Re: Low mileage...Spark Plugs?
There seems to be two schools of thought regarding maintenance, and spark plugs in particular. Some believe that "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." They plan to put 100,000 or more miles on the car before even considering a spark plug change. They would rather drive it than get their hands dirty. There's nothing wrong with that. They’re Crossfire drivers rather than mechanics, which is fine. The car appeals to all kinds of people. Then there are others, like myself who can't keep their hands off the car, who see it as a fascinating piece of kinetic sculpture. I see my Crossfire as a beautiful mechanical toy to be played with, probably because I never grew up (…the price of their toys). For me, it's reassuring to know the condition of every component in the car. That’s why I check tire pressure twice a month, keep the washer fluid topped up, check and change oil regularly, replace the spark plugs every 5 years whether they need it or not, conduct an under-car inspection once a year, and drain and replace the coolant and brake fluid every 24 months. In short, I enjoy working on my car whether it needs it or not. An added benefit is that this obsessive maintenance reduces that chances of getting stranded at the side of the road. The down side is that it costs time and money. My wife thinks I’m nuts. But then I remind her that her mechanically-challenged brother seems to call for roadside assistance on a monthly basis. In 50 years of driving, I’ve only been stranded once; when my 1968 BMW 2002 coasted to a stop in Ann Arbor on a foggy morning due to a wet distributor. I dried it off and continued on my way. That wasn’t my fault.