DIY spark plugs repair

In detail: spark plugs DIY repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Furious Honda Club

Chewbacca | 31 May 2014

Hello friends. Yesterday we were poking around with a friend in his tarantay and found out that the engine is troit due to candles, a common situation. While my friend popped into the store to buy new candles, I went home and then a masterpiece came to my mind, to try to somehow modify the spark plugs with my own hands.

About 2 years ago I came across an advertisement for Bugaets torch spark plugs (pronounced Bugaets). I don't know if this is an advertising gimmick or if everything really works as well as it is shown in the advertisement, but stsuka was interested:

But my friend is a miser, and always spends as little as possible on his basin 2112. I offered him to buy them and test them, to which he asked “what for? all the same, the car on sale hangs. if only someone took this trash heap. " In principle, it is logical, but he still miser

As a result, xs that he bought there, on Sunday morning, let's go to change and rub the wheelbarrow to a snot shine.

So that's what I mean. I dug up a photo report on the bourgeois forum, how you can modify the spark plug with your own hands using simple manipulations for more efficient ignition of the fuel in the combustion chamber.

From the theory of the driving school, I remember that the gap between the electrodes of the spark plug should be at least 1 mm, the more the better. There are hundreds of videos on YouTube showing how the Kulibins bend the side electrode (lower antennae) so that the spark is longer. Found a photo report from this series, only the antennae does not bend to the side, but is filed. So, we drove with my free translation:

Unscrew the spark plug from the engine or take a new spark plug

To be honest, some big gain. I would believe in 1-2 horses, but 7.

Video (click to play).

In general, I want to try to modify the spark plugs in a friend's car in the same way, but I decided to ask if this improvement of the spark plugs will harm the car? Otherwise, everything in the engine will burn out to hell and will never sell his trough, but I will be to blame

Alex | 31 May 2014

The data is certainly interesting, but. Have you ever wondered why, in the event of such an increase in the power of the car, the manufacturers of spark plugs ignore this fact and continue to produce candles with a long electrode, improving only the contacts and changing the gap between them?

I have 2 versions to this effect:
1. It doesn't work;
2. It works but kills the motor.

Such a revision of spark plugs is not new, it is already 5 years old for sure, but unfortunately no one from my friends put it. And even without a test at the stand, you are unlikely to understand something. And even if it seems that it works better, then we do not exclude the Placebo effect.

Chewbacca | 03 June 2014

Alex | 04 June 2014

Artem | 13 May 2017

G o o g l e

Chewbacca | 15 May 2017

Fenasei | 01 June 2017

Dimon | 17 June 2017

Nastenka | 22 June 2017

Tecnik2 | 04 Oct 2017

Honestly:
1) There is something to tackle the head.
2) There is something interesting.

Where is it taught at the candle, to increase the gap, saw off the electrode ?! It is precisely folded back (in addition to other pluses, if carbon deposits are formed, then the spark will begin to beat in another place).

How much harm could an engine get from a larger spark? Well, yes, the fuel burns better (the efficiency will rise by several percent), therefore, a little more load on the parts, and a little more wear. So then there was nothing to invent turbocharging, and even more so forced engines.

The longer the spark, the better the fuel burns, and this affects the increase in engine power. Just how much the initial ignition has to be killed to feel the difference.

I collected electronic ignition. For it, the gap of the candle must be increased to 2-2.5 mm, otherwise the electrode will quickly “perforate”. In addition, it creates a long-lasting spark. So there is an increase in power and fuel economy up to 10% (ideally). And if you add electronic ignition timing, then a maximum of 15%. This is despite the fact that initially the lead does not have auto correction from the crankshaft speed.

What do I want to say? From alterations, the result will be, but small (up to 5%).
But for injection engines, in general, a big question. The result is up to 3% (in idial). Because the injectors spray the fuel well, which already improves its combustion.

