Can I clean the spark plug in my equipment?

[Superiorpower]

Question: Can I clean the spark plug in my equipment?

Answer: Cleaning spark plugs is not recommended.  Especially not in today's market where spark plugs are readily available for most equipment.  Just replace it.  Most spark plugs cost no more than $2 - $4 and cleaning the spark plug is not worth the effort or the problems associated with cleaning them.  

If it is shorted out deep in the insulator well, you will never know it.  Plus it is easy for there to be small deposits deep in the plug that you can not remove and can not see.  The porcelain could have a micro crack as well and be impossible to see.

If you choose to just clean a spark plug rather than replace it, you should never use a wire wheel to clean them up. The wire can damage the porcelain as well as leave a "metal track" that will cause a misfire. If you really want to clean a plug, use a very fine emery cloth and just clean the electrode and the ground prong.  After cleaning a spark plug make sure you gap it correctly.

When installing a new spark plug make sure you check, and adjust, the gap on the new plug (Unless its an iridium spark plug.  Gaping an iridium spark plug can damage the electrode).  

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