Regular maintenance includes replacing the spark plugs, but to do so, you must first determine the kind and quantity of spark plugs you need. We might now make the answer to this query simpler by adhering to the straightforward rule of how many cylinders and that many spark plugs. Yet it is only sometimes the case. Therefore this is the right response.
As the name implies, a V6 engine has six cylinders, necessitating six spark plugs. Each cylinder has a single spark plug in it. The total number of spark plugs in certain V6 engines is 12, with two spark plugs per cylinder. These engines include the brand-new Maserati Nottuno V6 in the MC20 and the Mercedes 3.2 and 3.7 V6 from the early 2000s.
What Determines How Many Spark Plugs Are Used?
In 99 percent of situations, the number of cylinders in an engine determines how many sparks plugs it contains. It follows that an engine with four cylinders will have four spark plugs, an engine with eight cylinders will have eight spark plugs, and so on.
This is due to the commonality of single spark plugs per engine cylinder. This indicates a spark plug within each cylinder, which ignites the air-fuel combination in that particular combustion chamber.
While dual spark plugs provide a few small advantages, the manufacturing expense overcomes them. While some engines have two spark plugs per cylinder, this is uncommon. Such engines are available in various combinations, including four, six, eight, and even twelve cylinders.
It is a good idea to verify before you purchase new engines since most of them are discovered in common autos or unexpected places.
V6 Engine Spark Plug Count
Given the prior justification, your V6 engine has just six spark plugs. Nevertheless, before you go to the shop to get them, be careful to determine what spark plugs you need since each kind has a distinct gap, temperature rating, and electrode material.
The spark plug code may occasionally be found on a label in the engine compartment or the bonnet’s underside; you can also find that information in your owner’s handbook. Nevertheless, before doing it, try to locate your automobile by looking through the list below. Your V6 engine has 12 spark plugs if you can believe it.
12 Spark Plug V6 Cars
Mercedes
- 2000-2005 C320
- 1998-2005 E320
- 1997-2006 G320
- 1998-2002 S320
- 1998-2003 ML 320
- 2000-2003 SLK 320
- 1998-2005 CLK 320
- 2003-2015 Viano 3.0/Vito 3.0
- 2003-2005 ML 350
- 2003-2006 S350
- 2003-2006 SL 350
- 2004-2008 V350
AMG
- 2001-2003 C32 AMG
- 2001-2003 SLK 32 AMG
- 2002 A32K AMG
Chrysler
- 2004-2008 Crossfire
- 2005-2006 Crossfire SRT-6
Maserati
- 2023 MC20
How to Verify the Number of Spark Plugs in Your V6
The number of coils on the plug ignition coil matches the number of spark plugs. Thus the first step in determining how many sparks plugs your V6 engine has is to look up what a coil on the coil looks like online. But, you will search for spark plug leads if your vehicle is older and has a distributor.
- Make sure the engine is turned off before opening the bonnet.
- Check whether the engine is covered with plastic after opening the bonnet. Remove it if there is. The plastic cover is often fastened with three or four bolts or secured with clips.
- The valve cover is located at the very top of the engine and is visible once you remove the lid. You may count the coil on plug ignition coils visible on the valve cover to determine the number of spark plugs.
- If your vehicle has a distributor, you may count the thick wires that are the spark plug leads as they enter the top of the engine to determine the number of spark plugs. Furthermore, note that the procedure is the same whether the spark plug leads are on the front or back of the engine.
This video demonstrates how to change a spark plug while also describing the appearance and location of the spark plug leads on an engine.
What Is a V6 Engine?
A V6 engine has six cylinders arranged in a V shape. It features two cylinder banks, each with three cylinders, that are angled instead of one another.
The inline-six engine, which likewise has six cylinders, but in this example, they are all in one straight line, should be distinct from the V6 engine. In other words, one cylinder bank contains all of the cylinders. Moreover, a V6 engine may be either a gasoline or a diesel engine, in which case spark plugs are unnecessary.
It is also vital to remember that, after inline four-cylinder engines, the V6 engine architecture is the most common. The fundamental advantage of a V6 over a straight six is that engine is more compact, making it simpler to integrate into smaller chassis and front-wheel drive cars.
The V6 is more costly to produce than the inline and significantly more expensive to maintain. Moreover, the V6 engine’s lack of natural balance necessitates the inclusion of counterbalancing shafts, which reduce engine output as they spin.
Yet, due to its adaptability, the V6 engine will continue to be one of the most common designs and recipient of all innovations, just as it was when dual spark plugs were used. Below are a few more often-used engine configurations.
Other Engine Configurations
- I4 – Inline four-cylinder
- V6 – Six cylinders in a V configuration
- I6 – Inline six-cylinder
- V8 – Eight cylinders in a V configuration
- V10 – Ten cylinders in a V configuration
- V12 – Twelve cylinders in a V configuration
Types of Spark Plugs
Here, we will go through each kind of spark plug and what each spark plug code means. The heat rating of a spark plug is measured on a scale from 2 to 10, with lower numbers indicating hotter spark plugs.
