A basic vehicle tune up involves replacing spark plugs. Setting a spark plug gap is one of those simple parts of performing basic maintenance on your vehicle.
Materials needed:
- Car repair manual
- Spark plug gapping tool
- Complete ratchet and socket set
Procedure:
- Remove. Remove the old sparkplugs one at a time. This will reduce the possibility of confusion and mistiming the firing sequence of the spark plugs.
- Check. Check the current gap on the new sparkplug. To find the correct gap for your car, consult the proper car repair manual, or possibly under the car's hood for the information. Many manufacturers have it stored on a sticker that they place on the inside of a hood. You can also use a gapping tool to check your old sparkplug's gap. The accuracy of this depends on the accurate gapping of the old sparkplug.
- Gap. Insert the gap tool into the little space by the "hook" of the sparkplug, which is actually an electrode. Bend this out till it reaches the correct measurement. If the space (or gap) is too large, simply push the hook against a hard surface to close up some of the excess space.
- Check. Check the space using the gapping tool and the measurements that were given to you in the car repair manual or the information sticker that was located under the hood of the car.
- Repeat/Install. After you have reached the proper gap measurement, install the plug according to the instructions in the car repair manual (typically this is going to be just the reverse of how you removed the plug). Repeat this process as often as necessary for each of your vehicle's sparkplugs.
Author Bio
Lee Wyatt
Contributor of numerous Tips.Net articles, Lee Wyatt is quickly becoming a regular "Jack of all trades." He is currently an independent contractor specializing in writing and editing. Contact him today for all of your writing and editing needs! Click here to contact. Learn more about Lee...
Fixing Broken Tiles
Broken tiles in the bathroom, kitchen, entryway or living room no longer have to be a source of embarrassment to you. ...
Discover More
How Do Anti-lock Brakes Work?
Have you ever wondered how anti-lock brakes work? While most people may think that they are a complex and complicated ...
Discover More
Building a Dog Run
If you have a dog, then you no doubt know just how much they like to run around. Instead of having them run around your ...
Discover More
Checking Your Washer Fluid
An often overlooked task in keeping your vehicle in good working condition is to periodically check the window washing ...
Discover More
Flushing Your Radiator
If your car, truck, van, or SUV happens to have a radiator, then at some point in time it will need to be flushed. While ...
Discover More
Replacing Your Engine Coolant
There is more to replacing your engine coolant than simply pouring a little of your preferred brand into the proper slot. ...
Discover More
Comments