Engine knocking when cold, do I need to change the spark plugs?

Ah, cold knock is super common! Not necessarily the spark plugs that are responsible, you know. It's usually more related to the fuel or engine wear. Worn spark plugs can contribute to bad ignition, but if you just get knocking when starting when the engine is cold, it's often because the gas doesn't have the right octane or your engine has carbon buildup. After a few minutes of driving, it usually goes away, right? That's because everything warms up and the ignition improves.

I had this problem on my old car a few years ago. My mechanic told me that before changing the spark plugs, I needed to check the ignition timing and try better gas first. I switched gas stations and honestly it helped quite a bit. After that, if the knocking really persists and you hear it even when hot, then you need to do a more serious diagnostic because it could be engine detonation, and that's less fun.

For the spark plugs, I'd tell you to change them only if they're really old or if you see other symptoms like misfires. Start by checking the condition of the spark plugs by taking them out, and try better quality gas before replacing everything. That'll save you from spending money for nothing. Let me know how it goes!