Why on earth would there be more flames? In the injection system, the PC maintains idle at a certain value, if the engine, for example, in cold weather, is not warmed up, the oil is thick. It takes more effort to crank the crankshaft - more fuel. By increasing the duration of the spark or the length of the spark (these are different things), the fuel burns better (less goes into the pipe without burning). More energy is allocated to crank the crankshaft. Therefore, now a little less fuel needs to be injected into the cylinder in order to maintain the given idle speed. Hence the savings.
This is also true for carburetor engines, but idle ones are manually set.

Increasing the gap of the electrodes of the spark plug increases the load only on the secondary winding of the short-circuit and explosive wires. Why?
To punch a larger gap, more voltage is needed. Without a candle, the impulse can be, for example, 27 thousand volts.
With a gap of 1 mm, already at a voltage of 10-15 thousand volts, a gas breakdown occurs and a spark appears (during the burning of a spark, the voltage sags, as far as I do not know).
With a gap of 2.5 mm, breakdown will occur at 25 thousand volts and above (the values are not accurate, for understanding the essence).
High voltage is always a load on the dielectric (insulation of HV wires and short-circuit wires). The tension is trying to break through it. Now I think it is clear that with a large gap there will be more voltage on the wires (before the spark starts) and it is more likely that a breakdown will occur in the wires to the case, or at the output of the short circuit.

If anyone wants to argue, I don't mind. BUT. Become familiar with high voltage physics and material properties first. Well, to argue on the merits, and not at random.

Sorry for the lack of brevity and tautology.

The stability of the car's engine directly depends on the serviceability of the spark plugs. If the engine starts to consume more fuel, troit, "jerks" or stalls at idle, it may be time to replace them. But in order not to waste money buying new candles, it is better to diagnose old ones first. In some cases, they can be successfully restored.

It really makes no difference when to replace. If the engine is running smoothly, let the candles reach their intended resource. If there are obvious interruptions in its work, do not delay their diagnosis.

The average candle is designed for 20-30 thousand kilometers, or for a year of operation. During this time, in the normal operation of the engine, its electrodes do not have time to burn out, i.e. it formally remains operational, provided that its insulator is not damaged and does not break through to ground.

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There are two opinions among car enthusiasts about when to replace candles. Some argue that it is better to do this before the onset of cold weather, so that the engine starts up easier in cold weather, while others, on the contrary, advise to replace it in the spring, explaining that during the winter a thick layer of carbon deposits settles and accumulates on the candles due to condensation ...

Diagnostics of candles consists in a visual inspection of the state of their central and side (grounding) electrodes, an insulator, and also a contact rod. If the electrodes and the contact rod of the candle do not have pronounced traces of burning out, corrosion, and the insulator is not damaged, such a candle can still serve for a long time if you put it in order. In extreme cases, it can be quite useful as a spare. If the candle has the listed signs, it is better to replace it.

To restore the candle for its further work, it will be necessary to remove the carbon deposits formed on the electrodes and the threaded part of the body. This can be done by cleaning.

There are four ways to clean candles:

ultrasonic;
mechanical;
temperature;
chemical.

Each of these methods has its own pros and cons. Let's consider them.

Ultrasonic cleaning involves removing carbon deposits and deposits on the electrodes by placing the skirt of the candle in a special bath with a cleaning liquid, and acting on it with ultrasound. This method has long been used in service stations for cleaning injectors. Its efficiency is quite high, but the cost of such services often exceeds the cost of a new set of candles.

Mechanical cleaning can be done in two ways. In the first case, sandblasting equipment is used. The candle is fixed on a special bracket, and its working elements are exposed to a jet of air with the smallest particles of sand or other abrasive substances. You can also find such equipment at the service station, but here again everything depends on the price.

Mechanical cleaning can also be done in-house. To do this, you need a special brush with a thin metal "bristle". The candle is first soaked for 30-40 minutes in gasoline, kerosene, acetone or carburetor cleaner, and then gently cleaned with a toothpick and the aforementioned brush. The disadvantage of this method is the high probability of violation of the established gap between the electrodes, as well as damage to the chromium-nickel coating of the skirt.

