How to clean spark plugs from carbon deposits at home

Causes of carbon deposits on spark plugs

The reasons why spark plugs may turn black can have different origins. Knowing what the reason for the appearance of soot lies, it will be possible to carry out prevention without allowing a critical situation.

Typical causes of contamination:

Poor fuel: Impurities in gasoline can be deposited on the spark plugs due to high temperatures. The more of them there are in the fuel, the faster the carbon deposits form a dense layer;
poor-quality tuning of the power plant;
incorrect setting of the ignition system;
there is too much motor oil mixed with gasoline, which is often found with two-stroke engines;
the fuel mixture enricher is not working correctly;
The fuel rail pressure is too high.

Pollution is divided into types. Black carbon can be dry or wet, depending on the source. Dry contamination occurs due to incorrectly selected parts that are incompatible with a particular system.

Oil deposits occur, which is caused by the leakage of technical fluid into the combustion chamber. This occurs due to deterioration of the insulating layer and seals, and incorrect placement of the piston rings. If the problem is in the piston rings, this is a sign that the engine is worn out and will soon need a major overhaul.

Important! Oil may leak through worn valve stem seals. It will be enough to replace them to resume normal operation.

If carbon deposits appear on the side electrode and the edging of the insulator, it means that the engine cylinders are not working correctly and must be checked. Finally, soot that has a crimson or burgundy color may indicate poor quality of gasoline additives or a dosage violation.

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In service books for modern cars, almost all models have a spark plug resource stated at 15-30 thousand kilometers, which means they need to be changed approximately every second service. Why so little? Can a spark plug physically wear out over such a mileage? Wear does occur, but not so quickly; a more serious problem that leads to the need to frequently change spark plugs is the formation of carbon deposits on them.

Carbon deposits on the spark plug

Soot on candles is an unpleasant thing. Yes, it is used as a diagnostic tool for engine operation (depending on the color, you can tell whether a lean mixture is entering the engine or a rich one), but in general, soot does not bring anything good in everyday use. Spark formation deteriorates, which means fuel consumption increases, dynamics decrease, starts are more difficult, detonation increases, and so on. Yes, the deterioration in all respects is not global and carbonated spark plugs are unlikely to immobilize the car, but the car becomes less pleasant to drive. In general, you need to fight carbon deposits. But how to do that? Let's talk about different methods.

At the car service

You can go to a specialized service to clean the candles. The advantage of this approach is that normal services most likely have special equipment that will make the cleaning process faster and more efficient. Professionals usually clean candles in two ways - sandblasting and ultrasound. Sandblasting is considered the most effective - sand under pressure cleans the spark plug components to almost new condition and does not damage the electrode.

Cleaning spark plugs with sandblasting

Ultrasonic cleaning of spark plugs is similar in procedure to how nozzles are cleaned: they are placed in a container with a special raster and exposed to ultrasound. Efficiency is also high.

There is one thing - for cleaning spark plugs in a car service they can charge an amount not much less than the cost of a new set of spark plugs, so there is economic sense in cleaning at a service center only when it comes to expensive models. Based on reasonable savings, it is better to clean the candles yourself, especially since there is nothing complicated about it.

At home

The first obvious way is to mechanically clean the spark plug. But this is not the best idea; if you rub too hard, scratches may form on the spark plug components, which will impair sparking and cause more carbon deposits. Therefore, it is better to use chemistry or high temperature.

Cleaning spark plugs with ammonia, acetone, solvent, isopropyl alcohol. Photo — drive2

The chemical method of cleaning candles is the most popular at home. As an active substance, you can use any product that claims to fight rust, scale and deposits - “Silit”, “Domestos” and so on. The specific brand doesn't matter. The substance needs to be poured into a container (which you won’t mind throwing away later) and candles should be placed in it for 40-60 minutes. During this time, the composition will corrode all the “nasty”. The fact that the chemistry is working can be judged by the turbidity of the solution; the cloudier it is, the more “corroded” it is. By itself, no solution can completely clean the candle; it washes away and softens the largest pieces; to get an ideal result, you need to rinse the candle and clean it a little with your hands. You can do this with an old toothbrush, a regular paint brush or a toothpick - it’s convenient and won’t damage the candle.

For chemical cleaning it is not necessary to use household chemicals. The old ancient method is still alive, in which candles were soaked in vinegar. Orthophosphoric acid, which is present in many sodas (Coca-Cola, Sprite, Fanta, etc.), is also considered a good reagent for removing carbon deposits; they can also “wash” candles well. But, in any case, then you will have to clean it a little with your hands.

