How do faulty spark plugs affect fuel consumption?
Unstable operation of the spark plugs immediately affects the ignition of the mixture in the cylinders, and not completely burned fuel simply flies out into the exhaust system, thereby disabling the catalytic converter. In this case, the first thing we will see is increased fuel consumption. The exhaust system oxygen sensor reads and transmits information to a computer, which analyzes the data and compares it with information from the mass air flow sensor.
What is an internal combustion engine? And how versatile is it? It turns out that starting the engine is complicated by the “cold” temperature regime, which makes it difficult to form high-quality and consistent mixtures, as well as reliable and rapid ignition, the necessary and absolute combustion of the air-fuel mixture. Understanding the principles of engine operation, it is very easy to understand how spark plugs affect gasoline consumption, and whether it is possible to influence this, trying to reduce spending on the family budget.
We get to the node: we carry out diagnostics and change the spark plugs
It is recommended to start any work under the hood by disconnecting the battery. It is not necessary to remove it, if it does not interfere, just disconnect the terminals. Then unscrew the lid, this is on Solaris, the insides of other cars may look different. Under the cover you need to unscrew 4 coils. Unscrewed - remove them and get to the spark plugs. Using your head, unscrew 4 candles. Through the holes under the spark plugs, using an endoscope, we evaluate the condition of the pistons. As you would expect, the candles look deplorable, there is carbon deposits on them and there is a slight deformation - visually.
At this point, local experts - neighboring car enthusiasts - stepped up: looking at the smoked candles, they sprinkled them with practical advice. The point of the advice was that you don’t have to spend money on new spare parts, just soak the old ones in some solution so that they become as good as new. I didn’t remember the recipe for the solution, although at my son’s request I soaked experimental parts in it. The blackness was removed from the candles, but it was of little use. The machine refused to work normally, despite the carefully carried out procedure. The newly minted mechanic had to go to the store for new ones, since the result of the experiment turned out to be zero - he only lost time.
Replacing the spark plugs and flushing the fuel line had a positive effect. I don’t know how drivers evaluate the agility of their “iron horses,” but my son stated a fact - the car ran “more cheerfully” and fuel consumption returned to previous norms. Draw your own conclusions.
A Hyundai Solaris car may begin to consume more and more fuel over time, and sometimes there is a sharp increase in consumption. Eliminating the cause will help restore optimal fuel consumption and avoid failure of vehicle components and assemblies, so you should not delay in resolving this issue.
Not all Hyundai Solaris owners can identify the reasons for increased fuel consumption and are forced to contact specialized auto repair shops. The excess consumption is almost certainly due to one of the following reasons:
- the electronic control system of the Solaris engine is faulty;
- the fuel pressure in the fuel system differs from the calculated one;
- incorrect shape of the fuel torch generated by the injector;
- the air filter is clogged;
- the car's automatic transmission is faulty;
- driver's driving style, viscosity of oils used, use of air conditioning;
- installation of wheels that do not match the transmission, jamming of brake pads.
Pipes - filters
According to technical documents, it is known that for normal operation of the engine and combustion of the working mixture in the cylinders, an electrical discharge voltage of at least 10 kV is required. In addition, when choosing a new spark plug, you need to take into account the climatic conditions of the region in which the machine is operated; in cold areas, a low heat rating is preferable, due to additional cooling from the outside; in hot regions, a high heat rating is preferable, since the engine heats up more.
The pressure in the fuel system differs from the calculated one
The ECU calculates fuel injection into the cylinders based on constant fuel pressure in the system. The ECU forms a mixture supersaturated with fuel at increased pressure in the fuel system, which leads to increased fuel consumption. The cause may be a simultaneous malfunction of the pressure regulators and oxygen sensor, which is extremely rare.
A decrease in fuel pressure causes the formation of a lean mixture, which affects the loss of engine power and the lack of correct response of the car to the accelerator pedal. Hyundai Solaris equipped with an automatic transmission moves in lower gears, which leads to a significant increase in fuel consumption.
The most common causes of low blood pressure are:
- clogging of the fine fuel filter;
- clogged fuel pump coarse filter (mesh under the pump suction pipe);
- significant wear of the fuel pump (the result of using low-quality fuel).
