1980 Chevy K20 Longbed - “Alaskan Gold”

[Nick_R_23]

You’re totally fine. Think of the draw/wear analogy a different way, like a starter system in a car. The battery (coil), wiring (spark plug wires), and starter (spark plug gap) all have to be sized for each other.

If the battery is too small, or is weak, it can’t send the proper amount of energy to turn the starter, just as a coil may not be able to send enough energy to jump too large of a gap.

If the battery cables are too small or severely corroded, it can’t properly transmit the amount of energy the system wants, regardless of battery output and starter draw, just as small/worn/high resistance plug wires may not be able to carry the entire amount of spark energy, regardless of coil output or energy needs at the spark plug.

If the starter is too big for the system (requires a larger battery to operate), no amount of trying with a good fully charged, but undersized battery will turn the starter. Just as using too large of a spark plug gap can be too big for an otherwise properly working system - the energy is just not available to run it.

Ignition wear can also happen in many areas of the system. Oversaturating coils, too low of voltage, too high of voltage, weak grounds, etc can cause the coil to overheat and burn up internal windings, or cause high resistance and force the energy to take an unwanted path, shorting out the coil. Low quality plug wires can break down over time. Spark plugs have microscopic amounts of material removed from their electrodes every time a spark occurs, which can be seen by rounded or shortened electrodes (wider gaps) on high mileage plugs. Normal but elongated useage will see this happen regardless, but too wide of a gap can accelerate the process.