This method has been inherited by motorists since the times of the USSR. He was the only correct method for dealing with carbon deposits. The method consisted in burning off all the deposits formed on the electrodes and the threaded part of the candle. For this, the candle was placed on the burner of a gas stove for 20-30 minutes. When the metal got red-hot, everything unnecessary either burned out or fell away. It remained only to clean the electrodes, and the candle acquired its second life.

Dry cleaning is the only correct way to get rid of carbon deposits on the spark plug electrodes at home. It is absolutely inexpensive, neither in time nor in terms of money. The essence of the method lies in the effect of various kinds of chemicals on sediments. Such substances can be:

carburetor cleaning fluid;
20% ammonium acetate solution;
household chemicals for cleaning sewers, gas stoves, toilets or for descaling such as Cillit, Domestos, Sanos, Mole, etc .;
citric acid solution (2-3 tablespoons per 200 g of water);
table vinegar;
carbonated drinks such as "Coca-Cola", "Fanta", "Sprite", etc. (they contain orthophosphoric acid, which effectively fights carbon deposits).

Before starting cleaning, the working parts of the candles must be degreased. This will make the chemistry work faster. For this, gasoline, acetone or nail polish remover (with acetone) are ideal. After degreasing, the candles are tied together using electrical tape, medical plaster or ordinary hair ties so that their contact rods are directed in one direction, and skirts in the other.

The "bundle" of candles is placed with the skirts down in a narrow metal bowl filled with the chosen cleaning fluid so that it does not cover the skirts slightly. To speed up the reaction, the container can be put on a slow fire on a gas stove (except for carburetor cleaner, which is flammable), and heated without bringing the liquid to a boil.

After 30-40 minutes of processing, the candles can be pulled out. Next, they must be cleaned with a regular toothbrush, rinsed with warm water and wiped dry with a dry cloth. To speed up the drying process, candles can be placed on a battery or in a warm oven.If the first time it was possible to remove not all carbon deposits, the procedure must be repeated.

After cleaning the spark plugs, by whatever method it is carried out, it is strongly recommended to check and adjust the gap between the electrodes. In the process of mechanical action on deposits or their etching with chemicals, the thickness of the electrodes may decrease, as a result of which the gap will increase. You can measure it using a special probe, which costs a penny and is sold in any car dealership.

Why are black spark plugs ? There can be many reasons, for example, the engine is not working correctly, or the candles are flooded on a cold one (when they tried to start the car in frost). Either way, you can always try candles restore, and this can be done in different ways:

Manual spark plug cleaning Is one of the popular cleaning methods. In this case, remember that the insulator is very easy to damage or scratch. This must not be allowed, otherwise carbon formation on the scratched cone of the insulator accelerates and intensifies. Therefore, cleaning candles with sandpaper and other hard materials is not allowed. A suitable tool for restoring candles is a fine steel wire brush, a hard hair or nylon brush, and a toothbrush.

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Cleaning candles with a sandblasting machine / installation - a method that is used in many service stations. Removal of carbon deposits and other contaminants is carried out using different types of sand and blowing with compressed air. It is believed that this is one of the most effective ways that allows you to return a second life to the spark plug. For a low price, you will not only clean the candles well, but also save your nerves and time.

Cleaning candles with sand at home... Once I saw a picture when a craftsman clamped a candle in the socket of an electric drill and, at the rpm, “soaked” it into a bucket of sand! At first glance, this method seems ridiculous, but
With sufficient skill and the presence of a drill with a reverse, this method is not much different from "sandblasting".

Another way, which is to burn candles. It is usually used if almost new candles were poured during a cold start. It's a pity to throw it away, so they resort to drying candles. There are different ways to dry candles, and each one shares different ways:

Ignite the candles with a torch or blowtorch (without fanaticism, dried up and that's enough), and then I slightly clean the electrodes and insulator with a copper brush.