Features of spark plugs – Spark plugs
White, red, black carbon deposits on spark plugs: the reasons for their appearance, which means a lower heat rating is suitable for winter operation, when the engine has additional powerful cooling, as well as when starting in frosty conditions. You lose if you wait until the spark plugs refuse to do their job; overpayments for gasoline can exceed the cost of several sets of new spark plugs. |
- follow the specifications recommended by the manufacturer of the vehicle;
- competently use changing characteristics in different climatic conditions.
How much will you have to overpay for gasoline if the spark plugs are faulty • For this reason, it is recommended to carry out 10 thousand in parallel with each scheduled maintenance.
Gap size • What is the norm
Fuel consumption has increased: what to do to correct the situation All found spark plugs were measured for ohmic resistance values, marked, and almost all plugs with darker threads to one degree or another had a higher ohmic resistance when the electrodes were in normal condition. Surely, in this case, there is also a clear excess consumption of fuel, and possible tripling due to gaps in spark formation or a complete failure of any spark plug. |
How much will you have to overpay for gasoline if the spark plugs are faulty? As they write, the manufacturers are now undergoing tests and they say that the combustion efficiency of the fuel mixture is increasing, which means a little more power, a little more economy and environmental friendliness of the engine. |
The relationship between spark plugs and fuel consumption • If 2 spark plugs do not work, you can see and hear it.
Signs by which you can determine the oil content of a car engine
When buying a used car, the buyer often asks the seller the following question: “Does the engine burn oil?”
Some of the sellers answer honestly, and some, if this problem is present, hide the answer in order to quickly get rid of the car. Well, it’s understandable who would buy a car that will require repairs in the near future.
Maslozhor
in auto mechanic slang, this is increased consumption of motor oil in an internal combustion engine.
There are five visual cues,
by which you can determine whether a car’s engine consumes more oil than normal or whether this is inherent in its design features.
Let's tell you about each sign of "oil glutton"
using the example of “Zhigulevsky”
a motor whose oil consumption is approximately
one liter
per
500 kilometers
.
Definition by exhaust.
It doesn’t matter whether the car’s exhaust system has a built-in catalyst or not, the oil that gets into the combustion chamber during engine operation does not burn completely and, together with the exhaust gases, enters the exhaust system. On cars where the engine “eats”
oil, the exhaust pipe of the muffler is covered with a black oily coating.
Determination by oil.
Black engine oil on dipstick
may indicate not only that it contains good detergent additives, but also that the engine is “consuming” oil. Now I’m talking about the extremely black color of the oil, which has the smell of exhaust gases,
in this case, we can say with confidence that the engine consumes more oil than normal.
Vacuum hose – Concern Level: 7
This is because the compression was normal and the color of the thread was different in no way because of this; then, the injectors are in order, otherwise the picture on clean, unmarked spark plugs should have been consistent. The insidiousness of the situation is that worn spark plugs may not arouse suspicion for a very long time either on the part of the self-diagnosis systems or on the part of the owner. The computer considers the number of interruptions acceptable, by ear the engine runs smoothly, and consumption is creeping up.
What is meant?
Thus, in the design features of the product, you can find some features to understand how spark plugs affect gasoline consumption, and whether this can be corrected. Red brick soot on the spark plug skirt occurs when the engine is running on fuel containing an excess amount of metal particles, often manganese, which increases the octane number of gasoline.
Tools needed to get to the node
No special devices were required for diagnostics and replacement of spark plugs. We managed on our own: “heads” and keys of different sizes were available. To view the pistons, an inexpensive Chinese-made endoscope was useful, which works by connecting to a smartphone. It is an “eye” – a camera on a wire connected to the phone. On the screen you can see everything that the “eye” sees.
Injection systems Filtration system
And again about spark plugs Archive. A leak in the cylinder head gasket can lead to many malfunctions and breakdowns, including a situation where the engine eats up oil. Because of our high-quality fuel, the spark plugs die quickly; on average, I advise you to drive 20–30,000 kilometers with one set; if you have iridium spark plugs, then the mileage increases slightly to 30–45,000 kilometers. |
- Incorrectly selected or simply low-quality (fake) oil . It is necessary to fill the engine with oil with the viscosity and tolerances recommended by the car manufacturer. And try not to buy oils from dubious brands and untrustworthy retail outlets.
- Harsh engine operation . In particular, frequent operation at high speeds. At the same time, its temperature rises significantly, and more oil is needed for lubrication and cooling. Remember that more oil is consumed in the cold season. This is due to the peculiarities of crankcase ventilation. Therefore, to reduce waste, try to warm up the car at idle in winter!
