Mechanics - Spark Plug Wire replacement
OK, I've changed enough spark plugs to understand how they errode & the gap opens - all generally leading to a spark that isn't quite as good and probably doesn't promote good combustion like a new plug. No big deal plugs are cheap & easy to change.
Now spark plug wires, I don't know. How does the performance of these drop off? I've only ever changed the set of wires on a car once (at 100,000 miles or whatever) & really couldn't tell any difference. Is it one of those things were if the cylinder is getting spark, the wire is doing it's job, leave it alone? Or am I loosing fuel economy and power if I don't change them every 100,000 miles or so. I do tend to keep vehicles a while.
Someone educate me on this subject.
Now spark plug wires, I don't know. How does the performance of these drop off? I've only ever changed the set of wires on a car once (at 100,000 miles or whatever) & really couldn't tell any difference. Is it one of those things were if the cylinder is getting spark, the wire is doing it's job, leave it alone? Or am I loosing fuel economy and power if I don't change them every 100,000 miles or so. I do tend to keep vehicles a while.
Someone educate me on this subject.
0
-
I just changed mine on my Silverado after 105,000 miles. I had it in the shop getting the tranny rebuilt and when they checked the fault codes it showed a cylinder miss-fire. I had just changed the plugs so I changed the wires. Fault code went away. I couldn't tell that there was anything wrong. The wires do break down after awhile. 0 -
i think changing the wires will add a little pep to your car, in my old pontiac grand am, i put the bosch platinum +4 plugs and put in performance wires, cant remember the names, noticable difference in acceleration. After that i put on a Nos big shot air filter, and a flowmaster v force with a monza tip, very noticable difference after that. 0 -
Thank you suburban noize for that bit from Goering.
Bush, Rove and Cheney must have been reading his works.0 -
i support the war and the troops but theres an eery similarity there isnt there? or is it just me? 0 -
Good ideal to change them around 100k.
The heat, oil, gas, electrical break down of the conductor takes a beating over time.
All new wires are carbon filiment cored, and damm right theya re better that a solid copper core, reguardless of what you may have been told.
Copper conductor wires went away with all the computers in cars, causing RF peoblems to the cpu's.
Even in racing F3 formula cars clear upto F1's, Indy's and even Drag cars, Now alluse carbon conductor wires.
The beter ones are 8mm & bigger cores, the better the insulation and core size the more expensive they get, and the better.
And they can get expensive.
$49 for 4cyl cheapies from AutoZone, to $400 for the best in 10mm for a V8.
Thats cheap!, We paid $100 a wire for fireproofed wires on the F2000 in 1998.
Belive on the F3 car, DOHC Cosworth Ford 6Cyl twin plugged, wires were around $1,500-$1,800 a set. And were changed every 2 races if not sooner.
Those were the days. Lots of hard work, but once in a lifetime thing
Walte0 -
I have had them get so back they were arcing and grounding to the block; much better after I replaced them! [:D] Just crank the engine in the dark and have someone watch to see if they are doing this... 0 -
Back to plug wires..........
2 things happen to them. First the insulation breaks down due to the heat under the hood, oils and other chemicals attack them and they "leak" . When they "leak" full voltage is no longer delivered to the plugs and they don't fire as well as they should, Decreases fule mileage. In days of old, easy way was to lift the hood at night and fire it up, you could see sparks where the insulation leaks. Todays automobile, the wires run in some strange and out of the way places that you might not see any leakage but its still happening. Second is the wires are not really "wire" anymore, a conductive substance that tends to not cause radio interferance. That stuff breaks down too from age and heat. You might hear a static noise or popping on your radio, more so on the AM side.
If it were my car, 100,000 miles and over 10 years old, a new set of wires would not be a bad investment. Cheap wires with a copper core is what I'd go with. You can buy a wire kit, made especially for your model/make. Pull them off one at a time, compare it to the replacment and have at it.0 -
If you have a haynes manual there should be an ohm reading guide(check with a multimeter)
It's pretty safe to say if you have that many miles they need changing. JST0 -
I've got a set to put on my 97 Dodge 2500. Now all I need is a midget to crawl back in there to hook them up. 0 -
Don't forget to change the cap and rotor (if you have one) 0 -
I found out how important it is to replace them when my Suburban died. Pouring down rain, coming off the mountain in the rain. It just died. A Deputy gave us a ride back to the mountain house. I called my brother in law and when he got there we went back out into the rain and saw it arcing in the dark. I moved the wire and it started. I drove it back to the house and the next morning we went straight into town and got the good set from NAPA. I put them on in the parking lot and off we go. If it's got 100,000 miles, replace them. 0 -
Incidentally I don't know where you get the 100k mark. I replace mine ever 30k or so on my old Tempo, and yes, after 30k, even with middling to decent Bosch wires, they are arcing after that time. 0 -
I change them every 30k miles along with my plugs.
You get what you pay for. If it's a newer vehicle, get the factory wires, in not Accel makes an excellent set of wires.
You may not notice a difference, but there is one. They do break down(the insulation) over time and your mileage will increase by changing them.0 -
Hmmmmm. I guess I should change the ones in my '98 Toy. PU. It has 190,000 miles on it. Only the plugs replaced. Oil/Air filter changed regularly. 0 -
It is your choice of course but I always adopted the habit if you are going to change the plugs you might as well change the wires you are right there anyways. 0 -
And never trust your dad if he has you hold one to see if its still working.
Youll get thrown back and bust your but.
[xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][V][V][V]0 -
Remember on the newer cars to use factory wires and plugs. That is what they are designed to run with. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by Jacob2008
And never trust your dad if he has you hold one to see if its still working.
Youll get thrown back and bust your but.
[xx(][xx(][xx(][xx(][V][V][V]
My brother did that to me. What a jolt.[}:)]0 -
Change them every 100,000 miles or every 5 years, which ever comes first. 0
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Comments
19 comments