hey, while i was changin my plugs i noticed that my plug wires looked old(the outside clear plastic coating was coming off and such) just wandering how long you guys keep your wires for at a time... and how important it is to change them? arent they just wires? houses use the same ones for loke 100 years...

thanx guys
Better Bob
sorry bout tha spelln

 

[QUOTE=BetterBob]hey, while i was changin my plugs i noticed that my plug wires looked old(the outside clear plastic coating was coming off and such) just wandering how long you guys keep your wires for at a time... and how important it is to change them? arent they just wires? houses use the same ones for loke 100 years...

First off, they aren't really wires in terms of what you think of as a wire. They are plastic coated fiberglass "wires" with super high resistances. They need to be changed about every 40,000 miles.

 

Your house wiring probably doesn't have to live at 140 degrees F & have salt-water splashing around. Probably doesn't carry 30,000 volts either...

I don't replace my plug wires 'just because' of age or miles. There's 2 ways for plug wires to go bad.

1) Resistance. Measure with a multi-meter.

2) Insulation breakdown. Run the engine & watch the wires & distributor cap when it's really dark out. Look for arcing, a dull blue glow. Works better with a completely cold engine, spray water from a windex bottle for even better results. Replace anything that shows any arcing.

ps... ever see the kind of house wiring they used 100 years ago? You might want to replace it after all.

 

i have a multi meter, does anyone know the general range in Ohms that plug wires should be?

thanx
Better Bob

 

< 25,000 Ohms

 

cool, thanx!