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Change Spark Plugs?


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Roger2561
User

Jul 26, 2012, 2:32 AM

Post #1 of 8 (5627 views)
Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

Hi all, when would you recommend that I change the spark plugs on my 2006 Pontiac Vibe AWD 1.8L motor? It has 61,000 miles on it and it still has the original plugs in it. It appears to be running just fine. It doesn't appear to be lacking in power and I have observed a loss in fuel economy. It just past the NH state inspection for emissions. Do I leave the sleeping dog alone or is time to start thinking of changing plugs? I change the air filter every 10,000 miles due to prolonged road construction cause a lot dust. Everytime I change anything on the car I go with OEM. So I'll do the same here. You thoughts, please. Thank you very much. Roger


Discretesignals
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Jul 26, 2012, 2:58 AM

Post #2 of 8 (5614 views)
Re: Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

Manufacture recommends replacing spark plugs at 100,000 miles.





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Roger2561
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Jul 26, 2012, 4:20 AM

Post #3 of 8 (5590 views)
Re: Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

Wow! I can remember when I first got my drivers license in the 70's that you had to change them every 10,000 to 12,000 miles. If you did, the efficiency suffered.

Thanks for the information.

Roger


Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 26, 2012, 4:52 AM

Post #4 of 8 (5587 views)
Re: Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

Leaded fuel used to build up on plugs so Spring and Fall were a rule of thumb. Watch out for the replacements as the originals even if exact # may not be as corrosion proof. Dang things in one of my own are fine but have to change them out soon as they look like crap (rust) and seemed like crap when I put them in right out of an AC Delco box!

Dunno what gives with that..........

T



Hammer Time
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Jul 26, 2012, 4:59 AM

Post #5 of 8 (5578 views)
Re: Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

Cars don't use dist caps and rotors any more
Spark plugs are Platinum tipped to prevent "melt off"
Ignition systems generate over 35,000 volts now instead of the 10,000 of old
Carburetors and chokes were very primitive in attempting to regulate fuel mixture through various temp changes
Computer controls maintain a constant 14.7:1 air/fuel ratio at all times now.

That's why you can get 100K out of a set of spark plugs now.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
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Jul 26, 2012, 5:13 AM

Post #6 of 8 (5574 views)
Re: Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

I was talking about rusted hex part of the damn things that can get so bad it barely holds the porcelain EXTERNALLY not inside which is fine and work as new but at what point can you get stuck and not get them out whole?

T



Hammer Time
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Jul 26, 2012, 5:55 AM

Post #7 of 8 (5570 views)
Re: Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

I've pulled some out with 200K on them.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 26, 2012, 6:30 AM

Post #8 of 8 (5561 views)
Re: Change Spark Plugs? Sign In

Have seen them last that long. Badgered it all along what the road salts do to vehicles in general and Roger here said NH which is a salt state but not as bad as I really doubt NH uses as much as MA.

Plugs: Can pull alloy out with the threads of plugs (see Heli-Coil) or hex can be unrecognizable. Cheap plugs can leave just the threads in the head and hex with porcelain comes out! Great, then screw extractors with tons of hope. All the broken off ones were taper seated type not gasket type which I haven't seen in quite a while.

Time not miles is the issue,

T







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