When it comes to maintaining your Mercedes, there is a strict schedule that you need to follow. No matter what type of vehicle you have, you constantly need to be on the lookout for problems. Between changing the oil, checking your fluid levels, inspecting the battery, and taking care of countless other tasks, the work is never-ending. Unfortunately, many Mercedes owners fail to take into account their spark plugs. Like other parts of your vehicle, spark plugs need to be properly maintained to ensure that they work correctly.

It is easy to see why many vehicle owners forget about their spark plugs. They are designed to last an incredibly long time. In fact, up until the vehicle reaches about 30,000 miles for normal spark plugs and 100,000 miles for long-life spark plugs, they don’t require any maintenance. These figures are only estimates, however. A lot of times, problems with your spark plugs come up when you least expect them.

When even the best spark plugs get older, they begin to show signs of wear. The space between the center and ground electrodes widens, requiring additional voltage. Luckily, there are a lot of signs that you can watch for that indicate potential problems with your spark plugs.

For instance, if a vehicle is difficult to start, most people turn immediately to the battery, thinking that it needs to be replaced. In fact, however, this problem can be caused by faulty spark plugs. Whether they aren’t creating enough of a spark or are causing extra strain on the battery, failing spark plugs can make it difficult to start your vehicle.

Your engine also provides valuable information about the condition of your spark plugs. If your engine begins misfiring, it could indicate that the spark plugs aren’t performing the way that they should. Listen closely to your engine to make sure that it is running smoothly without any gaps. Pay attention to how your vehicle accelerates, as well. If it has a hard time getting going, it could be caused by problems with your spark plugs since your engine may not be getting enough power.

Replacing your spark plugs can help your vehicle run more efficiently. It can improve its overall performance as well. When your engine is misfiring, it can decrease your vehicle’s fuel efficiency while at the same time increasing its emissions. If the light on your dashboard turns on indicating a problem with your spark plugs, it is because the occurrence of misfires has reached a critical point and has resulted in excessive emissions from your vehicle.

Putting in new spark plugs can make your vehicle a lot easier to start—especially during the winter months. Because the new spark plugs are more efficient, the ignition system requires a lot less power. Along with increasing emissions, when spark plugs misfire, it can cause an excess amount of gasoline to find its way into the exhaust system. This can increase the catalytic converter temperature. In some cases, the temperature can even get high enough to melt certain parts of the catalytic converter.

This clearly illustrates how important it is to properly maintain your spark plugs. Even though spark plugs last for a long time, they can slowly wear out, causing problems with your vehicle and negatively affecting the engine.

All vehicle owners need to pay attention to signs that could indicate that there is a problem with their spark plugs. When buying a used vehicle, don’t forget to ask the owner how old the current spark plugs are. This can give you a better idea of how much life they have left in them. If the vehicle already has a lot of miles on it, the spark plugs could be a lot closer to the end of their usable life than you might think.

You can find information in your vehicle’s owner manual about maintaining your spark plugs. Different vehicle manufacturers recommend different schedules in terms of when to inspect and replace your spark plugs.

You may want to begin establishing a relationship with a mechanic or repair shop in your area too. Most shops maintain detailed records of their customers. By visiting the same shop over and over again, you can easily keep track of how old your current spark plugs are. Additionally, bringing your car back to the same shop also allows the mechanics to learn its particular quirks, making it easier for them to work on it.

Even if your spark plugs are still working, they may not be working as well as they should. Spark plugs tend to continue working long after they have worn out. They break down slowly over time, causing reduced vehicle performance. Unfortunately, when your spark plugs aren’t functioning as well as they should be, it can put extra strain on your battery. The last thing that you want is to have to replace your battery. A better option is to keep an eye on your spark plugs, regularly replacing them with new ones to ensure that your vehicle starts and runs smoothly.