How to Maintain Aircraft Spark Plugs

Propellers are crucial components of any aircraft and the failure of a propeller can be catastrophic to the safety of both the pilot and the plane. In addition to making the pilot sweat profusely, propeller failure can lead to serious power loss. Even single-engine planes can suffer severe power loss if a spark plug fails. To avoid such a problem, it is important to know how to maintain aircraft Spark Plugs.

Propellers produce a high-velocity jet stream and spark that ignites a fuel mixture inside the internal combustion engine. This is made possible by aircraft spark plugs. An ignition harness conducts magneto electricity to the spark plug to start combustion. There are two main types of aircraft spark plugs: massive electrodes and fine wire. The latter is less expensive, but also less durable. Iridium wire is used in the manufacture of aircraft spark plugs.

While massive electrode plugs are made from nickel-alloy, they are still susceptible to lead and carbon fouling. If you follow the manufacturer's recommendations, however, you can expect your aircraft spark plugs to last for four hundred or five hundred hours. For turbocharged engines, they can last for up to 900 hours. To avoid lead or carbon fouling, you must maintain the mixture aggressively by leaning the fuel mixture to below a rich mix during the descent. In addition to preventing the plugs from fouling, you should also know the cost of a new plug.

A six-point deep reach socket with a torque-indicating handle is necessary for properly installing aircraft spark plugs. A flat-type gauge may not provide the proper clearance indication. You should never use a vise grip pliers as a substitute for these tools. Always be aware of the manufacturer's recommended torque for your plugs. For smaller engines, 30 foot-pounds should be adequate. For larger engines, such as Lycoming, the range is usually between 360-420 inch-lbs.

Champion Aerospace is a reputable manufacturer of aircraft spark plugs. Their spark plugs are manufactured to be superior to those made by competitor companies. Champion Aerospace, a world leader in producing aircraft spark plugs, manufactures more aircraft spark plugs than any other company in the world. The company is also known to produce spark plugs for small aircraft, including Cirrus and Mooney. With their high-quality spark plugs, pilots can rest assured that they will get top-of-the-line performance from their aircraft.

In addition to the spark plug's spark-ignition system, the firing end must be clean and undamaged. Before attempting to install a new plug, check for ceramic cracks and foreign matter. Make sure to install a new copper gasket on the plug before inserting it into the cylinder head. An old 18mm copper gasket will be flattened and won't seal. Don't install a thermocouple under the normal copper gasket.

Keeping aircraft spark plugs in top condition requires regular maintenance. A spark plug can fail prematurely due to a variety of reasons. For example, improperly maintained spark plugs may lead to poor engine performance, loss of power, or a critical accident. Spark plugs are vital components of an airplane's engine and should be regularly maintained by an expert. You should never ignore spark plug maintenance. If they fail, it may lead to an expensive and dangerous incident.