Trivial causes of fuel consumption • In the case of a faulty injector, a similar effect also occurs, which is associated with the working mixture being too rich.
The use of special alloys and metals in candles
Engineering does not stand still, and today there are a variety of types of spark plugs with improved spark generation. This effect is achieved in several ways.
Firstly , they increase the spark receiving surface area: they mill or bend a groove on the side electrode or increase the number of side electrodes to 2, 3 or even 4, which ensures the reception of an electric discharge with greater productivity and significant cooling of the side electrodes during non-working cycles.
Secondly , they use electrodes made from materials that are more efficient in terms of electrical conductivity, such as platinum and iridium in the automotive industry. Platinum spark plugs have a thin electrode (less than 1 mm) completely hidden in a specially shaped insulator that has a very small nozzle, which allows you to direct a spark not just in a direct stream to the side electrode, but to create a discharge in the form of a cone, expanding towards the side electrode up to 1.5 mm.
The side electrode of such spark plugs at the point of contact is usually soldered with alloy steel alloys for greater wear resistance. Such spark plugs, under the correct operating temperature conditions, operate for at least 50 thousand km. mileage, which is significantly higher than 7-15 regular candles.
The structure of a spark plug
Even more durable are iridium spark plugs. By design, iridium spark plugs are different from all others; they have a thin, long central electrode extending several mm from the insulator, which gives a very powerful discharge to the second electrode in the forward direction. Due to the power of the voltaic arc in platinum and iridium spark plugs, self-cleaning of the electrodes is ensured, which is important when using spark plugs.
Since cleaning spark plugs is often a necessary step during operation, which is done manually using sandpaper or ultrasonic using special equipment. Such cleaning is carried out as necessary, 1-3 times during the service life of the spark plugs.
Therefore, self-cleaning is a very positive point, which is only a plus for platinum and iridium spark plugs. The power reserve when using iridium spark plugs is at least 100 thousand km, and the spark plugs become unusable not due to wear of the central electrode, as usually happens with spark plugs having a copper alloy electrode, but due to wear of the side electrode, up to before it burns out. This efficiency allows you to simply not think about replacing spark plugs for quite a long time.
Of course, platinum and iridium spark plugs have a higher cost, several times higher than the cost of regular spark plugs. But their complex of advantages, such as self-cleaning, unpretentiousness to the type of fuel and seasonal operating conditions, make them the most promising for use.
It must be remembered that incorrectly selected spark plugs will fail much faster, adding many more unpleasant moments associated with the efficient operation of the engine. To select spark plugs, you need to use the factory’s recommendations, evaluate climatic conditions, and plan your own wallet.
Selecting spark plugs based on material for making electrodes
To understand the effect of a spark plug on excessive fuel consumption, you should look a little more closely at its design. It consists of an insulator with ribs, a contact terminal, electrodes and an O-ring. Everyone has heard that there is such a thing as spark plug gap. In practice, this is precisely the distance that exists between the side and central electrodes. It is between the two of them that the spark occurs, which is required to ignite the working mixture. Now let’s try to identify the symptoms indicating a malfunction in the spark plugs:
Automatic transmission malfunction
Modern automatic transmissions begin to operate in single-speed mode when the torque converter lockup malfunctions. Pressing the accelerator pedal will cause the engine speed to increase, but upshifting will not occur and fuel consumption will increase significantly.
What is carbon deposits on candles and what types does it come in?
Experienced drivers recommend analyzing the type and color of carbon deposits on spark plugs, because this allows you to understand the true cause of a malfunction in the engine or vehicle systems. Gray soot is considered normal and indicates the stability of the machine, while red, white or black give reason to think about it.
The appearance of a milky (white) coating on the spark plugs indicates the following:
- consumption of low quality gasoline - if the soot is small and has a matte tint;
- overheating of engine elements - if the carbon deposits are shiny or glossy and the deposits are large.
Reasons for the formation of oil deposits:
- incorrect temperature conditions in the cylinder-piston group of the engine;
- dirty air filter;
- candles with a high heat rating;
- wear of piston rings, valve stem seals or valve liners;
- oil in the chamber.
