Building Long Lasting Relationships With Quality Service and Trust Since 1980

Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM

We Gladly Service Your Asian and Domestic Vehicles

Alpine Auto Service, Inc.

Why Alpine Auto Service?

© 2012 Alpine Auto Service, Inc. | 7120 East Furnace Branch Road | Glen Burnie MD  21060 | 410-787-0550

We honor extended warranties.

24 Hour Emergency Towing Available  (Click Here)

Close By

At 7120 East Furnace Branch Rd. 1/2 block east of Ritchie Highway

 

Fast

Most work completed in one day.

 

Honest

Do only work that is necessary.

 

Professional

ASE certified Master Technicians.

 

FREE Financing

0% Financing for 6 months!

 

Priced Right

Highly competitive pricing for the most respected service in town.

 

Choice Of Parts

High quality or economy parts saves  you money.

 

Convenient

FREE local shuttle service.

Early drop-off / Late  pick-up.

 

No Surprises

All prices must be approved by you before any work is done.

 

Incredible Warranty

18 months or 18,000 miles on parts and labor.

 

Work Done Right

The first time, on time. Serving our clients since 1980.

 

Customer Rewards Program

Free gas for your referrals.

 

100% Customer Satisfaction

Our most important goal.

Insurance work accepted.

    That depends on what you mean by "last." Is it possible for a spark plug to function for 100,000 miles? Under ideal conditions, yes. Spark plugs made with platinum or iridium coupled with today’s high output ignition systems may be able to create a spark sufficient to fire the air/fuel mixture in the cylinder for 100,000 miles.   But, there may be some severe consequences to waiting for the 100,000-mile mark.

 

     One is the additional burden placed on the ignition system by worn spark plugs. An ignition system will only produce enough voltage to fire the spark plug, typically 5000 volts at idle to perhaps 15,000 volts under acceleration. Some modern ignition systems such as DIS (Distributorless Ignition Systems) or COP (Coil-On-Plug) systems can produce as much as 50,000 volts!

 

    As a spark plug wears, the gap becomes wider and the electrodes more rounded. Both conditions require more voltage to create a spark. So, if your worn spark plug requires 40,000 volts to fire, the ignition system will do it. But producing that kind of voltage will take its toll on the ignition system. The question becomes, "Would you rather replace four, six or eight spark plugs at $5 each or four, six or eight ignition coils at $90 each?"

 

    There’s an even greater reason to replace spark plugs before 100,000 miles. They have been known to seize in the cylinder head if left in that long.  If that happens, you could be looking at a $2000 repair bill to remove the heads and replace the spark plugs. Will that happen to you? Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to take that chance?

 

    The 100,000-mile spark plug is nothing more than a 60,000-mile spark plug that the carmaker’s marketing department calls a 100,000-mile plug. It sounds impressive to say that their car doesn’t need a "tune-up" for 100,000 miles. It’s really a marketing driven claim, not one based on sound engineering. Manufacturers often add stipulations to the 100,000-mile interval that’s in the owner’s manual, but is often overlooked.

 

    The most prudent thing to do is to replace standard spark plugs every 30,000 miles. Platinum and iridium plugs should be replaced every 60,000 miles.

Worn spark plug

New spark plug

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