How to Change Your Spark Plugs

Changing your spark plugs should be a regularly performed maintenance operation. Yet many people don't know how to change their spark plugs. Some people don't even know what a spark plug is.

How To Change Your Spark Plugs, Identifying the spark plug.

When it comes to changing spark plugs the first thing you need to do is identify them, do you know what your looking for? If not, your spark plugs will be covered by a spark plug wire, if your engine is a 4, 6, or 8 cylinder you will have that number of plugs, and that number of wires. Follow the wires back to your engine and you should find the spark plug underneath them.

How To Change Your Spark Plugs, Pulling the plug.

Pull off the spark plug wires one at a time and remove the plug. Typically the spark plugs will have either a 5/8 or a 3/4 hex head. The spark plugs will typically be located in between the exhaust manifold ports, at a 45 degree angle out from the engine. After checking the plug size put your socket on a 3/8Th drive ratchet and turn counter clockwise. -- In order to prevent cross firing or other mishaps replace only 1 plug at a time. Do not remove more wires then needed and clean the surrounding area of debris --

How To Change Your Spark Plugs, Gapping the plug.

Before screwing the new plugs back into your car ensure that they are properly gapped. This means using a spark plug gap gage, which you can get from any auto parts store for less then a dollar. Slide the gapper into the gap and turn it till it's tight. This is your current gap, the owners manual should tell you what gap your plugs should be at. Continue turning the gapper until the reading matches your manual.

How To Change Your Spark Plugs, Putting the plug back in.

This is pretty simple, really it's just the reverse of how you got the plugs out. Simply put the plug back in and turn clockwise. Once tightened place the plug wires back on each plug and repeat the process for the remaining plugs. -- If you feel excessive force when turning the plug, do not continue. Clean the threads and check for cross threading. --

How To Change Your Spark Plugs, Finished.

Well, assuming you did everything as instructed, you have changed your spark plugs and should now have a smoother running vehicle. It's often a good idea to change the wires at the same time as you change your spark plugs. You may want to do that at the same time, there is nothing difficult at all about changing your wires. If by some chance you failed to follow instructions, and mixed up your wires. Read the following.

How To Change Your Spark Plugs, Firing order.

In case you got the plug wires mixed up by not removing them one at a time. Your firing order should be shown on the intake manifold. It will appear something like this '1-3-5-2-4-6'. This is clockwise from the number one position on your distributor where the wires plug in to. The number one cylinder and plug is usually the front right cylinder and plug while you look down on the engine compartment. Numbering is crossed such as, '1 right', '2 left', '3 right', and '4 left'. Meaning only odd numbers on the right side of the engine, and only even on the left. If you have original stock wires, you can also gage the length of each wire to determine it's proper position.