Cleaning candles with Coca-Cola

But we would not recommend cleaning with ammonium acetate. This is the most effective chemical method, but complex. First, the candles need to be degreased in gasoline, wiped, dried, and then boiled in a 20% aqueous solution of ammonium acetate. You need to cook at boiling temperature and remember that the vapors of the solution are poisonous and you need to ventilate the room. In general, it turns out to be effective, but very labor-intensive; it’s easier to buy “Cola” and put the candles to sour.

In addition to the chemical method, there is also a thermal method for cleaning candles. Its general principle is simple - you need to heat the candles until the carbon dries and turns into a crust, which can then be easily removed with a copper brush. You can heat it on anything - a burner or a blowtorch will do. Yes, even on a regular gas stove you can heat candles. The only difficulty is that you need to not overdo it so as not to melt and burn the candle. It is recommended to ignite until a red coating appears, after which you can begin cleaning.

Clean spark plugs

conclusions

It doesn't always make sense to clean a candle. If obvious mechanical damage to the electrodes or insulator is visible (including a decrease in thickness), the candle begins to rust or collapse, then such patients can be immediately thrown out. But if the problem is only soot, then such a candle can be revived and sent to serve for a second term. We have given many different ways. You can choose any one. In terms of price/quality/convenience ratio, we like chemical cleaning “Silitom” the most, but we don’t pretend to be true.

When should spark plugs be cleaned?

In addition to obvious carbon deposits on the spark plugs, you can recognize a situation in which they need to be cleaned without even looking under the hood. You need to attend to the cleaning procedure if:

when the engine is running, it “trips”, which indicates that one or more cylinders are turned off;
exhaust gases come out dense and have a bluish tint;
noticeable jerks appeared when starting to move;
the engine starts reluctantly and not on the first try;
Gasoline consumption increases significantly.

If the problem is in the cylinder, this can be determined by carbon deposits, which will be greatest in the unstable sector. The remaining candles will have a normal coating. This is a specific feature of the internal combustion engine.

Home chemistry laboratory

Separately, I would like to consider several products that have shown themselves to be good. They really make it possible to quickly and effectively rid spark plugs of accumulated carbon deposits.

You just need to work with them extremely carefully, observing safety precautions.

dimexide;
acetic acid with soda;
hydroperit.

Now let's go through them separately.

Use of dimexide

Dimexide is able to cope with light and complex types of spark plug contamination. Even if the soot is serious, there is a high probability that the situation will be corrected with dimexide.

Dimexide is a pharmaceutical product intended primarily for treating the skin on the face. But in fact, the composition can corrode many components, including carbon deposits and scale. Using the product is extremely simple. You need to take a small plastic cup, pour 50 ml of the product into it, put it inside the candle and leave for several hours. After which the candles are taken out and cleaned with a simple toothbrush. All that remains is to rinse with clean water and dry.

Efficient, effective and quite simple. I recommend trying it.

Acetic acid and soda

Here you need to use acid (70%) and not table vinegar, since the effectiveness of the latter is extremely low.

The essence is approximately the same as in the previous version. You need to pour a small amount of acetic acid into the candles and leave for at least 30 minutes. But you shouldn’t keep it for more than 3 hours.

When the candles are infused in acid, gradually add literally 1 teaspoon of soda. A chemical reaction will begin. After this, take a toothbrush, treat the candles, rinse and dry.

Cleaning methods at home

In order not to contact specialists who charge inflated prices, cleaning is carried out at home. To do this, you can use devices and “old-fashioned” methods.

Using a sandblaster

Sandblasting spark plug cleaner SMC-01

This is an easy method that requires a special apparatus. The essence of the work is that a stream of clean river or quartz sand is directed onto the candle using compressed air.

Attention!

High speed allows the sand to knock out carbon particles, but due to the small size of the fractions they do not harm the candle and the result is a good result.

Cleaning with household chemicals

Household chemicals were not created for cars and are only suitable for home cleaning. But in the absence of special equipment, it can be used as a cleaner, and any active chemical will do - Cillit or Mole. Simply pour the product into a bowl and completely immerse the candles in it.

Cleaning iridium spark plugs

Currently, not everyone has heard about this type of spark plug, much less how to clean them. It is worth noting that iridium products cost about 2,000 rubles per set. However, when using high-quality fuel, they ensure effective ignition of the working mixture even at -30 degrees Celsius.

And now a little about how to clean ignitions. Since they are easy to damage, sandpaper should be completely avoided. The same applies to detergents, as well as other “chemicals”. It is recommended to use it under a pressure of 6 atmospheres. Sandblasting will also work, but you need to be extremely careful. When cleaning with sand, the candle must be periodically rotated to better remove the abrasive.

