Starting a car comes naturally for most motorists, not realizing the intricate process that happens each time the vehicle starts up. Volvo acknowledges the driver's need for ease and convenience once he is behind the wheels, so it lavishes attention on the engine performance beginning with something as basic as the start-up. The various elements installed in the vehicle contribute to the overall operation of the entire engine system, just like the Volvo spark plug.
A spark plug acts like a lightning bolt as it compels electricity to travel across a gap. To produce a good spark, this electricity should be at an extremely high voltage, varying from 40,000 to 100,000 volts. As for the Volvo spark plug, it should have an insulated channel wherein the voltage can go way down to the electrode, where it can jump the gap. From there, it is led into the engine block and grounded. While it is made to withstand the extreme heat and pressure inside the cylinder, it also employs a ceramic insert to segregate the high voltage at the electrode. This ensures the occurrence of the spark only at the electrode's tip and nowhere else on the plug. As a poor heat conductor, ceramic becomes too hot in the process so this heat facilitates in burning off deposits from the electrode. The standard Volvo spark plug consists of a shell, insulator, and conductor. Since it penetrates the combustion chamber's wall, it must also secure the combustion chamber against both pressures and temperatures that are extreme. It should perform this function over lengthy periods of time as well as a number of usages without failing.
The should be regularly maintained to ensure an efficient ignition. It is advisable that standard spark plugs are replaced every 30,000 to 45,000 miles. Extended life plugs reach up to 100,000 miles without or with little electrode wear. This is because they have special wear-resistant electrodes built of platinum, iridium, nickel yttrium or other alloys that curtail electrode erosion. However, they may still get contaminated if the engine encounters an oil consumption problem or remains idle for a long time. In this case, they should be replaced as well.
