Can Bad Spark Plugs Cause Loss of Acceleration? [Solved & Explained]

Whenever you are driving to work or for a vacation, you would not want any hassles along the road, right?

A situation that might prompt you to stop on the roadside may be having problems with your car’s acceleration. Believe it or not, the tiny plugs in your engine might be the culprit.

So, can bad spark plugs cause loss of acceleration? Certainly, bad spark plugs can contribute to how your vehicle runs. It can cause a rough ride and poor engine performance.

This article shows how defective spark plugs contribute to rugged starts and their possible effects on your car’s acceleration.

What Causes Slow Acceleration?  

Hitting the road with bad acceleration performance is not just irritating but also threatening to your safety. Drawbacks in your sensors, air, and fuel delivery can put you in this kind of situation.

Different parts of your engine work hand in hand to bring your car into motion as soon as you step on your gas. Failure of any of these components to work causes vehicle acceleration issues.

Here are some other specific problems that can cause your car to accelerate slowly.

Air Delivery  

Debris and dirt clogging your air filters deprive your engine of the air it needs to function. It, in turn, affects the air-fuel combustion process when you start your car.

Aside from this, an obstructed butterfly valve and filthy mass airflow sensor also cause strain to your acceleration.

It is also important to maintain your car’s air-fuel mixture. Doing so requires a properly working Throttle Position Sensor (TPS) to monitor the amount of air flowing inside your engine. This sensor affects how fast your engine runs, affecting your acceleration.

Fuel Delivery  

Fuel is your car’s source of energy. To prevent low engine power levels, you must ensure that your fuel system is free from dirt and blockages.

Regularly check your fuel tank filter, injectors, and pump to prevent problems with fuel delivery. It will also minimize the possibility of acceleration issues with your car.

Commonly on most vehicles, you can change your fuel filters without the help of the pros.

Ignition Difficulties

An all-powerful spark to trigger air-fuel mixture and combustion is needed for your engine to start working. It is what the spark plugs are meant to do.

Healthy plugs, coils, and wires ensure that you won’t have any problems with your engine. Faulty and worn-out ones can disrupt your acceleration.

Figuring out when to replace it may be best determined by a mechanic. But changing it can be independently done.

Emission Control

Knowing the health of your oxygen and crank/camshaft sensors is essential for your vehicle’s acceleration performance. These sensors generally watch out for your air-fuel ignition and delivery status.

A faulty and slow oxygen sensor can result in a thin air-fuel mixture and inert acceleration. Meanwhile, your crank/camshaft sensors provide data to synchronize the timing of ignition and fuel delivery. If it fails to sync, your car may accelerate poorly.

Issues with these sensors can be known when the check engine light illuminates. It is best to see your car mechanic so they can repair and diagnose defective sensors.

Mechanical Problems

Poor acceleration may also be caused by issues with the mechanical parts of your vehicle. It includes the expensive catalytic converter, clutch disc, timing chain or belt, etc.

Surely, it is best to ensure that these parts are clean and are working in full and proper condition. You might want to watch out if they are defective through your car’s acceleration.

If you experience issues while accelerating, have your engine checked in the car workshop and avail necessary repairs. It will save you from future costs and extensive problems in your vehicle.

Fixing Engine Hesitation When Accelerating

The video discusses the causes of engine hesitation and how you should work to solve this problem. You must know what prompts this phenomenon first.

Usually, it is due to your engine not getting enough fuel, misfiring, and receiving too much air.

Problems in your vehicle’s air intake, fuel, emission, vacuum, electric, ignition, timing systems, etc., are also at fault. Now that you know its causes, the safe thing to do is check your engine using a diagnostic scanner.

In cases where you don’t have one, you can go to the nearest auto repair shop to get help from the mechanics. If you feel engine hesitation, immediately try to know what the problem is to avoid future complications.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What causes a slow throttle response?

A struggling throttle may affect your driving experience, which may be annoying for some. Knowing what prompts the slowness is important to prevent further issues and uphold good engine response.

Typically, a slow throttle response may be caused by a dirty and congested air filter and a defective mass airflow sensor. A low-quality throttle control system and decreased fuel economy are also some of its causes.

Can spark plugs cause power loss?

Damaged spark plugs cause inconveniences to your engine more than you’ll ever know. The same goes for improperly tuned and installed ones, as it will cause your engine to misfire and lose power.

Make sure that your plugs are calibrated well and are functioning properly. All of your plugs must be working on a same-level performance.

Maintaining them will prevent you from power loss in the middle of the road and future visits to auto workshops.

Does bad spark plug affect speed?

The work of spark plugs revolves around a car’s ignition system. They make sure that the vehicle’s combustion chamber effectively functions the way it should be.

A bad plug that does not provide enough spark for a car to start may affect the vehicle’s speed levels. It may not provide faster and better acceleration.

Usually, to make sure that you have healthy plugs all the time, have it changed every 30,000 miles.

How do you check spark plugs without removing them?

You might want to focus on the spark plugs’ ignition if you want to check its state. It does not require you to remove the plugs; it just needs you to disconnect the wire from them.

What’s more, you have to hold the end of the plugs’ wire close to a metal surface to test it. If you hear a snap or witness a spark, your plug is still in good condition. No spark means there is a problem with your plugs and wires.

How quick can a spark plug go bad?

In most cases, spark plugs do not deteriorate quickly. Have your plugs checked when your check engine light brightens up, or your gas station visits become more frequent.

You may also experience acceleration issues because of a bad spark plug. Replacing it when you encounter these issues can prevent the problems from worsening.

Do high-performance spark plugs make car faster?

Spark plugs that operate productively can improve your car’s speed. Not only does it make your car faster, but it also enhances throttle response and engine power.

Free from bumps and engine hesitations, you can experience smoother and faster rides if your engine has high-performance plugs.

Also, enjoy greater driving lengths or gas mileage by having well-conditioned spark plugs in your vehicle.

Do spark plugs increase HP?

Spark plugs may seem to increase your engine’s horsepower. But, the truth is, when replacing old ones with newer plugs, its performance is restored to how it originally functions.

It means that newer plugs push the return of the most desirable combustion level capacities. With this, your vehicle will operate on an improved acceleration and power.

Will low oil cause cars to not accelerate?

Low oil levels will not allow the mechanical parts of your car to perform well. You will experience sluggish acceleration and poor engine power.

The oil is the lubricant that keeps the engine parts functioning together. Without it, your car will not achieve smoother performance. Check your oil regularly to avoid engine noise and decay.  

Will an oil change help acceleration?

Being mindful of your car’s oil levels is essential, but you also have to look out for dirt and impurities. Allowing filth to circulate in your oil does not just affect your engine performance but also your acceleration.

Indications that it’s time for you to change your oil are:

• Slower speed levels
• Noises in your engine
• Vibrations while your engine is idle

Why does the car shudder when accelerating?

A shaking car while accelerating may mean many things. Broken and loose engine mounts and messed up suspension and steering system may be to blame.

Damaged engine mounts won’t reliably soak up the vibrations of your engine, which will make you feel more of the shaking as you step on the gas pedal. Meanwhile, misalignment in the steering and suspension system may cause the steering wheel to shudder when you accelerate.

Have your car inspected to ensure that you are secured on the road.

Wrap Up

Of course, a worry-free ride is what you want as a car owner. Having one requires attending to the responsibilities of having your engine checked and maintained.

It can be surprising what small plugs can do to your engine. Ensuring that they are still performing well is important for your safety on the road.

Surely, bad spark plugs may affect your acceleration, making it rough and sluggish. That’s why it is vital to have it monitored regularly and make necessary replacements as needed.