Light the candles on the gas stove... This should be done until the dark red color of the threaded part and red color of the side electrode appear.

It is not recommended to strongly ignite the candles.

This method removes carbon deposits from spark plugs using chemicals. Anything can be used as a cleaning agent: fairies, carburetor cleaning fluid, rust cleaner, acetone, vinegar, Sprite and Coca-Cola.

Cleaning spark plugs with rust cleaner... A layer of 2-3 mm is applied, after an exposure of 30-60 minutes, we clean the candles with a wooden stick and rinse in water. Acetone is used similarly.

Cleaning candles with silith... Fill the candles with silite, and put the jar under the pressure of hot water. We observe the chemical process for about an hour, and then we clean the surface of the candle with a toothbrush.

Cleaning candles with coca cola... Phosphoric acid, found in some drinks (7up, Sprite, and Coca-Cola), is said to be effective against spark plug soot.

Cleaning candles with vinegar. This is the old “old-fashioned” way, when candles are soaked in acetic acid for an hour. Then 5 drops of electrolyte and clean with a toothpick.

Cleaning candles with ammonium acetate... First, the candles are degreased by washing them in gasoline. Then they are dried and then immersed in a hot 20% aqueous solution of ammonium acetate (ammonium acetate). Maintain in it for 25-30 minutes. at a temperature not lower than 90C (it is possible with a weak boiling solution). Such cleaning should be performed in a well-ventilated area, acetic acid vapors are poisonous. Then the candles are cleaned with a nylon brush.

Cleaning candles with ultrasound, combines both chemistry and sound effects. This method is used to clean the injectors, but some workshops also clean spark plugs this way. They say there is an effect, but not as good as from “sandblasting”.

Cleaning spark plugs in phosphoric acid with heating... The bottom line is to dip the candle in acid, then heat it up with a lighter for about 50 seconds. The acid will boil and turn dark brown. Then again the candle in acid and heat again. And so five times with each candle.

After cleaning the candles from carbon deposits, you can try to check them.

Spark plug test with a lighter

Checking candles in a special chamber

If all car systems are working properly and the quality of gasoline is at the proper level, then the candles do not need to be cleaned, they waste their resource and are simply replaced with new ones.
If, due to frost, it turned out to fill the candle, then you can use the natural way to clean spark plugs... To do this, it is enough to let the engine run at high revs for a little (a couple of minutes).

If the spark plugs are inexpensive, then it is more advisable to buy new ones, if they are expensive, then you can try to carry out their maintenance (not only cleaning, but also set the correct gap in the spark plugs).
By the way, by the condition of the candles, you can determine the ailments of the motor.
Do you know, how to properly clean spark plugs ?

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Do you service your spark plugs?

An introductory part for those who do it for the first time!

First of all, it is worth remembering that before removing the spark plugs, you need to check whether there are special marks on the contacts directed to them, so as not to confuse them later if you decide to remove all the candles at once. In the event that such special marks are absent, then the candles must either be tested separately, or else make your own markup.

In addition, before unscrewing, it is necessary to thoroughly wipe off the dirt from it, so that the dirt does not end up inside the engine after removal. For the same purpose, replace the dismantled spark plug with a plug (for example, an unused spark plug) and avoid getting various objects, including dirt, into the engine cylinders.

This technique is called spark plug testing. This method, as a rule, is performed at the service station using special equipment - a tester and a stand. However, the check can be carried out in the "field conditions", with your own hands, using a probe. This is not difficult to accomplish. Using the probe, the gap between the electrodes is corrected, after which the spark plug is connected to one of the wires and brought close to the engine so that there is contact with its mass.

Next, you need one assistant in order to turn the ignition key to the start and turn it with the starter. The second person looks at the presence of a spark on the spark plug. do not touch it with your own hands to avoid high voltage injury.