A BKR5E-11 spark plug, for instance, has a heat rating of 5, but a BKR6E-11 spark plug has a heat rating of 6. If you purchase a spark plug that is too cold for your engine, it will melt and fail before its time. The heat rating of the spark plug describes how resistant it is too extreme temperatures.
The combustion temperatures will not be hot enough in such a scenario to clean the spark plug. Thus, you also want a good temperature rating. And when that happens, misfires will be caused by the spark plugs being filthy often.
The spark plug gap is another factor. While all spark plug companies have their codes, we will stay with NGK as our primary example, as the previous two examples had NGK spark plugs. The final number after the dash in the case of NGK plugs thus represents the gap.
The BKR5E-11, for instance, has a 1.1mm gap, the BKR5E-6 a 0.6mm gap, and so on. This is significant because the gap controls the spark’s intensity and velocity, maintaining combustion efficiency.
Next are the thread dimensions, denoted by the letters BKR; in this instance, you must know the manufacturer’s recommendations for them to fit. You may also verify it by going to any nearby car parts shop. Finally, there are several materials used to make spark plugs. There are iridium and platinum cores and the ordinary copper core, which is enough for the purpose.
Compared to copper plugs, which only last 20,000 miles, platinum spark plugs last more than 60,000 miles. Also, they prolong the combustion’s efficiency. Spark plugs of iridium have a 25% longer lifetime than platinum ones. Hence, you may pick the spark plug material you desire unless the car’s manufacturer suggests a certain kind.
What Are The Signs That My Spark Plugs Are Bad?
Frequent misfires or backfires are the primary sign of faulty or outdated spark plugs. You may check the vehicle’s fault codes if you have not seen anything like that. If the spark plugs are damaged, you will get a P0300 fault code, which denotes erratic firing.
Additional signs include difficulty accelerating, trembling when driving, a steady or flashing check engine light, and an exhaust fuel odor.
How Can a Spark Plug Be Tested?
Visual examination is the initial stage in the testing process for spark plugs. The central electrode should show symptoms of wear; for instance, if it tapers to one side, it is worn out. The only other test you can do is to see whether it even works but to do so; you must first cut the main line from the ignition coil.
Then, take one spark plug out and plug the lead into it once you have taken it out. Then have someone start the engine as you lean the spark plug against a metal object. Therefore, avoid holding the spark plug or the spark plug lead when starting the engine. You will know it is functioning when you see sparks from the spark plug while the engine turns. If not, a defective spark plug is involved.
Are Spark Plugs Cleanable?
Spark plugs may be cleaned, and it is a good idea to do so about every 10,000 miles to keep them operating as effectively as possible. This is particularly true if your automobile has other issues that cause it to have a lean or rich air-fuel ratio. And all you need to clean a spark plug is a still brush.
Can I Change My Spark Plugs?
Yeah, you can quite change the spark plugs yourself. Just a socket spanner set with a deeper spark plug socket is required. After everything is prepared, all that has to be done is to unplug one spark plug lead, remove that spark plug, and swap it out with a new one. Afterward, carry out the same on each additional plug. Also, you may require a hex key set if your automobile utilizes coil-on-plug ignition coils, which sit over the spark plugs rather than the spark plug leads.
Do Brand-New Spark Plugs Matter?
New spark plugs make a noticeable difference, but only if the old, worn-out ones were used. So, it is only effective to change spark plugs once they have traveled at least 30,000 miles.
Does Fuel Economy Impact Spark Plugs?
Spark plugs do impact fuel efficiency. Due to inefficient combustion caused by old and worn-out spark plugs, a substantial portion of the gasoline in the cylinders will not burn but will escape via the exhaust. The fuel efficiency of your automobile will suffer as a result.
Do Spark Plugs Cost a Lot?
The cost of spark plugs is low. At NGK (the best brand), a single copper spark plug costs around $6. This translates to $24 for a complete set for a typical four-cylinder automobile, $36 for a V6 engine, and $48 for a V8 engine. The cost will quadruple, however, if your car needs platinum spark plugs.
Is WD-40 Safe to Use on Spark Plugs?
You may use WD-40 to clean the spark plugs without harming them. WD-40 will be useless since carbon and hard deposits often clog spark plugs. Instead, it would help if you scraped spark plugs with a steel brush to clean them properly.
Conclusion
A V6 engine has six spark plugs unless you drive one of the vehicles with two spark plugs per cylinder, in which case it has twelve spark plugs.
Most vehicles with 12 spark plugs are older Mercedes and Chrysler models from the 2000s, which we have already described in full. Hence, verify the list; if your vehicle is listed, it has 12 spark plugs. It has six other things.