Spark Plug Cleaner

Can You Really Clean a Spark Plug?

Spark Plug Cleaner — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 04:01:09 +0000

A fair question. If you are going to consider buying a spark plug cleaner you should learn whether it is actually possible to clean a spark plug in the first place, and if doing so will help improve the plug. After all, nobody wants to waste their money.

First let use see why cleaning a spark plug is needed.

Carbon Deposits

The way that spark plugs work is by igniting fuel at very high temperatures, some spark plug can reach temperatures as high as 900 degrees at the point of engine ignition. The fuel is the moved along the tip of the plug and out into the engine.

The problem comes in the tip. As the fuel moves away from the spark it cools, and if it cools too soon it leaves carbon deposits, as does the ‘flash’ residue from the ignition itself. These carbon deposits build up over time and gradually reduce the effectiveness of the plug, and eventually the carbon build ups will be too much and it will stop working altogether.

Cleaning a Spark Plug

So if you want to ensure that the spark plug works efficiently, or carries on working at all, you need to remove these carbon build ups – and the best way of doing that is by using a spark plug cleaner.

The reason for this is the majority of the problems with spark plugs come internally. Whilst the heat of the plug will also mean there is carbon build up on the outside the MAIN factor is removing the build up inside the plug. It is there that the build up is doing damage.

Unfortunately it is also internally that is most difficult to get to and clean. Spark plugs can be difficult to take apart and put together properly if you are looking to do it by hand, one mistake and the plug will stop working altogether.

The plug is also surprisingly delicate. The insulation layer, that allows the heat to dissipate along the tip without getting out into the engine (rather than concentrated on igniting the fuel), is easily damaged by manual cleaning. The wrong type of cloth, or cleaning mixture, can cause it to be irreparably damaged.

Which is why spark plug cleaners are becoming more popular. Now that people are starting to understand what a spark plug does and how cleaning it can really help the engine and the reliability of the car more and more people are turning to the spark plug cleaner to save them money and keep their car on the road.

Big discounts on Spark Plug Cleaners
on SALE at Amazon.com

Is it Safe to use a Spark Plug Cleaner?

Spark Plug Cleaner — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 16:40:12 +0000

As with anything to do with a cars engine you need to know if using a spark plug cleaner is safe. When you are playing with a cars engine, especially when you don’t know what you are doing, you are risking damaging parts that could put peoples lives at risk, including your own and your family’s.

Spark Plug Cleaners ARE Safe

The good news is that providing you buy a proper spark plug cleaner from a reputable company it IS safe to use. And even better even if the cleaner actually breaks the spark plug there is only limited damage it can do.

Because the spark plugs job is to ignite the fuel, but only tiny parts at a time, it is only ever going to cause misfiring in the car if it is faulty or not working. This can mean the car cutting out and losing power, or not starting at all.

Whilst this is obviously a problem it is not dangerous, it doesn’t effect breaks, it doesn’t cause the engine to overheat and blow up, and it doesn’t effect steering. It won’t cause you to have accidents on the road.

Rare

But even knowing this worst case scenario such instances are rare. Because of the way that the cleaners work (in most cases as an abrasive cleaner) they strip carbon deposits from the plugs on the outside, but to get to the inside of the plug only compressed air manages to fire through, strong enough to dislodge the carbon but not powerful enough to damage the plug itself.

Vibration cleaners are even safer again as they don’t use any sort of abrasive material that may slip into the inside of the plug.

So you can rest assured that you will not be risking anyone’s life by using a spark plug cleaner, they are perfectly safe.

Big discounts on Spark Plug Cleaners
on SALE at Amazon.com

How do Spark Plug Cleaners Work?

Spark Plug Cleaner — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:07:28 +0000

If you don’t understand how spark plug cleaners work you just have to take it as a fact that they manage to clean your spark plugs, and hope that people know what they are talking about. Far from an ideal situation. Better then to understand just how a spark plug cleaner works.

There are two main types of spark plug cleaner available for the general public to buy, both of which have their own specific advantages and disadvantages.

Abrasion Spark Plug Cleaners

The main type of spark plug cleaner on the market is the abrasion spark plug cleaner. This works by firing compressed air through the spark plug, as well as abrasive material (the material varying depending on the cleaner). The power of the air and the contact of the abrasive material is excellent at removing built up carbon deposits

Most cleaners have a way of modulating the air pressure fired through, and will come with the correct abrasive material – and allow for easy reloads.

