Now that spring has sprung, it’s time to clean or replace your lawn mower spark plugs. Across the country, lawnmowers are emerging from garages and garden sheds after months of being stored away. Just like a car that’s been sitting for a while, your lawn mower, whether it’s a riding mower or push mower, needs a yearly tune up too.
To clean your spark plug you will need a socket wrench, brake cleaner and a soft cloth. First, locate the plug and then brush off the housing surrounding it. Remove the black plug wire by lifting the spark plug cap that covers the end of the plug. Use the socket wrench to unscrew the spark plug by turning it counterclockwise. Once removed, check the electrode tip and ceramic insulator for build up or wear.
Spray the dirty lawn mower spark plug with brake cleaner and let it soak for about ten minutes. Wipe the plug with your clean cloth or rag to remove the residue. If needed, repeat the spraying, soaking and wiping several times. Make sure you end up with a spark plug that is clean from the threads to the contact point. If the spark plug shows unusual signs of wear or doesn’t come clean, consider replacing it with a new one.
NOTE: When replacing your mower’s spark plug, always check your lawnmower manual to make certain the new spark plug is the right heat range and gapped correctly for your particular engine. If the gap is not right, alter the gap according to the manufacturer’s specifications. Visit the E3 Spark Plugs’ Spark Plug Installation Recommendations web page for information regarding gap and torque for various applications.
Reinstall the plug manually being careful not to allow any debris to fall into the spark plug hole. A good rule of thumb is to screw the spark plug in as tight as you can by hand, and then give it one more quarter turn with the socket wrench. Remember, a blocked or dirty air filter can also affect the performance of your lawn mower spark plug. So, clean or replace filters as part of your mower’s annual tune-up.
E3 lawn mower spark plugs are sold at numerous consumer retail outlets including Wal-Mart, Lowe’s, The Home Depot, Pepboys Auto, Sears, O’Reilly Auto Parts, and on Amazon.com. Warehouse distributors Keystone Automotive Operations, Motor State Distributing, Performance Warehouse and Speedway Motors sell E3 Spark Plugs products to other distributors and retail locations.
Don’t forget to check our E3 Spark Plugs Lawn & Garden Catalog to identify the best spark plug for your lawn mower, chain saw and other outdoor power equipment.
