Attention to Plugs

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6748, 5 January 1932, Page 3

Attention to Plugs

Engine components are so reliable nowadays that many people totally ignore them for months- on cud. Ouo such hard-used and neglected article is tho sparking plug. When it is realised that if the car be cruising at , say, 35 m.p.li. each plug fires about a thousand times every minute, it will be appreciated that during fho course of a heavy week’s running they certainly do an immense amount of work. It is an' excellent tributo to them that they require f > litllo attention. None i lie less it is a very sound plan to run over them about once a mouth, cleaning if necessary and re-setting tho gaps. This job does not take long, and is well worth while. Tho performance is far better, and in Iho cout.’o 01 time it will bo found that an economy in fuel consumption results. Now there are two ways of cleaning a . plug. The first is to dismautlo it completely. Two spanners are needed, one to hold the body of the plug—this can be Iho ordinary plug spanner, and another which will lit. tho gland nut. The central electrode must be cleaned thoroughly, and, in fact, it is best to bring it to a bright polish. The insulation must also be freed of all carbon, tho inside of the body being similarly t tea ted.

There is another and simpler way of cleaning a plug which obviates the necessity dismantling. This is to hold tho plug upside down and pour a little alcohol or dilute ammonia into it; even ordinary metal polish will do. Allow it to stand for a few seconds, and then rub the carbon from the ccntrodo insulator with a piece of stiff wire covered with cloth. At the end of this operation the liquid should bo poured out and the plug wiped dry.