This method is excellent at cleaning the outside of the spark plug and the power of the air allows for a decent level of cleaning inside the spark plug.

Vibration cleaners

Because what you are trying to clean are often minuscule deposits of carbon, carbon created by residue of ignited fuel sticking to the plug, traditional methods of cleaning can prove ineffective. They are not well built to remove such tiny particles.

Which is why vibration cleaners have enjoyed a rise in popularity as a spark plug cleaner amongst those who know their science a little more thoroughly. Unfortunately this rise is still very limited and so finding a vibration cleaner for a spark plug can be difficult.

The process works by rapidly vibrating the spark plug via a device. This short, sharp, burst of vibrations is sufficient to shake loose any carbon build up, no matter how small, and allow it to fall away. The spark plug itself is easily strong enough to withstand such vibrations.

Which of the two is best? Depends very much on your budget and what you are looking for. But both are effective – and work far better than manually cleaning the spark plugs yourself as they allow for internal cleaning of the plug as well as the outside build up.

Big discounts on Spark Plug Cleaners
on SALE at Amazon.com

Can You Clean a Spark Plug Without a Spark Plug Cleaner?

Spark Plug Cleaner — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:15:53 +0000

Sounds odd doesn’t it? But whilst many people understand the importance of cleaning their spark plugs, both for safety and to save money, the question then becomes – is a spark plug cleaner really needed or can I do it without specialist equipment?

The answer is… yes, to a degree, but a spark plug cleaner is far better.

What a Spark Plug Cleaner Needs to do

To understand why a spark plug cleaner is better than doing it yourself you first need to understand WHY a spark plug needs cleaning at all.

The spark plugs job is to ignite the fuel to allow it to burn, producing the chemical reaction needed to power the engine. Because this process means continually igniting fuel there will always be some flash residue from each ignition.

This residue is carbon and it builds up over time on the spark plug, getting into every nook and crevice, making the spark plugs work to a lesser and lesser extent – and eventually causing them to stop working all together.

So what you are doing when you are cleaning a spark plug is cleaning off carbon

Getting it all

The problem with self cleaning a spark plug is that it can be very difficult to get all the carbon. Whilst you can help by cleaning the spark plug manually you are unlikely to get everything. Even if you used a specialized wire brush you are still only likely to get 60% of the carbon without stripping the spark plug.

You can of course strip the plug to get at the other 40%. This allows you to clean it fully. But be careful, for the spark plug to work afterwards you need to both remember to put the plug back together exactly right AND not to damage the insulation layer. Fail at either and the spark plug is useless to you.

That is the advantage of using a spark plug cleaner. They are very cheap and ensure that you get all the built up carbon off the spark plug, allowing it to work at full efficiency… and do so without any difficult manual labour, technical knowledge or risk of damage.

Time, money and risk taken out of the equation gives you peace of mind, and savings in your pocket. So whilst it is possible to clean a spark plug without a spark plug cleaner, it certainly is not advisable!

Big discounts on Spark Plug Cleaners
on SALE at Amazon.com

Spark Plug Cleaner Review

Spark Plug Cleaner — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 06:16:56 +0000

Below are some of the best spark plug cleaners on the market. All are available from Amazon so that you know they come from a reliable retailer who you can trust.

Spark Plug Cleaner Review

S & G Tool Aid is an air operated abrasive spark plug cleaner that is capable of cleaning any size spark plug on todays market. It fires compressed air through a channel, mixing with the abrasive continuing on to strip the carbon from the spark plug.

An outer lever controls the choice between abrasive cleaning and compressed air only.

An abrasive spark plug cleaner that uses a blast action to remove the build up of carbon deposits.

Capable of cleaning any size spark plug, making the plug like new! Compressed air is fired through channels and mixes with the abrasive material (sold seperatey). You can alter to be compressed air clean or abrasive clean by flicking a lever.

A compact, easiuly stored spark plug cleaner that is capable of cleaning any size spark plug, giving you peace of mind that it will be able to get the job done for you. Choose between abrassve or comressed air clean.

Any size spark plug gets cleaned by this excellent spark plug cleaner. Able to effortlessly switch between compressed air and abrasive clean. Abrasive included and is silica free. Comes with comprehensive instructions.