Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler mechanics or spark plug change experienced???

That makes my brain hurt. I feel like a schlub for replacing my plugs every 2nd year, and wires as needed, usually every 3-5... and, back in the day, rotor and cap with the plug changes.

Dad sent his 1988 cargo van to the shredder last year with the original plugs in it.

"What's that ticking? Maybe I should get the plugs done."
'That's a noisy lifter, dad... but when was the last time you did plugs?'
" "

Bren R.

, I have done many tune ups on vehicles like that, no electrodes left at all remaining on a few. Gotta love the HEI ignition systems, burn a hole through anything if left long enough.

Champion may not be the most expensive, but their are some motors that they seem to work better than anything else in. My last two engines were variations of the Chrysler 4.0 Ltr. Inline 6 and and I tried platinum, v-groove, just about everything to get some cleaner low end torque but Champion Truck plugs work better than them all in my rig. Googling Jeeps and recommended park plugs seems to agree.

Champion is the OEM plug for Chrysler and I too have tried many different brands with Chrysler products and find Champions to work the best, same with Ford and Motorcraft and just about any Japanese vehicle likes NGK.

Ok, I've got the Rodeo running again like the day I drove it off the show room floor back in 95 by changing the plugs and wires.

As you recall, I originally thought my transmission might have issues, proved that wrong.

Tonight when I got home after driving home from work, I pulled out the manual to see how to check things. It said to place the vehicle in Park, on a flat surface, put the emergency break on, cycle from Park down through all the gears, and back to Park (automatic transmission). Then check the dip stick and feel the fluid, if warm or above room temp, check the hot level, if below that, check the cold line.

Then, whipe it off, put it back in, recheck and smell for a burnt smell (like burnt toast), and check the color to see if it is muddy or dark looking.

Well, it seem clear with a hint of pinkish blended in and did not smell burnt. So does this tell me I'm most likely ok, I can't recall the last time or if it has ever been done. I've read some cars mfg's will say upto 100K, where some say every 30K or so...

I've got at least 5 friends that have vehicles with way higher miles than mine, and they have never changed the fluid. Also, what about the rumor that if you never have, it could cause other issues to all of a sudden change it....

100,000 kms (that's kilometers) sounds about average from what I've heard...that would be about 62,000 miles. I've got close to 160,000 klms (around 100,000 miles) and haven't changed either the trans fluid or filter, never noticed a problem but at this point it would probably be good preventative maintenance to get it done. For the record, I don't think many people get it done either.

***pulls shirt collar sideways*** it's getting hot in here.

Transmission fluid was originally designed to "last the life of the car" what ever that means. If you are not hard on the transmission, do not do a lot of stop and go driving/towing/racing etc. then you can get away with not having to change out the fluid. When trans fluid heats up it allows the clutch packs to slip/burn and it will leave a residue on everything leading to failure. This heating up also changes the chemcal composition of the fluid so it doesn't work as intended. So if you know you are hard on a transmission you really should be changing out the fluid in the 50,000km/30,000mile range.