Automotive Spark
Plugs
A spark plug
is an electrical device found in the cylinder head of some internal
combustion engines that carries electrical energy and turn fuel into
working energy. To enable the spark plug to generate energy, it relies
heavily on the spark plug wires or ignition wires.
The spark plug wires
on automobiles are responsible for harnessing tens of thousands of volts
and delivering that energy to the spark plugs every time the engine
is started. Spark plug wires or ignition wires are connected to the
spark plugs and distributor or ignition coils.
Compared to typical
wires, plug wires are built to have a lot of resistance. This resistance
greatly reduces the radio static being generated by the ignition system.
A standard plug wire has a resistance of about 10,000 to 15,000 ohms
per foot of length--if it's measurably higher, the wire will probably
malfunction. However, the longer the spark plug wires goes in service,
the more brittle its insulation gets and the core also develops cracks.
The resulting breakdown
in the spark plug wire means the electricity will be redirected elsewhere,
causing engine misfiring, fouled spark plugs, and rough running. Unfortunately,
spark plug wire problems can be hard to detect since spark plug wire
insulation and core problems are hidden below the spark plug wire surface.
It's worth nothing that spark plugs do not actually create heat but
only remove it.
Working as a heat
exchanger by pulling unwanted thermal energy away from the combustion
chamber, spark plugs transfer the heat to the engine's cooling system.
The spark plug's firing end temperature must be kept at optimum levels
to prevent pre-ignition and fouling.
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