Are you noticing your engine idling roughly or misfiring? These signals show that it might be the time to replace your spark plug.
Spark plugs play a vital role in your car’s performance. Replacing them is not just a routine task but an essential one to maintain engine efficiency.
However, it is crucial to understand that spark plug replacement can vary significantly in cost, depending on several factors.
To help you understand the spark plug replacement cost, we will break down the factors that influence it.
In addition, we will explain spark plugs, their role in your car, the signs they are malfunctioning, and the risks of a bad installation.
Let’s get started!
What Are Spark Plugs and Their Role in Your Vehicle?
A spark plug is a small but critical part of your vehicle that helps your engine turn a mixture of air and fuel into energy that moves its cylinders.
It does so by passing current through it that ignites the mixture. Then, this energy moves the cylinders, turning the engine, and so on, making the car move.
The spark plug is made up of various parts that help it conduct electricity safely. On one end, it has a thread that allows you to twist in place, while the other has a terminal. In between, there is the insulation, electrodes, resistor, and hex head.
How Much Does It Cost to Replace Spark Plugs? Understanding Various Factors
To understand how much your spark plug installation will cost you, we need to break down the factors that affect it.
You also need to keep in mind that not only will the number of spark plugs affect your final bill, but also the kind of spark plug and the labor to install it.
Here we go!
1. Type of Plugs
The type of plug you use is the first factor affecting your spark plug replacement cost. When you consider just the cost, the price can be as little as $8 to as much as $2,210. That is the difference between the cheapest copper spark plugs for a 4-cylinder engine and 16 expensive iridium plugs for a 8-cylinder engine.
The following table lists the different replacing spark plug cost for each type of spark plug:
| Type of Spark Plug | Cost |
| Copper | $2 – $63 |
| Platinum | $10 – $100 |
| Iridium | $20 – $138 |
2. Labor Charges
Labor is another major factor you should consider when you ask yourself, “How much should it cost to replace spark plugs?” Generally, hiring professionals to replace your spark plugs should cost you around $200 – $400.
If your vehicle has easy to access spark plugs, such as the average commuter car, it will be closer to $200. On the other hand, cars with unique engine layout and difficult-to-reach engines will cost closer to $400.
In addition, you should consider any other costs for other repairs you will do at the time. You might find that you also need to pay to replace the spark plug wires or faulty ignition coils for the new spark plugs to function properly.
Alternatively, you might just have a coincidental issue with your car. For instance, tires plus spark plug replacement cost may cost around $700.
Also, the location can affect the pricing. For instance, reports show that the cost of living is higher in some regions, such as Dallas, while it is lower in other areas, such as Harlingen.
If you wish to install it yourself, there is still a cost in terms of tools and accidents. You will need specialized tools such as a torque wrench.
Together, these tools could cost as much as $200. Yet the cost of damaging the spark plug’s slot or injuring yourself could be much more.
3. Number of Cylinders in the Engine
Lastly, the number of cylinders in your engine will dictate how much spark plug replacement costs. Generally, there are as many spark plugs as there are cylinders. In smaller sedans, it might be just 4.
Larger vehicles may have as many as 8. When it comes to high-performance vehicles, there may be 2 spark plugs per cylinder, which increases the spark plugs replacement cost.
To exemplify, let us imagine that you are using platinum spark plugs worth $20. If you have a smaller 4-cylinder engine, you would need to pay $80 just for the spark plugs.
Yet, if you had a more powerful engine with 8 cylinders and 2 spark plugs per cylinder, purchasing their replacements would cost $320.
Top Signs It’s Time to Replace Your Spark Plugs
Now that you have a deep understanding of spark plug cost replacement, you also need to know when you should install these new parts.
With copper spark plus, you may have to replace them after 40,000 miles, while platinum ones may last upwards of 60,000 miles and iridium ones as much as 120,000 miles.
Yet, you may need to replace them earlier than that if you notice the following signs that your spark plugs are malfunctioning:
- Engine misfires: When your spark plugs fail, they cannot properly and reliably ignite the air and fuel mixture. This causes the engine to misfire.
- Rough idling: While your car is ‘idling’ or stationary with the engine on, it will vibrate.
- Decreased fuel efficiency: Since the spark plug will not be causing controlled explosions as needed, your engine cannot perform optimally. Therefore, your car will use more fuel.
Risks of Improper Spark Plug Installation
- Causes engine issues: If you do not adjust the spark plug gap correctly, it is likely to cause engine misfires, rough idling, and low fuel efficiency.
- Damages cylinder heads: If you insert the spark plug at the wrong angle, it can damage the cylinder head. This may even require more expensive repairs than the cost to replace spark plugs.
- Distorts the spark plugs: When you tighten spark plugs too tightly, it can bend the plug and lead it to malfunction.
- Leads to injuries: The spark plug could shoot out of place and cause damage or injuries if it is too loose. Likewise, if you touch the plug while the engine is running, there is a risk that it will shock you.
Choose Integrity 1st Automotive for Spark Plug Replacement
Integrity 1st Automotive provides reliable spark plug replacement services to ensure your vehicle performs at its best. Our ASE-certified technicians handle replacements with care, protecting your engine and keeping costs affordable.
In addition to spark plug replacement, we provide a wide range of services across our various Texas locations, including:
- Oil changes
- Fluid exchanges
- State compliant inspections
- engine and transmission repairs
The Bottom Line
As this guide has shown, the spark plug replacement cost can be extremely varied depending on how many spark plugs you need, what kind they should be, and the cost to install them. Together, these costs will usually be above $300 but may cost over $2,000 if you have a well-performing engine or luxury vehicle.
Depending on the spark plugs in your car, you may need to replace them after 40,000 – 120,000 miles. Nevertheless, you will need to replace them sooner if you notice that your engine misfires, idles roughly, or uses more fuel than usual.
Since this replacement requires specialized tools and training to do it safely, relying on professionals like Integrity 1st Automotive is always wise. Let our experts replace your spark plugs now and avoid further costs in the future.
