What are the Signs that my Car Needs New Spark Plugs?

 Not Sure When to Change Spark Plugs? Look for These Signs Worn-out spark plugs can lead to engine misfires, increased emissions, reduced fuel economy, higher exhaust emissions, and expensive repairs. To ensure your car is running at peak performance, pay attention to these five signs that you need new spark plugs. 1. Engine Misfires: A faulty or worn spark plug can cause the engine to misfire, which may result in a jerking motion while driving or a rough idle. If you are experiencing rough idling, it’s likely time to replace the spark plugs. 2. Check Engine Light: If you have a faulty spark plug or the plugs wears out completely, the check engine light will illuminate on your dashboard. As soon as you notice this warning sign, take your vehicle in for service and have the technician diagnose this concern. 3. Reduced Fuel Efficiency: When your car’s spark plugs are worn out, it causes more fuel to be burned than necessary which results in decreased gas mileage and an increase in emissions from the tailpipe. Keep track of how much fuel you’re using compared to normal levels and if it has seen an increase recently – there’s a good chance you have bad spark plugs that need replacing. Remember, if you are using more fuel to drive the same distance, it is very likely that the raw fuel is going into your catalytic converter. This will shorten the life of the converter. 4. Sputtering Sounds: If you hear sputtering sounds coming from the engine, it’s often a sign that your spark plugs need to be replaced. Spark plugs are responsible for igniting the air-fuel mixture in the combustion chamber, so when they are faulty or worn out they cannot do their job correctly and create these strange noises. 5. It's time.  There are tow main types of spark plugs: copper spark plus and platinum spark plugs. (For the purpose of this article, we are including double platinum spark plugs and iridium spark plugs in the second group.)While most manufacturers recommend changing spark plugs at 105,000 as part of regular maintenance, Sant Automotive recommends changing spark plugs more frequently. Here's why: over time, spark plugs wear and the gap widens. This can cause poor fuel economy and performance, as well as engine misfires. To prevent this from happening, for proper maintenance, consider swapping out your spark plugs every 75,000 miles. Your spark plugs may last 105,000 miles or more. Then again they might not. If you wait until your spark plugs wear enough to cause a misfire, you may create additional problems, like burnt ignition coils. Also, if you perform maintenance that prevents your "check engine light" from coming on the in the first place, you also avoid paying diagnostic fees. If you perform routine maintenance at a time and place of your choosing, it will be much more convenient, and you may avoid more costly repairs. Conclusion: When it comes to maintaining your vehicle, the best practice is to proactively change your spark plugs before any of the above warning signs become apparent. Doing so will ensure that you get the most out of your car and avoid costly repairs. If you are unsure which type of spark plug is best for your vehicle, call Sant Automotive. Additionally, be sure to have regular maintenance appointments and listen for loud noises coming from the engine – these are all signs that something may be wrong with the spark plugs.