My daily driver car, a 2013 Buick LaCrosse eAssist hybrid, is approaching the 100,000-mile mark, so I decided a bit of scheduled maintenance in the form of a new set of spark plugs was in order. After a little online research, I discovered that the plugs on my engine, a 2.4L four-cylinder Ecotec hybrid, are very easily accessible, right on the top of the engine. Having all of the necessary tools (a socket set with a spark plug socket and extension bar, flat blade screwdriver and needle-nose pliers) I decided to forego the services of a mechanic and undertake the swap myself.
The first step was to research what kind of spark plugs to use, as they come in three varieties—copper core, platinum, and iridium. Copper core plugs are what usually comes in a car from the factory and are the least expensive option, but they typically have the shortest service lifespan. The next step up is platinum, which has a coating of that rare and expensive metal on the electrode. There are also double-platinum plugs that have a tiny platinum disc on the ground contact, where the spark from the electrode hits. The advantages of platinum plugs are better spark and longer service life. Some cars even require platinum plugs. The top of the line, and most expensive option, is iridium. These plugs outlast platinum, use less energy, and produce an even better spark, resulting in improvements in both fuel economy and performance.
Since General Motors is presently offering a substantial rebate on its ACDelco Iridium plugs, which cut the price almost in half, I ordered a set from Rockauto.com. They're probably a bit of overkill for the little four-banger under my Buick's hood, but for the price, I saw little downside to that choice, and a big win, if they delivered on the promises of improved performance and fuel economy. Since the engine was not misfiring, I decided to keep using the original ignition coils and save that expense until it is truly needed. Generally speaking, it is best to replace all of the coils when one fails, since the others will likely not be far behind.
Installation was quite easy and only took me about 45 minutes. As with any such project, replacing the first plug was the most difficult. Repeating those steps with the next three was easier, as I knew exactly what to expect. The basic procedure went something like this:
- With the engine cold, remove the plastic engine cover
- Unplug the wire from the ignition coil
- Unbolt and remove the ignition coil
- Remove the old spark plug
- Put a small amount of anti-seize compound on the threads of the new plug
- Screw the new plug into place
- Put a dab of dielectric grease on the bottom end of the ignition coil to seal out moisture
- Put the coil in on top of the spark plug and bolt it down
- Replace the electrical connection
- Repeat the above steps with the three remaining spark plugs
- Replace the plastic engine cover and put your tools away.
I wasn't exactly sure what to expect in terms of performance from the new plugs, but in driving the car the past couple of days, I have seen a noticeable, albeit not dramatic, improvement in throttle response and the car labors a bit less going up hills. The car is still a somewhat under-powered, but it's a definite improvement.
I can't yet speak to fuel economy improvements, as the new plugs have not yet been in place for 48 hours, but I am topping off my tank today and we'll see how it goes. Even a modest improvement in fuel economy would eventually pay for the plugs, and delivering more power in the process makes it a double-winner.
And the sense of satisfaction that comes from successfully installing the new plugs myself was priceless.
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