Spark Plug Tester
If you are like a lot of people, when your engine is sluggish you assume that you have a bad spark plug or simply a bad connection on one of your spark plugs. Most people simple jiggle their spark plugs around a bit to see if there are any changes, but a lot of other people will actually touch the spark plug to a metal surface to see if it sparks. If it sparks the plug is still working and this simple method has been used by generations of people working on cards. This is not the most effective or the safest way to test the spark plugs on your vehicle. Instead of taking chances with inaccurate readings or unsafe testing methods, why not just buy a spark plug tester.
When you buy a spark plug tester you will find that there are a lot of different units for you to consider. Most people will find that the hand held units are all that they need to get reliable information about their spark plugs. Luckily, these units range from about $200 to $500 and they will last a long, long time. A spark plug tester is designed to give you the most accurate readings every time, so there is no guesswork involved on your part.
When you use a spark plug tester you are going to get more than a positive or negative reading where the plug is concerned. In fact, you may be able to derive a lot of different information from a test. Most of the spark plug tester units out today have a digital display so that the information that is provided to you via the test is easy to read. When you use a spark plug tester you will be able to get measurements of the spark plug firing voltage, spark plug burn time, and the spark plug burn voltages.
The great thing about using a spark plug tester instead of using the old fashioned methods of testing them is that you get the most accurate information and a professional grade diagnosis of the spark plugs, the spark plug wires, the ignition system, fuel control, and information about voltage and the combustion chamber. All of this information will allow you to determine what is wrong with the vehicle that you are testing and will also help you decide how you should deal with the issue at hand.
Most people will find that the hand held spark plug testers are sufficient for all of their needs. The great thing about the hand held units is that they can give you all of the information that you would normally get from the larger units in the convenience of a hand held unit that can go anywhere with you in a shop, a garage, or anywhere you want to go with it. The great thing about the units available today is that all of the measurements are taking with just one firing of the spark plug, so you have all of the information that you need in one shot!
Of course, spark plug tester can be used on just about any type of gasoline engine. You may find that you not only use your tester on your car or truck but that you will also be able to use it on lawn mowers, motorcycles, snow blowers, marine equipment, and more. These are battery operated units so you can take it when you are on the go, replacing the battery only when the on screen display tells you that replacement is needed, which isn't often.