Changing Spark Plugs

The "How to Change your Spark Plugs" & Wires

Changing your spark plugs is actually an easier task than changing your oil.  Depending on the type of spark plugs that you buy (copper, iridium, platinum, etc.), you will have to change them every 10,000-100,000 miles.  I'm anal about taking care of my engines so I will usually pull them every few months to check them and replace them as needed.  I usually change them once a year which is totally uneccesary.  You can actually learn a lot about how your engine is running from your spark plugs as they can be a great diagnostic device when you're having engine troubles (but that'll make for another article).  Refer to your owner's manua or do a quick google searchl on what kind of spark plugs you need and the recommended interval for changing them.  The autoparts store will always throw in their advice on which plugs to go with even if they're wrong.  For both spark plugs & wires, I'm a pretty avid fan of NGK.

Tools/Supplies you need:

4 new spark plugs (yes I'm assuming you have a typical 4 cylinder Honda/Acura, however you will need the # of spark plugs as you have cylinders)

Spark plug wires (optional if you want/need to change your wires)

Anti-seize (this is crucial when you have an aluminum head, ask me how I know)

3/8" wratchet, extension & 5/8" spark plug socket

Spark plug gapper tool/method of your choice

Getting Started:

1.  Pop your hood of course and locate your spark plug wires.

2.  Pull your spark plug wires off of your spark plugs.  To do this pull straight up on the rubber boot on the end of the spark plug wires that connect to the valve cover.  Set these towards the intake manifold or passenger side of your car and try to keep them in order to the best of your ability.  They're varying lengths so it's not too hard to get them confused.

3.  Using your 3/8" wratchet with the extension and spark plug socket remove your spark plugs by turning the counter clockwise.  Once they're loose they will pull out easily due to your handy dandy spark plug socket.

4.  Even though this is not a spark plug analysis article, check your spark plugs to ensure they aren't crushed, melted, deformed, or wet.  Any of these can potentially mean disastrous things for your engine and putting in new spark plugs could be the least of your worries.

5.  Remove your new shiny plugs from their box.  First you want to check/adjust the gap on your new spark plugs.  To do this you will either need a spark plug gap gauge (circle wheel, ~$1) or a spark plug gapping tool & feeler gauges.  By using the method of your choice insert the gauge between the center electrode and the tip to measure the gap.  If it is not within the factory spec, use your adjustment tool to push/pull the tip to the correct gap.  *This step is a lot easier to do than to describe.

6.  Now you're ready to install the new spark plugs.  But first you want to put a little anti-seize on the spark plug threads.  Just a little bit will do, you don't have to over do it.  Due to having an aluminum head, if you choose not to antisieze the spark plugs, your spark plugs may decide they want to seize to your head and then you'll have a PITA time getting them out of the head and will probably have to have your head fixed/buy a new one due to the spark plug threads being damaged inside of your head.  Or you could be in my situation and have bought a car that the previous owner had a spark plug siezed in the head.  So just spend the extra $1 on the anti-seize for peace of mind.

7.  Insert your spark plug into the socket and install your spark plugs back into the head (clockwise).  You can use a torque wrench to tighten them to factory specs or just tighten them a little past hand tight so that you know the spark plug crush washer has sealed.  If they're not tight enough you'll know because you'll be losing compression from that cylinder through the spark plug hole and you'll hear it pushing up on the plug wire.  For optimal performance you can clock your spark plugs as well (do a quick google search on it until I get a chance to write an article on it).

8.  Install your spark plugs wires back onto the spark plugs in the order that you removed them.  Make sure you give them a nice push down onto the spark plug to ensure the seal.

9.  You're finished, go start the car and check to make sure everything runs ok/better than before of course.  If not, you may have gapped the plug incorrectly, installed the plug wires in the wrong order, or not tighted the spark plug in all the way.

Now that you've gotten changing your spark plugs down, changing your spark plug wires will be a breeze.  To do this, simply remove your spark plug wires one at a time from the spark plugs and distributor and replace it with a new one.  This is how I would do it:

1. Take a new wire out of the box & match the length to the correct wire on the engine.

2.  Remove the old wire and install the new wire one.

3.  Repeat this procedure one at a time for each wire so that you don't get the firing order of the distributor out of order.

In case you get the firing order messed up, here's a quick daigram of the order (I'll add a picture soon)

Looking at the distributor cap from pass. side:

3 4

1 2

Looking at the valve cover from the front of the car:

4 3 2 1

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