What do better spark plug wires do?
Improve gas mileage. Running on bad spark plugs or spark plug wires can end up using more fuel. High-quality wires will allow the spark plugs to start faster and keep your engine running more effectively.
How is the spark plug connected to the engine?
The central electrode, which may contain a resistor, is connected by a heavily insulated wire to the output terminal of an ignition coil or magneto. The spark plug’s metal shell is screwed into the engine’s cylinder head and thus electrically grounded.
What kind of voltage does a spark plug have?
It carries the high voltage (30k to 50k volts) produced by the ignition coil to the spark plug. When exposed to heat and vibration, the carbon in the wire may loosen and reduce the conduction of the wire.
Why do I need to replace my spark plug wire?
The following situations call for immediate replacement of spark plug wires: Vibration damage – Constant wear and tear caused by engine vibration can loosen the electrical connection at the spark plug. This causes an increase in the voltage required to fire the spark plug, which could damage the ignition coil as well as the spark plug wires.
What causes a spark plug to jump to the ground?
Heat damage – Engine heat can burn wire insulation and boots. A damaged boot can impede proper spark plug wire seating and performance. Wire insulation that’s damaged by head can allow voltage to jump to the ground rather than jumping the gap at the bottom of the spark plug.
Which is the best spark plug wire set?
Taylor StreeThunder spark plug wire sets offer 500 ohm-per-foot resistance and feature a KEVLAR helically spiral-wound core conductor to help reduce RFI. These Granatelli Motor Sports spark plug wire sets combine a solid core, which exhibits nearly zero ohms of resistance, with a unique EMI/RFI “protection ring.”
What happens if you pull on a spark plug?
If you pull on the wire instead of the boot, you may destroy the wire, and some of it will be left on the plug. Some of the wires can be very tightly stuck to the spark plug.
How are the wires attached to a spark plug?
On one end, each wire will be attached to a spark plug and on the other end, to a distributor or ignition coils. Understand why spark plug wires wear out.
What’s the best way to test a spark plug?
Follow the wires away from the cylinder head to the other end, where they attach to the distributor. Wiggle the end of the wire, making sure that the clips are holding the top of the spark plug solidly. When undamaged, they create the pressure that keeps the wire and the plug connected solidly.