Trev Posted December 26, 2008 Report Posted December 26, 2008 Today I decided to check the plugs and clean the oil out of the plug valley in the 4age i just put in the misses seca as I have never had the plugs out, I cleaned the oil out and managed to get the 1st 3 plugs out fine but the last made a click and came out (oh dear), I looked at the plug and realised the earthing electrode was not on the plug anymore and it had broken off just below the hex on the plug so i raced up to work and got an easyout (also know as a screw extractor) and after 20mins managed to get the rest of the plug out (thank phuck for that), But anyway here is a pic as to say DON'T OVERTIGHTEN YOUR DAMN PLUGS. Quote
rob83ke70 Posted December 26, 2008 Report Posted December 26, 2008 Shouldn't do anything too tight... wheel nuts, spark plugs, engine components... I'd say you are lucky you got it out with an easy out, because those ones are tapered, all the stress is placed on one part of the easy out and more often than not they break, leaving hardened steel easy out stuck in the middle of the thing that was stuck in the hole in the first place.... I normally put a small amount of antiseize on spark plug threads, particually platinum plugs which get left in for 100,000km or commodore plugs which get left in until they are worn so bad it misfires... and never do them up tighter than they should be!! Robert. Quote
Trev Posted December 26, 2008 Author Report Posted December 26, 2008 I know I'm lucky to get it out, If that didnt get it out i would of been taking the head off, I can't believe that someone would do them up that tight, When I was doing field service on forklifts i used to just spray the threads with lanolin as they were only in there for 200 hours. Quote
styler Posted December 26, 2008 Report Posted December 26, 2008 lucky to get that one out :) good work on the screw extractor! Quote
rob83ke70 Posted December 26, 2008 Report Posted December 26, 2008 *shakes head* first year apprentices!!! where have hiring standards fallen to!! either that or its been in there a LONG time with no antiseize at all... We had a toyota tarago the other day with a 2.4 2azfe engine in it with a cracked cylinder head leaking coolant into the spark plug tubes causing a misfire..... Plugs weren't real good to get out on that either... Quote
beerhead Posted December 27, 2008 Report Posted December 27, 2008 Damn, very lucky trev, that could have turned into a nightmare. I was told by a mechanic never to put anti seize on a spark plug. It reduces the ability for plug to loose its heat into the surrounding head causing heat soak in the electrode reducing the life of the plug. Shouldn't do anything too tight... wheel nuts, spark plugs, engine components... I'd say you are lucky you got it out with an easy out, because those ones are tapered, all the stress is placed on one part of the easy out and more often than not they break, leaving hardened steel easy out stuck in the middle of the thing that was stuck in the hole in the first place.... I normally put a small amount of antiseize on spark plug threads, particually platinum plugs which get left in for 100,000km or commodore plugs which get left in until they are worn so bad it misfires... and never do them up tighter than they should be!! Robert. Quote
trav_555 Posted December 27, 2008 Report Posted December 27, 2008 geez, now i know what my dad was going on about when he said make sure you don't overtighten your plugs ;) Quote
KE30_KE35_KE55 Posted December 27, 2008 Report Posted December 27, 2008 (edited) i wouldn't advise using anti seize on spark plugs below the following spark plug manufacturers recommendations [From AC Delco] Do not use any type of anti-seize compound on spark plug threads. Doing this will decrease the amount of friction between the threads. The result of the lowered friction is that when the spark plug is torqued to the proper specification, the spark plug is turned too far into the cylinder head. This increases the likelihood of pulling or stripping the threads in the cylinder head. Over-tightening of a spark plug can cause stretching of the spark plug shell and could allow blowby to pass through the gasket seal between the shell and insulator. Over-tightening also results in extremely difficult removal. [From Denso] If threads are lubricated, the torque value should be reduced by approximately 1/2 to avoid over-tightening. [Tip from Autolite] We do not recommend the use of any anti seize products for installing spark plugs. Antiseize compoundsare typically composed of metallic, electrically conductive ingredients. If antiseize compounds come in contact with the core nose of the plugs, it can lead to a misfire condition. Antiseize compounds can also have a torque multiplying effect when installing plugs Edited December 27, 2008 by KE30_KE35_KE55 Quote
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.