Difference between Cold & Hot Spark Plugs

Spark plugs are designed with two different temperature tips – cold plugs bearing cold tips and hot plugs bearing hot tips. What is this all about?

Cold spark plugs
When you have to pick the right ones for your car, just think of the opposite. That is, cold spark plugs are used in hot weather and they are best for high-performance engines as these engines rev at higher RPM and produce more heat. Cooler tips operate at a lower temperature to allow the plug to remove excess heat more efficiently from the engine.

Hot spark plugs
On the contrary, hot spark plugs are designed to operate on cold weather and they can be used on any vehicle for that purpose. Hot tips always stay toasty warm even when cold air is brought into the engine.

Why is it important to choose the right spark plugs?
This is important because if you are using a cold spark plug in a very cold environment like in Alaska, it will diminish the efficiency of the combustion in the cylinder head. In such instances, engine performance is affected, and it can further lead to deposits built up on the plugs, which in turn will reduce their lifespan. It will be vice-versa if you use hot spark plugs in a very hot weather condition like in Dubai.

At the end of the day, you don’t need to worry too much about this if your car is serviced at a professional garage. However, if you are changing the spark plugs by yourself, this post will be helpful to you.

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