One of the most important aspects of vehicle maintenance is ensuring your spark plugs are in good working order. There’s a good chance you will need to replace your worn out spark plugs several times while you own a a 1997 Nissan 240sx. Spark plugs are one of the most critical components inside your engine as they start the entire combustion process that starts and keeps your engine running for many thousands of miles. Like most engine components, spark plugs experience wear over time and eventually need replacement, but fortunately this is a repair you can do yourself. Odds are, if you’ve found yourself here, you have no idea how to do that, or perhaps you’d just like to know what kind of spark plugs you need to buy. The entire process of changing your spark plugs should take approximately 20-45 minutes. This article will go over everything you will need to know about your Nissan 240sx’s spark plugs, whether you need some baseline information or a full, step-by-step guide to performing a spark plug change.
Correct spark plugs on a 1997 Nissan 240sx
How often should I change my spark plugs?
Generally, it is advised that you replace spark plugs once every 20,000 to 40,000 miles. Of course, please make sure to check your owner’s manual to determine the specific interval determined by Nissan for the 1997 240sx. Of course, if you drive your vehicle more aggressively or own a 240sx with some modifications, you may want to consider changing your spark plugs closer to the 20,000 miles end of that spectrum.
However, there are also classic signs of a car that needs a spark plug replacement prematurely, such as:
- Engine misfiring
- Rough idle
- Problems starting your engine
Consider that this list is absolutely not comprehensive, and these problems on their own do not necessarily point to the spark plugs being the standalone culprit. However, the best way to prevent any issues with your vehicle is to take care of it with regular maintenance, and you are definitely doing so with the responsible decision to replace your Nissan 240sx’s spark plugs on a regular basis.
Changing spark plugs on a 1997 Nissan 240sx
This is a process you can do on your own with some commonplace garage tools. Of course, consult your owner’s manual, as well as a factory service manual (FSM) or an equivalent Haynes or Chiltons manual. The video shown below does a good job of outlining the process.
Helpful Tools
- A spark plug tester – this is definitely a niche tool, but it can save you a ton of time. Although we’ve discussed spark plug replacement being a good thing to replace regularly and not just when issues occur, you may also be replacing your spark plugs because of something going wrong. This tool can help you diagnose the definite problem.
- A torque wrench is a vital tool to have in your garage. You will want to check your factory service manual to determine the correct torque rating to use when inserting the new spark plugs for your 1997 Nissan 240sx to be certain they are installed properly.
- A set of spark plug sockets – These come in very handy because many standard sockets are not deep enough for spark plugs. Also, some spark plug holes are a bit smaller, so it requires a thinner wall like the one featured in the product here to fit. The linked product also features a magnet to keep a good hold of the spark plug so you do not drop it into your engine bay!
- A spark plug gap tool. This allows you to check the gap of your spark plugs and increase or decrease it if necessary. Most plugs will come pregapped, but if not, you should absolutely have one of these.
- I also highly recommend you have a feeler gauge as it makes it a bit more straightforward to check the exact gap, and it is useful for a decent number of other jobs.
Tips for changing spark plugs on your 1997 Nissan 240sx
- You should replace spark plugs on a cold engine. Ensure you wait at least 30 minutes after any kind of operation before attempting to replace the spark plugs on your 1997 Nissan 240sx
- Before starting, remove the negative terminal of your battery. It is wise to disconnect the battery anytime you work on the electrical system of your Nissan 240sx or any other vehicle.
- Take this (unofficial advice) lightly as many spark plug manufacturers advise against the use of anti-seize. However, I have heard from numerous old-school mechanics that they always apply a light coating of anti-seize to the threads of their spark plugs, especially on older vehicles.
- It isn’t a bad idea to use dielectric grease when installing new spark plugs. You can apply a a little bit to the inside of the boot and the ceramic part of your spark plugs. It lessens the chance of voltage leak and helps avoid the misfortune of the boot fusing to the spark plug over time.
- During this process, one of the most vital things to ensure you do is to avoid overtightening the plugs or worse, cracking them due to overtightenting. Use a torque wrench capable of lower, more precise torque ratings to be sure that you don’t make this mistake.