Excessive fuel consumption and faulty spark plugs
Any changes in the operation of the car or the appearance of individual parts are a reason to think about the root cause. Faulty spark plugs negatively affect gas mileage. What can be judged by the condition of the device:
- engine trouble, the car does not start - the reason is the failure of one or all spark plugs;
- black coating, darkening of the ceramic part of the part - malfunction of the injector, power unit, low quality fuel;
- uneven coating indicates the wrong choice of device for a given car;
- additives in gasoline and oil cause the appearance of tar-coke and varnish deposits;
- electrode burnout - incorrectly set ignition;
- premature wear of the electrode - low quality fuel or oil, overheating, engine detonation;
- Dry spark plugs are observed when the fuel pump motor fails, pipelines are clogged, injectors are faulty, or the coarse filter is dirty.
Terrain © Spark plugs
Do spark plugs affect consumption? I had a problem with one cylinder in my Camry, then problems were found in the electronics, so when you disconnect the wire, you can clearly feel how the engine is braking; and when you sit in the car and the cylinder does not work, nothing is noticeable at all. Let's start with the fact that many drivers are faced with a dilemma: whether to change the spark plugs only after actual wear, or to do it after a certain mileage, as recommended by manufacturers, even if the spark plugs are normal in appearance. |
- fuel detonation;
- excessive pressure;
- influence of thermal and chemical processes.
Car class and engine size • How to explain this fuel consumption.
How to understand that it’s time to change spark plugs
Often, problems with spark plugs are completely unnoticeable until a certain critical moment occurs: the computer does not provide information about any malfunctions that occur, the engine, at first glance, works as always, and consumption increases so imperceptibly that the owner does not immediately pay attention to it.
This is a particularly dangerous situation - it is because of it that accidents most often occur and the internal mechanisms of the car deteriorate. If it is not clear whether spark plugs affect a car’s fuel consumption, you need to monitor this point yourself, without waiting until everything becomes obvious in an extreme situation.
Gasoline consumption increased after replacing spark plugs
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WrSolio
Happens here
2 October 2007 66 2 0 Novosibirsk
I replaced the spark plugs; the central contact of the old ones was badly burnt out. I installed the NGK DCPR7E as indicated on the engine compartment plate. As a result, starting in the cold is a little worse and fuel consumption has increased from 7.2-8.8 to 12 liters. Defective candles or my crookedness? Maybe the gap needed to be adjusted before installation, or something else?
alterman
Local
16 March 2008 276 32 0 Rostov-on-Don I go to. SUZUKI WAGON R SOLIO MA34S M13A 2WD 2004 RIGHT-HAND RIDE
Answer: Gasoline consumption increased after replacing spark plugs
you need to first check whether the spark plugs are real - on the Enjikey website it is written how to do this - then check the gap
Edw_WaR
Pro
April 9, 2006 2,888 126 63 PodMoscow I go to. Solio SWT 2002 MA64S right hand drive, Japanese, K10A 70hp vvti mileage 105300 automatic transmission, air conditioning
Answer: Gasoline consumption increased after replacing spark plugs
I replaced the spark plugs; the central contact of the old ones was badly burnt out. I installed the NGK DCPR7E as indicated on the engine compartment plate. As a result, starting in the cold is a little worse and fuel consumption has increased from 7.2-8.8 to 12 liters. Defective candles or my crookedness? Maybe the gap needed to be adjusted before installation, or something else?
When did you change the spark plugs? Until frost? Unscrew the new ones and look at the carbon deposits.
Vagulo
Add yours to the board
20 August 2007 723 74 0 Novosibirsk
Answer: Gasoline consumption increased after replacing spark plugs
Unscrew the new ones and look at the carbon deposits.
I support: turn out the spark plugs and take a look. If gasoline consumption immediately after replacing the spark plugs increased by 50%, some cylinder is probably simply not working. Maybe the coil is covered, maybe there is no contact somewhere. Maybe they simply forgot to put the connector on the coil. Maybe the spark plugs are fake: the Chinese love to make fake NGKs. Three work, one doesn’t, that’s the result.
Or, as an option: maybe all four work intermittently. But it’s less likely: then the engine would be shaking, it’s hard not to notice. And if one cylinder does not work, Japanese engines are so well balanced that you almost don’t feel it. So turn out the spark plugs: everything will be visible from the soot.
WrSolio
Happens here
2 October 2007 66 2 0 Novosibirsk
Answer: Gasoline consumption increased after replacing spark plugs
When did you change the spark plugs? Until frost? Unscrew the new ones and look at the carbon deposits. I changed it about a month ago. I'll check the carbon deposits tomorrow.
