Last updated on November 19th, 2019 at 10:37 am
If your car spark plug is bad and you are wondering whether is possible to even consider starting a car without spark plugs or even thought of what does the spark plug do on its own, this post is for you. we are going answer other common question on spark plug like: Can you drive a car with a missing spark plug?
can a car start without spark plugs? And then we will round off with how to check spark plugs on a car
What Does the Spark Plug Do| Can you drive a car with a missing spark plug
So first we want first look at what does the spark plug do?
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What Does the Spark Plug Do?
Well, you have to look at spark plug as the smallest bolt for triggering a light. It is tiny but very important, especially for petrol engine cars.
Spark plugs are the device that ignites your car’s gasoline and air into the engine, which is what allows your vehicle to drive. So it is most vital that your car’s spark plug functions appropriately all the time.
Without a working spark plug, your car’s combustion cycle will not run and function properly.
A spark plug is directly linked to your engine for gasoline or patrol cars which brings about the smooth performance of the vehicle. If you are running your car with a bad or weak spark plug it could lead to various problems.
These problems could range from misfire when accelerating and cold-start to low power while driving and lack of petrol economy. You don’t want any of these issues if you are running a petrol engine car.
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So Can a Car Start Without Spark Plugs?
Well, the answer to this is dependent on the kind of car we are talking about here. A car with a petrol engine will not start without a spark plug and that is because a spark plug is what the ignites the engine to turn on while regulation the supply of fuel to the engine.
But if your vehicle is a diesel engine then yes is the answer. A diesel engine car can start without a spark plug.
The reason this is so is that, for diesel engines vehicles, infusion fuel and air occur at different points and so does not directly require the spark plug to ignite the car engine.
Can you drive a car with a missing spark plug?
Well am sure with you have read already you have begun to figure out the answer to this question.
The thing is the petrol engine will not even start at all let alone running with a bad or missing spark plug if it is a single-cylinder car. Without the spark plug present, there is no way for the car can convert chemical energy present in fuel to heat for the car to drive.
But if it is a multiple cylinder engine, then your car can still drive with a missing plug, however, this will cause instabilities to the crank.
So finally if your car is a diesel engine car, then with a big yes, you can drive the car with a missing spark plug and that is because diesel engine cars are built to run without a spark plug.
How to check spark plugs on a car
- No 1 step
So want Start by disconnecting every electrical device wire on your engine one at a time whereas the engine is running. If the engine drops speed or starts running roughly once one is disconnected, you will recognize that the electrical device is nice. If you disconnect an electrical device and no vital amendment happens within the engine, you’ve got found a nasty electrical device.
- No 2 Step
Test the electrical device ignition by disconnecting the electrical device wire from the electrical device. Hold the tip of the electrical device wire on the point of a metal surface. If the electrical device is nice, you’ll see a spark or you will hear a crepitation noise. this suggests that voltage is obtaining through the wire to the electrical device.
- No 3 step
See if there’s a spark on every one of your electrical device wires once the engine is cranked. If compression is nice, you’ll have spark on every one of your electrical device cylinders. No spark would mean that an electrical device wire is dead.
- No 4 step
Remember that every link connected to your spark plugs has to be attached firmly. Links embrace battery cable, ignition wires and coil wires, not simply the electrical device wires.
- No 5 step
Wiggle the link connections from your spark plugs. Then take a look at once more. generally, it’s simply a matter of a line affiliation being loose.
Check to create positive that the tip of every of the spark plugs is clean and free from any dirt, oil or grease deposits. generally, you’ll simply clean them totally and they’re going to pass the take a look at. however, if they still do not take a look at well once improvement, you’ll have to interchange them.
If this steps in clear to you, then watch this video below to see other method and to get a visual grasp of how to do it.
Summary on What Does the Spark Plug Do
To sum this article up on What Does the Spark Plug Do and can you drive a car with a missing spark plug, I will say that spark plugs are the main component that triggers starting of petrol engine vehicles but not so for diesel engine cars.
And secondly, your petrol engine cars can be driven with a missing plug when it is a multiple cylinder engine but will not when its single-cylinder engine.
I really hope this article addressed your concerns well. Please feel free to share this post. Click any of the share buttons below to do so.
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Hi dear, my name is Jeffery Ekweghi, and I am a certified mechanic and autobody parts technician. I created this site to share my expertise and experience with car lovers looking to resolve their car-related issues. I am certified in private cars and heavy-duty commercial vehicles. I have worked as a mechanic since 2015 and have experience in vehicle brands like Subaru, Jeep, Toyota, TATA, BMW, Mazda, Honda, Nissan, Kia, TVs, and Others; however, I primarily specialize in Toyota vehicles.