Remember: this work must be done with dielectric gloves to avoid high voltage electric shock.After these manipulations, the candle must be inspected. If there is a spark of a bright blue hue, then there is no problem. In the event that the spark has a red tint, then it may be faulty and requires careful cleaning. If there is no spark at all, then it is recommended to simply throw it away.Here it is necessary to clarify that on many modern auto engines this trick is very difficult to implement due to the fact that the size of the wire will not allow you to reach the uninsulated section of the motor in order to lean a candle against it. In this situation, you will need to shoot something. And it is quite difficult to carry out such an operation only on its own. Another thing is on a moped or motorcycle.This technique involves a test using a tester, through which you can determine the electrical resistance of the spark plug. Testing is carried out as follows: you need to connect the tester terminals to the tip and electrode, and then start it.In the event that the arrow literally rolls over or "jumps", it means that the candle does not need to be replaced or cleaned. If there are insignificant changes in the tester's readings, then it is at least faulty or broken.To carry out such a test, you will need an ordinary piezoelectric lighter. From it you need to remove the block and connect a small wire to the output contact, and then insulate it with electrical tape.We bring the lighter to the candle, and the wire must be connected to its contact from above, then press the start button on the lighter, watching how the candle reacts to this. The presence of a spark means that the device is in order, if it is absent, it is better to throw out the spark plug.Summarizing the methods indicated above, it must be said that testing candles for performance on their own is not a particularly difficult task that even a novice motorist can handle.The most important thing here - be careful and inspect the engine and its components from time to time. Systematic maintenance can not only ensure the stable and high-quality operation of the car engine, but also prevent all kinds of problems on the road.Checking it can tell a lot about the quality of the processes occurring inside the engine. By the appearance of its electrodes and the gap of the thermal cone, one can tell in advance about a malfunction in the engine operation system.The most significant candle breakdown - a broken dielectric insulator, worn out electrodes, leading to the fact that their shape and gaps change.Lack of air in the combustible mixture, like oxygen starvation, can also disable them. Then they will be sooty and covered with a thick layer of soot.These defects will subsequently affect the operation of the engine as well as its starting. Typical malfunctions - the car suddenly began to work very unevenly, which means that the spark plugs have become unusable. It follows from this that this device must be treated with particular care in order to ensure their normal working condition. Image - DIY spark plugs repair

Candles almost always require checking the adjustment and cleaning the gap between the electrodes. Such preventive work is recommended to be carried out after ten thousand kilometers, or with frequent use of the car, and their entire service life is about twenty-five, thirty thousand kilometers. It is necessary to adjust and check the electrode clearances twice a year with the onset of the summer and winter seasons.

To clean it properly, you need to use a brush with fine metal hairs. Do not use a screwdriver or an awl for cleaning to avoid scratching the insulator, as carbon deposits will accumulate faster in this place, and it will bypass the electrode. As a result, it becomes dirty faster and does not operate at full capacity.

There is also a chemical cleaning method, and it will be much better than the first. First, the candles are degreased and dried, after which they are immersed in ammonium acetate in a 20% solution (or in other words, acetic acid ammonium) for about 30 minutes, while the solution must be heated to 900 ° C, after which they are taken out and cleaned with a nylon or hair brush. Then they are washed with hot water and dried.

All cleaning should be carried out in a well-ventilated room or outdoors for safety reasons, as the use of ammonium releases acid harmful to the body.

The gap on the electrode of the candle is adjusted by bending them over a certain distance. The value of the distance is controlled with a probe, and it should not be flat, but cylindrical, because as a result of wear of the spark plug, a hole forms on the electrode, so a flat probe is not suitable for measuring the gap.

The highest quality check and adjustment will be carried out by an experienced master diagnostician. Therefore, it is better not to experiment with this on your own, and to seek help from a service station.

It is clear that vehicle operation is not complete without breakdowns. Small parts are usually the first to fail, including spark plugs. The air-fuel igniter is a small part. A gasoline engine cannot work without it.

light the working mixture;

remove heat from the combustion chamber.

