Spark plugs...how I hate thee

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Spark plugs...how I hate thee

December 30, 2004, 01:16:22 PM

I've had new spark plugs sitting on my work bench for weeks now, I can't get the old ones to budge. Mainly because I'm afraid of breaking the old ones and screwing up my engine.
To my dispense I have 1 socket for spark plugs, and 1 spark plug socket wrench with bendy arm.
As for the new ones they are pre gapped to .052" my car requires .054" will the 2 thousands of an inch really make a difference?
I'm afraid of breaking them, I'm fine for everything else.

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #1 – December 30, 2004, 02:10:46 PM

Well with spark plug socket u can try a wrench on it or use rachet.
try when motor is cold if u feel there to tight try when the motor is hot and see if they can come off then, Wear gloves and be carefull.

What breaks them is when u have socket on a angle and try and twist.
try to have shortest extion on the socket or a closed end wrench on the socket if u can do so.

Good luck

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #2 – December 30, 2004, 03:22:42 PM

I understand your hesitations on replacing....I just changed out the originals on my 1988 V6 w/55k miles, it seemed quite easy once I was able to see where they were located!

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #3 – December 30, 2004, 05:32:12 PM

I wouldnt worry too much about .52 to .54. I put mine in around .45 and it runs fine. they came out less then .35

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #4 – December 30, 2004, 09:19:32 PM

I just pulled one to check wear as I had changed them 4 years ago on my '88 3.8 Bird. The setting is .050 (why, I don't recall) and yes, it took alot of effort to free it--I used a short breaker bar on the ratchet and the plug was seized on the socket when I got it out. The wear was negligible--but we haven't been putting any mileage on this vehicle in recent years. I do recall seeing (on the old plugs) that the wear was extreme on the stationary electrode and not on the bendable arm (a fooler). I reinstalled the plug and broke the plastic wiring harness mounting (on the valve cover screw) for my effort(dam). Also pulled the disributor cap and made an observation: the rotor throws off micro size metal bits that ring its movement around and around as I could see this ring on the cap. No doubt a good reason to clean the inside of the cap, etc...
Glad I do not have to replace the plugs now as the right bank is a real joy to tangle with. Also, you find that the plugs are installed at an angle in the block--wasn't used to that from all the years of changing them in older American cars. Nothing stays the same except death and taxes.

John R

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #5 – December 31, 2004, 01:20:05 AM

c'mon dude, man up and change those already! I'm buttstuff when it comes to that stuff, so I would tap em back and re-gap em, but thats just me. Plugs are easy to change.

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #6 – December 31, 2004, 04:04:59 PM

Quote from: MDJ1281

Plugs are easy to change.

Especially on these cars! Just put a pipe over the socket wrench and use it to multiply the torque you apply on it...it'll come out.

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #7 – December 31, 2004, 05:33:08 PM

I bought some wd-40 cause I still can't budge these ****ers. I'm going to go to my girlfriends house tomorrow and see if I can change them over there cause her dads a mechanic and must have a torque wrench.

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #8 – December 31, 2004, 08:19:15 PM

someone must have over done it when they were installed. dissimilar metal issues contribute to the plugs and corrosion. anit-sieze would be nice in this situation.

Re: Spark plugs...how I hate thee

Reply #9 – January 01, 2005, 01:28:00 PM

with my car, my problem was getting to the plugs, smog lines or whatever the hell they are got in the way