Is your engine misfiring? Is it sputtering and struggling to start on cold mornings? If you’re encountering these problems, the culprit might be your spark plugs. Let’s look more closely at the various warning signs of failing plugs and when you should visit your local Ford dealer to have an old plug cleaned or replaced.
You’re Losing Engine Power
Healthy plugs are essential for the smooth running of any engine. By sparking and igniting the fuel-air mixture inside the combustion chambers, your plugs keep your car on the road. The ignition sparks need to fire off hundreds of times every minute. If one of your plugs falters, your engine loses combustion efficiency, and you’ll soon notice the difference in acceleration power.
Your Engine’s Misfiring
When damaged or fouled by fuel and sooty deposits, plugs start misfiring. As the driver, you’ll hear the occasional sputter or cough from your engine, which will only worsen unless you identify and fix the problem. A misfiring engine struggles most when starting your car up in the morning, and idling will no longer be a smooth experience, either.
You’re Regularly Stalling
When a plug has completely given up the ghost, or more than one plug is failing, you could find your car suddenly stalling. And it might even be difficult to start up again.
Your Car Won’t Start on Cold Mornings
Engines with only two or three fully functioning cylinders have a harder time starting up, especially on cold mornings. After resting in the cold overnight, car batteries suffer, and engine oil thickens. The combination of these two issues makes it harder for an engine to start even when all four cylinders are firing properly.
Your Fuel Economy’s Dropping
When faltering plugs stop burning away the fuel efficiently, you won’t be driving as far for each gallon of gas you use. Failing plugs soon lead to more frequent stops for gas and a corresponding jump in your monthly fuel expenditure.
Your Car Starts Backfiring
A misfiring plug will fail to burn away all the fuel injected into the combustion chamber. The excess of unburned fuel will start to seep back into the exhaust system, where it sometimes ignites all at once. This causes a loud bang as it backfires.
You See Smoke in Your Exhaust
Even if the unburned doesn’t ignite, it will eventually escape from the tailpipe in the form of black smoke. And on the way out, it will also destroy your catalytic converter: a very costly car part to repair.
Your Ford Dealer Recommends New Plugs
When taking your car in for periodical servicing, the technician will inspect each of your plugs in turn. Any buildup of sooty deposits can often be cleaned away. But if they find a more serious fault, such as a cracked casing or a burned-out electrode, they’ll recommend a new plug right away. Have your plugs inspected today at Whites Ford. We’re a full-service dealership and a one-stop shop for all things Ford.
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