Quote:
Originally Posted by retrosmiths
Honest question. What happens if one of the 4 spark plugs went out? How will you feel/know it? An engine code? And what happens to the fuel that gets pumped there and not get burned?
|
I've never had, nor heard of (in non-motorsports operation) a spark plug
failure.
If one did, you'd definitely know it. You'd have tremendous vibration, lack of power, and CELs galore.
Spark plugs just wear out. Platinum, iridium, and other materials are used recently because they wear very very slowly - not because they're good conductors (which they aren't). Depending upon the design, though, they may not last as long as intended.
Some plugs use/used a little 'puck' of the material tack-welded to the cathode. AC/Delcos used to be made that way. And those little pucks tended to fall off, long before 100K, which didn't cause any failures, but resulted in incorrect gapping.
Regular old copper-conductor plugs are as good or better in terms of performance, all else equal. But they don't last anywhere near 100K, so automakers use platinum, et al so that they can 1) advertise really long tuneup intervals, and 2) design so that you can't change plugs without helluva work.