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New spark plugs every year?

Yep… that’s what happened for five annual inspections in a row, with the A36 Bonanza I’ve been inspecting and working on.  From 2013 to 2017, the spark plugs were replaced every year.  Four of those times, the spark plugs being replaced, had less than 150 hours on them.  That is not a very long life for a spark plug, and I can’t imagine why they were replaced so soon.

Aviation massive spark plugs should easily last from 300-500 hours, and fine wire plugs should last at least 1000 hours, and perhaps more.

In today’s episode, we talk about several ways to maximize the life of your spark plugs:

  1. Regular servicing, at least every 100 hours.
  2. Rotate the spark plugs properly.  (Use a tray for this purpose.)
  3. Avoid large bead blasters.  (Use a small one designed for spark plugs.)
  4. Use proper torque when installing spark plugs.

These tips should help you maximize the life of your spark plugs, save you some money, and keep your engine running reliably and efficiently.

If you need more detail about spark plug servicing, check out episode 031 – Spark Plug Servicing For Airplane Owners.