However, old spark plugs may be dirty around contact points. If you have a new plug, this shouldn’t be an issue. Now, here’s how to do spark plug gapping: Step 1: Clean The Spark Plug A platinum or iridium plug has a delicate center electrode that can be damaged by the usual keyring-styled tool, so you’ll need a proper gapping tool to make adjustments.Īnd always - if you’re not familiar with spark plug installation, let a professional mechanic deal with it.Multiple electrode spark plugs are vehicle-specific and come with a factory gap that isn’t adjustable.For this task, you’ll need a gap tool like a feeler gauge or gap gauge. How To “Gap” Spark Plugs (Step-By-Step)īefore you begin gapping, make sure you have the right spark plug for your engine. Next, let’s see how you go about gapping a spark plug to its recommended gap. In all cases, the spark plug gap must be wide enough for a sufficiently energized spark, but not too wide that the spark skips at higher speeds - which will result in cylinder drag or engine rattling. Engines with a high RPM give the distributor little dwell time to build up a solid spark, also making ignition tougher.Engines with high flow intake ports (like racing engines) will have lots of charge swirl and movement in the combustion chamber, making ignition harder.More cylinder pressure means denser airfuel mixtures that demand a higher voltage for ignition. Engines with higher compression or forced induction have higher pressures in the combustion chamber during spark discharge. Some engine environments make it even harder for ignition to happen. But if the gap is too wide, the spark will be weak and won’t have enough energy to ignite the charge, leading to cylinder misfire.Īnd while the spark plug is a pretty simple piece of equipment, it has to work in very tough conditions. So when the spark plug fires, there’s a possibility that nothing ignites.Ī wide gap between the center electrode and ground electrode allows for a strong, clean burn. But if the spark gap is too small, there won’t be enough room for the airfuel mixture between the ground electrode and center electrode. This makes it critical to engine performance.Ī smaller gap ensures the spark plug fires on each cycle. The spark plug gap influences the heat range of the spark produced to ignite the air fuel mixture in the combustion chamber. Setting the correct gap distance is called “gapping” the spark plug.īut why is the spark gap significant? Why Is The Spark Plug Gap Important? This gap width is critical so electrical arcing (a “spark”) can occur at the right voltage, igniting the air fuel mixture in an engine’s internal combustion chamber. The spark plug gap defines the distance between a spark plug’s center electrode and the ground electrode (also called a ground strap which is a curved piece of steel at the end of the plug).
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