Understanding Iridium Spark Plug

Iridium spark plugs are extremely durable spark plugs made of a metallic element called iridium that has a high melting point and delivers exceptional performance and efficiency. Iridium can survive a long period, which aids in the longevity of the spark plug, allowing you to avoid changing your car's spark plugs  frequently. Iridium spark plugs are resistant to wear and have remarkable dependability due to the natural composition of iridium.

The tip of the center electrode of iridium spark plugs is made of a precious metal called iridium. Because iridium is a long-lasting metal with a high melting point (2,446 °C), these plugs assure complete combustion and improved engine performance. Their insulator tip and other elements are also more resistant to heat, allowing for a wider temperature range. Furthermore, compared to a typical copper spark plug, iridium spark plugs feature a smaller fine wire center electrode. This ensures a more concentrated spark, allowing an engine to run quicker.

The center and ground electrodes of double iridium spark plugs are laser fused using iridium. This makes them more resistant to higher temperature conditions, and it's used in industrial combustion engines. Double iridium spark plugs outperform other types of spark plugs such as copper spark plugs in terms of overall performance, longevity, durability, and voltage. Double-iridium spark plugs have two rare-metal discs that boost durability and performance, similar to double-platinum spark plugs. This improved durability makes them four times stronger than copper alternatives, allowing your car to run at higher speeds for longer periods.

If your vehicle's acceleration has slowed significantly in recent months, it's likely that the issue is with your iridium spark plug. To ensure the health of your engine and constant top-notch acceleration, you'll need to replace it at the appropriate moment. So, here are a few signals that you should look out for to see if you need to change your iridium spark plugs:

Worn-out iridium spark plugs might make it harder to start your car. If you're having difficulties starting your car, consult a mechanic to see if the spark plugs need to be replaced.

If your Iridium spark plugs are contaminated or dirty, there are chances that your vehicle’s fuel economy will reduce as they will not be able to burn fuel efficiently during the combustion process of air and fuel mixture. As a result, pay a visit to your mechanic and get the spark plugs replaced.

Due to  lack of spark from the iridium spark plug, the engine produces no power during the power stroke. So the vehicle  takes too long to accelerate. In this scenario, the iridium spark plugs may be the problem, and they must be replaced.

The iridium spark plugs or iridium spark plug wires are the problems when the engine makes knocking, rattling, or pinging sounds. The problem can be solved by replacing the old iridium spark plugs with new iridium spark plugs.

If you see oil on the tip of your iridium spark plug when it is withdrawn from the engine, the iridium spark plug has to be replaced. Valve guides that have worn out, damaged spark plug O-rings, or a damaged valve cover gasket are all possible sources of oil. Oil might be left on the plug tip even if the head gasket is defective. You must address the situation as soon as possible because this oil can cause the engine to misfire (one of the cylinders in the engine does not produce power).

If you look through the owner's manual that came with your vehicle, you'll notice that the replacement interval is specified. Iridium spark plugs replacement intervals are estimated by  how many miles your vehicle has driven and when reached a maximum limit  (as per the vehicle manual) you will need to replace your iridium spark plugs as soon as possible.

Iridium spark plugs have a high melting point, and provide improved performance, perfect combustion, and exceptional longevity, allowing you to avoid replacing your spark plugs regularly. Here are some of the benefits of installing iridium spark plugs in your vehicle:

Depending on your vehicle and operating conditions, an iridium spark plug can last up to 120,000 miles. Iridium spark plugs also have a melting point of more than 700 degrees celsius. This makes them one of the types of spark plugs that  has the longest life span.

Iridium is more robust, allowing it to withstand the high voltage that passes through the spark plug wires. Iridium spark plug parts are also resistant to corrosion. As a result, the intense temperatures inside the combustion chamber do not easily wear out their insulator tip, spark plug threads, center electrode, or ground electrode.

Because of the small electrode at the center, iridium spark plugs require far less voltage to ignite. As a result, it gives your vehicle a more spark during ignition. So, you'll have a speedier ignition and fewer issues when starting your vehicle.

The higher the voltage required to generate ignition in an engine of your vehicle, the more fuel is consumed. Iridium spark plugs require very little voltage to create spark or ignition, thus they use very little fuel.

When you drive on hills, the engine needs to generate more power. Iridium spark plugs can create more engine power because of their exceptional durability. When you switch to iridium spark plugs, you'll notice a significant improvement in your driving experience. Iridium spark plugs provide more control over your navigation and improve your touring abilities.

Because iridium spark plugs burn fuel more efficiently, they produce fewer exhaust pollutants, resulting in a cleaner environment overall. The small point electrode also improves firing efficiency (i.e. the likelihood of your plug misfiring is lowered), which is a known contributor in lowering vehicle emissions. Iridium spark plugs assist lower exhaust pollutants in ways that conventional spark plugs don't because of the combined impacts of reduced fuel use and plug firing efficacy.

Many people believe that there is a common method to clean any type of spark plug. If you take a one-size-fits-all approach to this, you'll ruin the spark plug completely. If you use these faulty spark plugs, you'll have a lot of issues in the vehicle as mentioned above. The electrode tips are the fundamental distinction between copper, platinum, and iridium spark plugs. Each one has an electrode tip made of the material copper, platinum, and iridium respectively. Iridium tips are recognized for being extremely fine, whereas copper tips are significantly larger in size. The use of sandpaper is seen as one of the most popular cleaning techniques. This method works for copper plugs, but it will damage an iridium tip if you use sandpaper to clean an iridium spark plug. 

Iridium spark plugs can be cleaned and reused. Still, for your vehicle's best health, we don't encourage it. The reason for this is simple: you won't get the same degree of performance as you would with a brand new iridium spark plug. Cleaning the spark plugs will cause them to wear out even more and lose their sharp edges. As a result, the amount of electricity discharged will decrease.

Steps To Clean Iridium Spark Plug:

Step 1.

Using a clean strip of cloth, clean the firing tip (electrode) and the plug to remove junk, grease, dirt, and oil.

Step 2.

Extra grease can be wiped away with a soft cloth or cleaned with a spray cleaner.

Step 3.

The above two steps are generally sufficient to restore the performance of your iridium spark plug. However, if you wish to deep clean your iridium spark plug, a wire brush can be used to remove fixed dirt. Be careful when doing this, as some abrasive brushes can damage the spark plug electrodes and compromise performance.

Step 4.

Using an air compressor, blow air through and over the electrode tip.

Step 5.

Re-gap the iridium spark plug according to the manufacturer's recommendations, replace the spark plug washer/gasket, and tighten to the required torque when reinstalling.

The table below shows the difference between copper spark plugs, platinum spark plugs, and Iridium spark plugs:

Iridium spark plugs can cost anywhere from CAD$5 per piece to CAD$ 191 per pack of 4  on Partsavatar, and labor costs vary considerably depending on where you take your automobile for repairs.