Spark Plugs: Upgrades for Cars and Trucks

5 Reasons to Upgrade Your Spark Plugs

Changing your spark plugs is a necessary part of scheduled maintenance for every vehicle, but this simple replacement can do much more than just extend the life of your car or truck. Below are four quick reasons or benefits to consider when deciding if you want to upgrade your spark plugs.

Sponsored by Autolite

Changing your spark plugs is a necessary part of scheduled maintenance for every vehicle, but this simple replacement can do much more than just extend the life of your car or truck. Below are five quick reasons or benefits to consider when deciding if you want to upgrade your spark plugs.

  1. Limit your maintenance time. Changing plugs on most newer cars can be a difficult task, especially in V6 engine configurations. Limit the amount of time spent changing your plugs by swapping from a copper core plug to a platinum spark plug. These plugs increase your change interval to 60k miles. Better yet, upgrade to a Double Platinum or Iridium Spark Plug to increase your change interval to 100k miles.
  2. Increase your performance. Iridium plugs take less voltage to fire which results in more coil dwell time. That translates to better combustion, lower emissions, better fuel economy and more horsepower.
  3. Lower your costs. It’s true – buying an upgraded plug does cost more than a basic spark plug. Iridium plugs cost on average $3-$4 more per plug, which only costs you $16-$32 more for your entire engine. By spending a little more up front, you are able to extend your spark plug change interval, saving you on costly maintenance charges over time.
  4. Starting your car in the winter. Winter starts can seriously decrease your car’s performance, and also run the risk of spark plug fouling. Upgrading your spark plugs to a Iridium finewire plug will provide instant starts in cold weather and help eliminate the risk of fouling.
  5. Using your Warranty. Premium spark plugs may come with extended or lifetime warranties, meaning that when your spark plugs need replaced, you don’t need to worry about buying another set for that particular car again.

Consulting with your car manufacturer’s spark plug specifications is necessary when choosing the right plugs for your vehicle.

This article was sponsored by Autolite. For more information, please visit our website at www.autolite.com

You May Also Like

Digital Enablement Strategies for Parts Manufacturers

The digitization of the parts industry has ushered in a new era of opportunities and challenges. Manufacturers are now confronted with increased competition, the necessity to acquire new skills and technologies, and adapting to rapidly evolving consumer expectations. However, this transformation also offers significant opportunities, such as a wider customer reach, direct customer engagement, and

The digitization of the parts industry has ushered in a new era of opportunities and challenges. Manufacturers are now confronted with increased competition, the necessity to acquire new skills and technologies, and adapting to rapidly evolving consumer expectations.

However, this transformation also offers significant opportunities, such as a wider customer reach, direct customer engagement, and refined data analytics. Harnessing these aspects is key to thriving in today's market.

OE CV Axle Trends for Today’s More Demanding Drivetrains

Today’s vehicle drivetrain systems are far more complex and powerful than ever before. So, you want to make sure you choose a replacement axle that matches the original OE design attributes to ensure proper performance and durability. Avoid installing an inferior axle based on price only, that may not perform properly or worse yet, fail

Engineering For Excellence – MEYLE HD Solves Tesla Noisy Control Arm Issues

By Stefan Bachmann, Head of Steering & Suspension, MEYLE HD The effort that goes into creating one of the world’s most technologically advanced electric vehicles is staggering, and the engineers at Tesla who developed the Model 3 and the Model Y should be proud. However, they also should tip their caps to the engineering team

Understanding Intermediate Shafts: What are they… and what do they do?

Intermediate shafts, often referred to as “stub shafts” or “inner shafts” act as the link that couples the CV axle to the transaxle or differential. They allow for the removal and installation of CV axle assemblies without the need to disturb or replace the transaxle or differential oil seal. Use of an intermediate shaft to

Protecting Your Vehicle in the Winter

Depending on where you live, autumn is an idyllic time of year with bright colors and mild temperatures.  If there is one downside though, it means that winter is on its way, which means frigid temperatures, snow, ice and difficult road conditions. The lifespans of cars and trucks are increasing all the time, so protecting

Other Posts

What Causes Fuel Pumps to Fail?

Like most vehicle components, natural wear and tear is the unavoidable cause for parts replacement.  Fuel pumps are often out of sight and out of mind for most shop visitors. That’s because they are an as-needed repair and not typically a part of ongoing maintenance. Nevertheless, if you diagnose fuel pump failure, customers will want

THE ROAD TO ELECTRIC VEHICLES: PROTECTION, MANUFACTURING SHIFTS, AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTICES

The automotive industry is evolving at a rapid pace, consistently under pressure to cater to customer preferences and determine how to deliver final products at a time when demand is high and inventory cannot keep up. After years of manufacturing shutdowns, limited numbers of employees, and delays up and down the supply chain, automotive manufacturers

Helping Customers Understand the Signs of Fuel Pump Failure

Fuel pump failures are never a one-size-fits-all diagnosis.  Different symptoms indicate different problems and often, the pump will still function—albeit erratically—as it fails. Explaining this to customers isn’t always easy, especially because many of them may not know that the fuel pump has more than one role. Shop owners and technicians can help customers understand

Updating Your Shop’s Approach to Vehicle Filtration 

Customers may wonder what the biggest threats are to their engines.  Heat is one for sure. But the other are tiny – often microscopic – particles. If these aren’t filtered thoroughly, they will accumulate inside the engine, which will increase friction, heat and lead to significant damage to internal engine components. In time, it will