Older model cars might use SAE readings, which look like this: .025 or .030. Newer models will most likely list their numbers by metric readings, which look like this: 0.6 or 1.8, etc. Ease of Use: If you have limited experience setting spark plug gaps, look for an easy tool. A tool with a clear scale and easy-to-adjust settings is a great choice. If you’re stranded in the middle of nowhere buying a new set wasn’t possible. Did you remove the points, sand down the burned part with whatever you could find (a nail file? a scrap of sandpaper?) and then use a matchbook cover to set them temporarily? Silver spark plugs. Of all the plug designs, silver offers the most conductivity. It is not an especially durable metal, however, so like iridium, you’ll want to be careful when adjusting the gap. Silver spark plugs are rare in automotive applications. You’re most likely to encounter them on older European cars.

I have a few tips I would like to share with you on how to carefully select the appropriate spark plug gap tool. The OEMTOOLS Gauge is a precision tool designed to help you measure the gap between spark plugs and other critical areas on your engine. This CTA gap adjustment tool only weighs 1.44 ounces and will offer over 30 accurate gaping measurements before you need to readjust it. It also includes one electrode-adjusting tool. The unit is designed to adjust the plug without pressuring the center electrode. The tool can be used at home and in a professional garage. For most spark plugs, yes, you need to make sure the spark plug gap exactly matches the specifications in your manual. It’s also important to make sure all of the spark plug gaps match each other across all of your cylinders. Issues with your spark plug gaps can lead to misfires and other engine issues, so it’s not something you want to mess around with. The exception to this is iridium spark plugs, which are more efficient and can accommodate slight variances. What should the spark plug gap be?Setting the gap on spark plugs was one of the first things my father taught me to do when working on cars. This process was so simple. I was only 8 or 10 years old at the most and I learned to do it in about 5 minutes.

You can always start with the manufacturer’s setting for the spark plug gap. In general, that will be somewhere between 0.6-1.8M or 0.024 and 0.071 SAE.

If the feeler gauge or gap gauge (with the correct size) passes through the gap without touching any electrode, the gap is too wide and needs to be narrowed. Step 3: Adjust The Spark Plug Gap

Here’s another very affordable old standard. The pros and cons of this Lisle Spark Plug Gauge are about what you’d expect for any gapper tool of this style. The tapered edge measures smoothly throughout the width range in both imperial and metric systems. It also has a central hole that can be used to adjust electrodes. The CTA Tools Gapper is designed to be both durable and lightweight, making it easy to carry wherever you may need it. It is designed with an ergonomic handle that makes it comfortable to use, and the anti-slip rubber grip helps you maintain a secure grip while adjusting the spark plugs. This tool has a recess made to adjust electrodes. If you turn it over, you can see a convenient little metric gapping scale on that very reverse side.For delicate spark plugs, the CTA 9-wire gap tool is a good option. It’s not as versatile as the other options on this list, but that may not be a problem for you if you’re only adjusting the spark plugs on one or two vehicles.

When it does so, it ignites the air fuel mixture between the gap, creating combustion (like how a fire starter lights up a gas stove). 2. What Happens If The Spark Plug Gap Is Wrong?The spark plug gap will widen as the plug erodes, making it harder to fire a spark. The ceramic insulation on old spark plugs can also be compromised by carbon combustion deposits and old fuel saturation, resulting in a weaker spark. Closing Words