Repairers tasked to fit higher quality spark plugs

Industry watchers maintain that new standards introduced by the European Union next year, which make it mandatory for all new diesel and petrol engines to comply with Euro IV emissions standards, mean that critical components such as spark plugs will have to be a bespoke fit if the engine is to work at its optimum efficiency. They highlight that independent repairers working on older cars outside the warranty period will need to use spark plugs of the right quality. With the growing diesel car parc, there is also likely to be an increase in demand for glow plugs designed for the new generation of sophisticated oil burners. Paul Everitt, head of policy at the SMMT, believed the pressure to cut pollution was likely to continue and intensify in future with the Euro IV standards becoming compulsory on all new vehicles during the next 12 months. Everitt told Motor Trader: “There is no doubt that cars are becoming increasingly sophisticated and everything in the engine needs to be working correctly — particularly with the emission levels that we can expect to see in 2006. “There is a lot of concern in the government on air quality issues and there are now legislative levels set by the European Commission on pollutants – emissions controls are likely to get tighter and tighter in future,” Everitt said. Philip Jeynes, deputy general manager, marketing, at Japanese spark plug manufacturer NGK, said that aftermarket professionals needed to be aware of these pollution issues. He said a spark plug needed to be totally reliable, even in difficult conditions such as cold weather, and must meet the demands of a sophisticated engine. If it was not up to the job it could cause misfiring and damage the catalytic converter. Jeynes added: “You need to fit an OE product or one of the same quality – as soon as you move away from this specification you will get a detraction in emissions standards. “New emissions legislation is likely to mean that passing the MoT will become more difficult in future — this is obviously an important consideration from a drivers' point of view.” Jeynes also highlighted that the growing need for bespoke OE plugs would lead to a proliferation in product lines. “I think this is inevitable given the nature of engine design,” he said. “There will be a greater need for different spark plug types. “Unfortunately, each new development is also likely to mean more expensive materials, although this will normally mean an increase in the component life.” The demands of the latest generation low-emission engines have certainly been driving technological developments in the spark and glow plug markets. NGK recently announced that it was supplying ceramic glow plugs to Volkswagen's advanced range of diesels after already securing OE spark plug deals with Vauxhall and Volvo last year. Meanwhile, Denso Aftermarket has introduced its top-of-the-line Iridium plugs. The company has also produced a special upgrade table for factors showing which plug in the premium range would be a suitable substitute for a lower-end product. While the Iridium range was significantly more expensive than their lower-grade counterparts, these plugs paid their way in terms of longevity and performance, claimed Denso UK sales manager Marko Wowczyna. Federal Mogul spark plug brand Champion has also rolled out a new line to build on its OE programme. The company has added four high-performance ceramic glow plug references to its range to cover Vauxhall, Mitsubishi, Isuzu and Nissan products. The company has also launched its new Ribbed Core Nose technology, which is designed for both OE and aftermarket customers, to meet testing cold weather conditions. With tackling pollution becoming a priority at both a national and European level, making sure that vehicles are within their accepted emissions limits must become a serious issue for repairers. As limits become more stringent, an off-the-shelf plug is less likely to do the job properly and the powerplant could be damaged if an inefficient component is fitted. With this in mind, all repairers should stay abreast of the latest technological developments and ensure they have the right component for the job – particularly when they are faced with cars loaded with the latest technology. While customers may initially baulk at the extra cost of a higher-grade spark or glow plug, garages should explain the benefits of choosing the right product.