When a spark plug is ‘fouled’, it basically means it\u2019s becoming too worn or contaminated to work properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
While they\u2019re a lot more reliable in modern cars, there are still things inside your engine (like fuel and carbon) which can build up onto your spark plugs, and eventually render them ineffective in either firing or just generally working.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spark plugs need to be kept clean, and when foreign matter like oil or other liquids layer up, they can foul, and ultimately fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately this does ultimately lead to more serious issues down the road, and you might be looking at problems in your engine, or stuff like failed gaskets and O-rings, which are never much fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luckily for you, spark plugs do have a handy self-cleaning function. The heat that the engine generates allows them to burn off anything that might be building up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you haven\u2019t been out for a drive in a while, or only drive for short distances, you might find that your spark plugs are more prone to fouling because they haven\u2019t been given ample time or distance to self-clean. That said, you should find they\u2019ll stay in good condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If that\u2019s the case, think about hitting the road for an extended drive, maybe a short road trip around the coast in the name of your car\u2019s wellbeing, as much as your own? You\u2019ll thank us when you avoid those pesky bills down the track!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If this doesn\u2019t work, the only solution is to removed your potentially oil fouled spark plugs and inspect them closer, so make sure they aren\u2019t subject to corrosion arising from a mixture of fuel and air exposure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t necessarily recommend taking this into your own hands, though. There is definitely some complexity involved in inspecting and cleaning your spark plugs. Head to the My Auto Shop service area if you are experiencing fouled spark plugs and need to talk to a qualified mechanic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you find that your spark plugs are too fouled and beyond cleaning, you might be looking at a replacement set which can cost around $150-$500 NZD depending on the type of plugs you need, your car\u2019s make and model, and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you do end up replacing your spark plugs and they continue to go foul on you, it\u2019s more than likely to be an issue with your engine.\u00a0 This could range from a rich fuel mixture leaving large black spots on the plugs, a leaky head gasket, which means your spark plugs are exposed to engine coolant, contaminating them.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other underlying issues can include damaged piston rings, engine cylinders, valve guides or valve guide seals which allows oil to seep and layer onto the spark plugs. Not pretty! When a spark plug is ‘fouled’, it basically means it\u2019s becoming too worn or contaminated to work properly. While they\u2019re a lot more reliable in modern cars, there are still things inside your engine (like fuel and carbon) which can build up onto your spark plugs, and eventually render them ineffective in either firing or […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":3704,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[333,331,332,334,330],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-3703","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","tag-clean","tag-foul","tag-gasket","tag-ignition","tag-spark-plug"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3703"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3726,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3703\/revisions\/3726"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3704"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3703"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3703"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3703"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myautoshop.co.nz\/info\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=3703"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
If you\u2019re experiencing engine issues related to your spark plugs, and need a bit of peace of mind, we\u2019re here to help! Head over to the My Auto Shop service area<\/a> and we can sort you out with a few quotes to compare from qualified mechanics in your area. Too easy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"