Spark Plug Accessories
What Are Spark Plug Accessories?
Spark plug accessories are the often-overlooked supporting components that keep your ignition system performing at its best. While the spark plug itself gets most of the attention, the accessories surrounding it — non-foulers, thread repair kits, spark plug boots, wire retainers, plug carriers, and resistor covers — play a critical role in protecting your investment and ensuring reliable starts in RV and marine engines alike.
In marine and RV applications, the operating environment is far more demanding than in a standard passenger car. Marine engines routinely run at wide-open throttle for extended periods, generating sustained heat and vibration that stress every component in the ignition circuit. RVs, meanwhile, often sit for months between uses, making proper plug protection and thread maintenance essential to avoid corrosion and seized hardware at the next service interval.
Why Spark Plug Accessories Matter
Ignoring the hardware around your spark plugs can lead to problems that are far more expensive than the accessories themselves. Stripped spark plug threads in a cylinder head, for example, can make what should be a simple plug swap into a costly repair — or even a full cylinder head replacement. Non-foulers help prevent premature plug failure from oil contamination, while quality spark plug boots and wire retainers protect ignition leads from heat damage and moisture intrusion. In a marine environment especially, corrosion-resistant connections are non-negotiable: salt air and humidity attack unprotected ignition hardware quickly, and a failed connection on the water can leave you stranded far from shore.
For off-road and trail riders crossing over to the RV or ATV world, carrying a spare plug in a proper plug carrier ensures it arrives at the trailhead clean, gapped, and ready to install — rather than rattling around loose in a toolbox or bag.
Key Things to Consider When Shopping
- Thread size compatibility: Non-foulers and thread repair kits are thread-specific (commonly 14mm or 18mm), so always verify your cylinder head's specification before purchasing.
- Material: Look for stainless steel or corrosion-resistant components for marine use, where salt and humidity accelerate deterioration of standard steel hardware.
- Boot and wire protection: Silicone boots offer superior heat and moisture resistance compared to basic rubber, making them the preferred choice in high-temperature marine and RV engine compartments.
- Vehicle fitment: Thread repair kits and plug boots are often application-specific — cross-reference your engine make, model, and year before ordering.
Top Brands in Spark Plug Accessories
Dorman is the top-selling brand in this category, and for good reason. With over a century of aftermarket expertise, Dorman offers spark plug non-foulers, thread repair kits, spark plug boots, and wire retainers engineered to solve real-world problems. Their thread repair kits are particularly well regarded — designed to restore stripped spark plug threads without requiring costly cylinder head replacement.
Moose Racing brings its off-road pedigree to spark plug accessories with products like impact-resistant plug carriers and spark plug resistor covers purpose-built for motocross, ATV, and trail riding. Their plug carriers keep spare plugs clean and correctly gapped whether they're tucked into a fanny pack or bouncing around a fender bag on a technical trail.
Champion is a legendary name in ignition products, and their spark plug accessories are a natural extension of that heritage. Champion supports a wide range of marine, outboard, and RV engine applications, making it easy to find compatible accessories alongside their well-known plugs.
Motormite rounds out the lineup with a practical selection of spark plug accessory hardware for a variety of applications, offering reliable fit and function for the DIY mechanic and professional technician alike.
Moroso is a respected name in high-performance ignition, known for producing race-quality spark plug wire and ignition components trusted by enthusiasts who demand maximum reliability from their engines.