator keeps there from being a flashover.
Cons
May not work very well in German-made cars.
Where to Buy
>> On Amazon
Verdict
The NGK spark plugs last a long time and are a good choice for high-performance cars. They also help the engine idle better.
Even though they aren’t the cheapest spark plugs on the market, NGK spark plugs are a great choice if you want spark plugs that work well and last a long time so you don’t have to replace them as often.
Motorcraft Spark Plug
The Motocraft spark plug is made just for Ford cars and is made to meet the strict Ford emission and performance standards.
The Motorcraft spark plug helps your car use less gas and starts quickly and easily. The spark plug is good for between 40,000 and 60,000 miles of smooth acceleration.
Since the spark plug is already calibrated, there is no need to adjust the gap, and it is very easy to put in.
The copper-glass seal bond insulation makes sure that the terminal electrode gets the full voltage it needs, so it doesn’t misfire. The shell of the spark plug is nickel-plated, which keeps it from rusting.
The tip is made of a thin wire of platinum, which makes it work better.
Pros
Simple to set up.
Cost-wise, it was a pretty good deal.
Cons
Doesn’t have anti-seize and needs anti-seize applied while changing.
Not for every model of Ford car.
Where to Buy
>> On Amazon
Verdict
The Motorcraft spark plug is a high-quality part that will make sure your car runs smoothly and won’t need to be changed very often.
Overall, the Motorcraft spark plug is a great buy for your car because it lasts for a long time and doesn’t cost too much.
Spark plugs have always been a very important part of a car engine that runs well. There is a spark plug for everyone, whether you want high-performance ones or ones you can use every day.
It’s a good idea to look at the different spark plugs that are out there and choose the one that works best for your car and makes it run at its best.
Sources: https://micdot.com
Category: Car