Morris_max
Local
7 December 2008 283 14 0 40 Novosibirsk
Answer: Gasoline consumption increased after replacing spark plugs
here someone copy the information on how to distinguish real from fake))
WrSolio
Happens here
2 October 2007 66 2 0 Novosibirsk
Answer: Gasoline consumption increased after replacing spark plugs
I will report the results of the inspection. All cylinders work. Installed old spark plugs. Along the way, oil was discovered in the well of one of the spark plugs; it looked like the cylinder head cover gasket was leaking. It is possible that the presence of oil on the spark plug caused the spark plug to periodically fail to fire.
Edw_WaR
Pro
April 9, 2006 2,888 126 63 PodMoscow I go to. Solio SWT 2002 MA64S right hand drive, Japanese, K10A 70hp vvti mileage 105300 automatic transmission, air conditioning
Driver's driving style, viscosity of transmission and engine oils, use of air conditioning
When upshifting late or using air conditioning, fuel consumption increases significantly, especially on low-power engines.
From an engine operating without load (idling), partial engine power is taken off by the automobile air conditioning compressor, which increases fuel consumption by 5–15%. When driving in the city cycle, you often have to reduce speed and idle, so the increased fuel consumption of the car is especially noticeable. On the contrary, timely engagement of higher gears and rolling of the car help reduce the engine's appetite.
The use of oils with a higher viscosity than recommended by the manufacturer causes additional fuel consumption to overcome the increased resistance of the transmission and engine.
INBHKBW… Ignition system
; blockSettingArray 1 setting_type 6; blockSettingArray 1 elementPlace 30; blockSettingArray 2 ; blockSettingArray 2 minSymbols 0; blockSettingArray 2 minHeaders 0; blockSettingArray 2 text. If there is no service book or operating instructions for the car, and you have to determine the type of spark plug based on an old one that has expired, you should, for greater confidence, contact the dealership of the corresponding brand of car, specialized literature or official information on the Internet.
Wheel sizes that do not match the transmission, brake pads jamming
The Hyundai Solaris transmission is designed taking into account operating conditions for wheels of a strictly defined diameter and width. The use of wheels of sizes not recommended by the manufacturer will complicate the operation of the transmission, increase road resistance and fuel consumption by 5-15%.
When the brake cylinders jam, friction occurs on the brake pads, which leads to constant braking of the car. To identify this malfunction, simply touch the outer part of the wheel rim; if it gets hot after driving, then the cause of the increased fuel consumption has been found.
Uninterrupted engine operation and low fuel consumption are some of the main requirements that owners place on their cars. Sometimes a dispute arises as to whether spark plugs affect fuel consumption or whether gasoline consumption is completely independent of their quality and condition. For an accurate answer, several factors should be taken into account.
Trivial reasons for fuel consumption Ignition system
Fuel consumption has increased: what to do to correct the situation In general, the operation of the spark plugs can be adjusted for different regions, and also when used in frosty winters and hot summers, it is advisable to use spark plugs of different heat ratings. Due to our high-quality fuel, the spark plugs die quickly; on average, I advise you to drive 20–30,000 kilometers with one set; if you have iridium spark plugs, then the mileage increases slightly to 30–45,000 kilometers. |
Do spark plugs affect engine oil consumption? This color of working spark plugs indicates the efficiency of the engine, the completeness of combustion of the mixture in the cylinders, and the lack of oil consumption due to wear on the timing belt or CPG. The first category includes the following possible malfunctions: wear of the piston oil rings, clogged breather, wear of the oil seals, leakage through the gasket or seals, and some others. |
The better spark plugs made of iridium and platinum
Often, consumables are made from alloys of nickel, chromium, copper, iridium, platinum, which directly affects the functioning, cost, and service life of spark plugs. It is not justified to install expensive parts on outdated car models, so when choosing a specific product you need to focus on the vehicle.
- protection of the central electrode from corrosion and high temperatures;
- service life up to 50,000 km;
- fuel economy, full engine performance;
- strong, stable spark;
- The central electrode is thin and strong.
Iridium is more expensive, but has the following advantages:
- designed for a mileage of 100,000 kilometers;
- stability of spark formation is ensured by a thinner electrode than that of platinum spark plugs;
- increased wear resistance;
- withstand high temperatures.