Note that with a working ignition system and spark plugs in particular, the engine works perfectly.Every driver should be able to determine when they need to be replaced and, of course, check them. You can understand this by considering the average performance indicators. The most likely causes of spark plug failure are devices that are contaminated with products of incomplete combustion or the spark gap increases because the electrodes are worn out. The spark plugs fail ahead of time, and without having time to work, the reason for this is breakdowns. They are cleaned using solvents and a brush.They buy these components of a gasoline engine in accordance with the type of engine, as well as following the instructions of the marking on the device itself. Car enthusiasts should take a closer look at such a quality product as the most advanced spark plugs for motorsport. This is especially true for lovers of "aggressive" driving. And a car with a V-shaped and uprated type of engine needs platinum or iridium. They are, of course, expensive, but they are reliable and durable. If you can't afford buying platinum spark plugs, it is a good idea to use a silver center electrode.An inexperienced driver should not change them on their own. Such work requires care and utmost care. An important point is to make the correct tightening when installing the spark plugs, therefore it is more correct to entrust this work to professionals, this is a guarantee of an excellent result.Sometimes the motorist has to deal with the problem of spark plug failure. What to do. How to start the car?The performance of failed spark plugs can be restored in 3 ways: by sandblasting, ultrasonic cleaning and by the boiling method

A question such as refining spark plugs with your own hands may be relevant for those who have a fairly old gasoline car in use. The information is pretty interesting. Let's see how these improvements are useful in practice? Firstly, even despite the severity of climatic and other conditions, the motor always and very easily starts up, without any nuances. Even when the mixture of fuel and air is not quite optimal, the stability of the engine at high speeds is noted.

High pressure boosting reduces the possibility of blowing out the spark plug (when the spark is blown out). The performance of the engine and its response to your actions are improved, and gasoline burns out quite quickly and much more completely. Hence, the efficiency of work increases and the consumption of fuel mass is reduced.

DIY spark plug customization can be produced according to the type of products of the sports series produced by some manufacturers of spare parts. Such candles significantly increase power and reduce consumption, and manufacturers give guarantees for almost 100 thousand km of run without much loss of high-quality functioning. But in practice, everything looks much more modest.

The efficiency of these structures, despite their high cost, significantly decreases after 10 thousand km, and it is rather expensive to throw them away and buy new ones. What can be done in such cases to keep the candles longer and to increase their planned efficiency? In no case, do not throw it away! We need to try to modify them using simple procedures, which, according to the instructions, will not be so difficult even for an inexperienced driver. So, let's try to understand this process step by step.

To make the candle effective again, we need to make the electrode on the side shorter with a simple tool, and then start adjusting the gap. Moreover, the shortening must be done so that the central electrode does not overlap with the lateral one;
We unscrew the candle over which you plan to perform these actions from its location (or, alternatively, we take a new one);
With a marker on the glass, mark on the desired candle the length by which it is necessary to truncate the side electrode.
We fix the candle in a small vice (the main thing is not to overtighten);

After the execution, the front of the spark will increase, and significantly. After all, now the flame is directed directly into the combustion chamber for the fuel mixture. Whereas in a candle, by standards, the fire is, as it were, sandwiched between the side and central electrodes. This simple, universal enhancement allows the flame to spread more freely, resulting in faster, fuller combustion of gasoline and increased power to the engine itself.

You can check the operation of the upgraded candles by building a simple stand in the garage from a distributor, a coil and a battery. It will immediately be seen with the naked eye that the spark emitted by the candle has improved and intensified.

Video (click to play).

Thus, in fact, the old candle will work efficiently for quite a long time. The only thing that raises some suspicions: why do some manufacturers continue to produce unfinished products in this way? And does such a modification of the spark plugs do it not kill the engine of the car? But, judging by the reviews, there is no particular harm to the engine. But money and fuel resources are saved.

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