Prevention recommendations

Preventative measures to slow down the formation of carbon deposits and increase service intervals are quite simple. You should use high-quality gasoline with an octane rating not lower than the recommended one. If this does happen, you should not burn the fuel line with a higher octane number; it is better to take out the spark plugs and do a light cleaning.

Additional Information!

When selecting new ignition elements, you should focus on the models recommended by the engine manufacturer. If you select analogues or completely third-party types, this will lead to failures in the ignition settings and the appearance of carbon deposits.

If carbon deposits appear on the spark plugs or the car begins to work not as productively as before, you should start cleaning the spark sources. For this, chemical and mechanical methods are used, but in any case you need to follow the instructions, which will help you not to spoil the parts and achieve results.

Clean, rub and sand

There is a fairly simple and most obvious way for many to clean car spark plugs from carbon deposits. But it is contraindicated to treat iridium candles in this way.

On iridium spark plugs, ordinary metal is most often used as the central electrode. It is only partially and thinly coated with expensive metals.

By sanding them, you will simply erase the additional layer of insulation. Such a candle may still work for some time, but then it will completely fail. Under no circumstances should iridium products be processed by physical impact on them. In terms of removing carbon deposits, sandpaper acts very quickly, but just as quickly it renders the spark plug completely unusable. Why destroy with your own hands something that, in theory, can last for thousands of kilometers. But nickel candles can be processed with sandpaper or a needle file. But only with the utmost care and the finest-grained materials possible. Choose zero sandpaper and nothing else. Do not rub the central and side electrodes with excitement. Just swipe a few times.

Cleaning by exposure to high temperatures

This method has been a legacy of car enthusiasts since the times of the USSR. It was the only correct method to combat carbon deposits. The method was to burn off all the deposits that had formed on the electrodes and the threaded part of the spark plug. To do this, the candle was placed on the burner of a gas stove for 20-30 minutes. When the metal became red-hot, everything unnecessary either burned out or fell away. All that remained was to clean the electrodes, and the candle acquired its second life.

Important: this method should never be used with modern candles! The material from which their insulators are made today does not withstand such procedures. By deciding to restore a candle in this way, you risk destroying it with a probability of up to 80%.

Grandfather teaches how to quickly, efficiently and correctly clean spark plugs

And in general, this old, so to speak, old-fashioned method was often used to clean carburetor engines before.

Well, if, due to winter passes or some minor changes, your spark plugs are “burnt out” and you decide to clean them yourself, then look and read further.

There is an opportunity to use a sandblasting machine from a car mechanic friend (they say that the insulating material deteriorates - nonsense - you can sharpen knives with it - that's how durable it is).

Take and purchase a rust and limescale remover at a hardware store - “Xylitol” (Cillit). Dip the candles in it for several hours and rinse.

The grandfather from the series: how to smear the windows on a car so that they don’t freeze and sweat (here), and also added 2 parts and now the car accelerates faster and the consumption is 10% less (here) offers his own option.

What does he do with old candles?

He takes a glass and pours acetic acid into it. He puts old spark plugs with soot in there and leaves them for 30-40 minutes - shaking them every 10 minutes.

Vinegar and baking soda will help you clean your car's spark plugs efficiently.

Then he pours a certain amount of soda into it and shakes it again. Next, you can use an old toothbrush and clean it completely.

Well, the end of the whole story is to dry the candles over the stove or radiator. Do you see that this is a cheap method?! Oh yes. I forgot about the gap - you need to set the correct gap between the spark plug contacts.

Useful and interesting: An auto mechanic explains how spark plug gaps can affect idling.

By the way, some advise boiling first in a solution of citric acid with water, and then in a solution of soda and water.

Grandfather Victor advises:

Well, who doesn’t want to do such “machinations” - let the candles expire and exchange them for freshly purchased ones.

Good luck to you on your journey! No rod - no pits! Follow my new publications - it will be even more interesting!

This is interesting: How much oil is in the Peugeot 308 engine

Symptoms of dirty candles

Before talking about how to clean carbon deposits from spark plugs at home, you need to tell car enthusiasts about the signs that indicate the need for preventative repair work.

Spark plugs in internal combustion engines need to be cleaned when:

the car “troubles” (one of the engine cylinders does not function);
Dense gases with a bluish tint come out of the exhaust pipe in abundance;
jerking becomes more frequent while moving;
there is difficulty starting the power unit and starting from a standstill;
fuel consumption increases.

