Re: Should spark plugs be changed every year?
Spark plugs generally don't have a calendar life and replacement is dependent on running hours and electrode condition. If you put on a lot of running hours then inspect them annually. Make sure the center electrode has crisp/sharp edges (not radiused over from errosion), the ground electrode is not erroded and the gap is in spec. Electrodes should have a chocolate brown color (similar to the color of chocolate mik). Don't sandblast spark plugs! You risk having grains of imbedded grit packing up in the insulator nose that will work loose in a running engine. Grit and moving aluminum/iron parts don't get along well together. If they are dirty enough to require sandblasting, replace the plugs instead.
Spark plugs generally don't have a calendar life and replacement is dependent on running hours and electrode condition. If you put on a lot of running hours then inspect them annually. Make sure the center electrode has crisp/sharp edges (not radiused over from errosion), the ground electrode is not erroded and the gap is in spec. Electrodes should have a chocolate brown color (similar to the color of chocolate mik). Don't sandblast spark plugs! You risk having grains of imbedded grit packing up in the insulator nose that will work loose in a running engine. Grit and moving aluminum/iron parts don't get along well together. If they are dirty enough to require sandblasting, replace the plugs instead.
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