How To Choose The Best Type Of Spark Plug For Your Lawn Mower

If you own a gas-powered lawn mower, whether it is a compact push model or a giant zero-turn ride-on, there are a few key maintenance tasks you should perform to ensure a long life. You will want to know how to check the filters, how to easily change the oil, and when to replace the spark plug. That is about every 25 hours, or once per season. It needs to be changed because every time it sparks, a small part of the metal is burned away, and this eventually affects firing. It can be one of the reasons why your lawn mower keeps dying before it's barely started.

Sometimes spark plugs last longer than the recommended period, but while cost might make a difference for commercial operators, it should not be an issue for homeowners. Even those for riding mowers are usually well under $10, so it is easiest to tackle the job as an annual task with routine maintenance. Then the question is how to choose the best type of spark plug for your lawn mower. The simple answer, and one that's foolproof, is to replace it with whatever the manufacturer installed. The whole engine, carburetor, and spark plug system is tuned to work together, so if you replace the worn spark plug with an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) part, you cannot go wrong. Having said that, there are alternatives, so let's look at the subject in a little more detail.

Brands like Bosch, Champion, NGK, and others provide compatible alternatives for your lawn mower, so if the specification is the same, using them should not cause problems. Comparison charts are available online, so all you need to do is check the code on the existing spark plug and find the one that matches. Be careful because the code has key information about physical size and performance. A mistake could mean it does not fit, or it might misfire or overheat, potentially damaging the engine.

Spark plug manufacturers typically claim that their product offers benefits like increased durability, better fuel consumption, and improved performance. Spark plug material can make a difference. Low-cost spark plugs are usually copper and are perfectly acceptable for many people. Iridium and platinum are known to last longer but are more expensive. If you have a large acreage and you are looking for the best way to mow the lawn more efficiently, they could be worth the investment. If it is a modest urban plot, you might not notice the difference.

The bottom line is that the best type of spark plug for your lawn mower has two key features: It comes from a reputable brand, and it matches the specification defined by the manufacturer of the machine. Other features claimed by spark plug makers may not make a great deal of difference... unless, that is, you plan to take up lawn mower racing.