By the level of contamination of the spark plug, you can determine a cylinder that is operating unstably. The spark plug in the problematic engine compartment will be the dirtiest; the remaining elements will have acceptable soot. In general, in general, you should not be surprised by the presence of carbon deposits: this is the result of the normal functioning of the “engine”.

Even if you installed new spark plugs, a thin, uniform layer of soot will appear on the working surface after 250 - 300 kilometers.

Selection of candles

When purchasing candle products, pay attention to the main features:

Heat number is the indicator at which the mixture with a hot electrode begins to ignite. That is, ignition occurs not from a spark, but from the heating temperature of the electrode.
Spark gap is the interval covering the gap between the central and grounding elements. It is not recommended to bend or press it. If the parts are worn out, it is better to replace them.
Temperature Range . It is determined by heating the working section of the spark plug and is 900° (from 500°) without going beyond the specified frame. Below 500° leads to problems, distorting spark formation. Above 900° leads to glow ignition. This is where the terms “cold” and “hot” candles arise.
Thermal performance . Directly related to the heat and operation of the engine. Hot spark plugs self-clean from carbon deposits at high engine speeds (as mentioned above). Cold - self-cleaning at low temperatures, but high load limits on the power unit. It is not recommended to use as the candle becomes unsuitable for use.

So, the spark plug resource provides up to 30 thousand kilometers , but depends on their operating conditions.

Iridium

Made of iridium alloy with a thin central electrode with a melting point of 2450°C . Wear resistance is higher than platinum, which makes it possible to create a central electrode with a cross-section of 0.4 mm and obtain a strong spark with better ignition in the chamber.

Performance characteristics of iridium spark plug

Operational indicators give:

Mileage 100 thousand kilometers.
Fast ignition, even with a lean mixture.
Low voltage requirement with improved ignition.
Increased power up to 3% with reduced gasoline consumption up to 7%.
Smooth start of movement in cold weather, low exhaust gas toxicity. Iridium products are ahead of the performance indicators of nickel or platinum spark plugs, including 2-3 times in cost.

The secret of the advantage lies in laser welding of electrodes. Electrical conductivity allows the production of electrodes of small diameters relative to copper or platinum metal. This promotes better combustion of gasoline in all operating modes of the car. At the same time, precise clearance is ensured to prevent spark loss.

The disadvantages, in addition to cost, include the low demand for use on low-power engines.

Video review of iridium spark plugs

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Checking the suitability of candles for further use

Even if the car does not have any obvious problems, motorists with extensive driving experience are advised to check and, if necessary, clean the spark plugs after about 15,000 km. Before you start cleaning the spark plugs from carbon deposits, you should carefully inspect the unscrewed elements. We will be interested in the condition of the contact rod and electrodes, side and central. The spark plug will be unsuitable for further use under the following circumstances:

Cracks on the body. Such damage, even the smallest and almost imperceptible, is a 100% reason for replacement. It can be caused by simple wear and tear or regular use of low octane fuel.
Cracks on the insulator. They appear when the gap is poorly set or when detonation occurs frequently due to an early ignition angle. In addition, the insulator itself may be of poor quality.

Traces of melting. This is a clear result of the thermal load, which appeared possibly due to failures in the mixture formation and ignition system.
Erosion. This process could develop as a result of oxidation and if the gap was installed incorrectly. The presence of lead in gasoline can also lead to such consequences.
Layering. The appearance of a thick brown-yellow layer indicates frequent refueling with gasoline with the addition of ethyl to the fuel. This deposit greatly interferes with sparking and cannot be removed.

In all other cases, you can try to clean the spark plugs.

Mechanical cleaning

Mechanical cleaning can be carried out in two ways. In the first case, sandblasting equipment is used. The spark plug is mounted on a special bracket, and its working elements are exposed to a stream of air containing tiny particles of sand or other abrasive substances. You can also find similar equipment at service stations, but here again it all comes down to price.

Mechanical cleaning can also be done on your own. To do this, you will need a special brush with thin metal bristles. The candle is first soaked for 30-40 minutes in gasoline, kerosene, acetone or carburetor cleaning fluid, and then carefully cleaned with a toothpick and the aforementioned brush. The disadvantage of this method is the high probability of violating the established gap between the electrodes, as well as damage to the chrome-nickel coating of the skirt.

THE RED DEATH TO SPARK PLUGS – Page 3 – People, tell me

Lada Largus we replace spark plugs in a 16-valve engine.
Largus spark plugs, a similar result can be achieved in 1st and 2nd gears under load at maximum speed - in terms of safety it is softer