How Often Should You Replace Your Nissan’s Spark Plugs?

Your spark plugs serve the crucial function of igniting the fuel-air mixture inside the engine’s combustion chambers several hundred times per minute. When a spark plug fouls or malfunctions, your engine will start misfiring, and you’ll soon need to visit your nearest Nissan dealership for a new plug. To avoid emergency spark plug replacement trips, it pays to know in advance how long your plugs are likely to last. 

The longevity of your plugs depends in part on how well you maintain your car. Any engine issues that unbalance a combustion chamber’s fuel-air mixture will rapidly foul or destroy its plugs. A clogged air filter, faulty ignition coil, malfunctioning alternator, contaminated fuel, overheating engine, or bad catalytic converter are just some of the many problems that might cause your plugs to fail.

Your driving conditions might also put greater pressure on your engine’s plugs, causing them to fail faster. For example, driving excessively at low speeds or very dusty conditions can create this extra strain. 

Three Types of Spark Plug

But, if you take good care of your vehicle and drive in ordinary conditions, then the lifespan of your plugs primarily depends on the type of plug you use. There are three main types of plugs in use today: copper, platinum, and iridium plugs.

Copper Plugs Last About 20,000 Miles

The most common types of plugs are made from copper with a fused nickel alloy over the electrode. Copper plugs have excellent conductivity allowing them to perform the sparking extremely job well, but copper also has a relatively low resistance to heat. 

This means the high temperature inside the engine’s cylinders wears these plugs down and fouls them faster. As a result, copper plugs only have a lifespan of around 20,000 miles on average.

Platinum Plugs Last About 60,000 Miles

Plugs either made from platinum or with a platinum disc fused over the electrode can last far longer: around 60,000 miles on average. Platinum has a higher melting point than copper and nickel and is a denser, harder metal. On the downside, platinum is slightly less conductive than copper, which means you’re trading a little performance quality in exchange for durability with platinum plugs. 

Iridium Plugs Last About 100,000 Miles

Some of the best plugs available are made from iridium, which is even more durable and heat-resistant than platinum. The remarkable toughness of iridium allows these plugs to last a good 100,000 miles on average. 

This long-lasting metal is also less conductive than copper, but the sheer strength of iridium allows for extremely thin electrodes. Thin electrodes mean less voltage is required to generate sparks, which compensates for the metal’s lower conductivity and keeps performance high. 

Ask Your Nissan Dealer Which Type of Plugs You Use

If you’re not sure which kinds of plugs your engine uses, ask the technician at your local dealership during your next servicing visit. They’ll be happy to tell you, along with inspecting the condition of your plugs and estimating how soon you’ll need to replace them. 

Visit Nissan of Picayune today to have your plugs examined, cleaned, or replaced. We’re a local family-owned dealership offering both great cars and great customer service.