And now for something completely different - spark plug unscrews itself?
10-29-2018, 11:18 AM
#1
And now for something completely different - spark plug unscrews itself? Leaving a store about a mile from my house, I started my car and it immediately experienced a loud popping sound from the engine compartment that changed with engine speed. Engine kept running, so I nursed it home. What I found was unbelievable - the number one spark plug was hanging by the spark plug wire connected to the coil! Once engine cooled down, I checked everything out and found "nothing wrong". Cleaned a bunch or carbon off the outer part of the plug and was able to re-thread it back into its proper location. Started car up and it ran fine. Now, here's the kicker - I last changed the plugs about 3 years ago, so this has been slowly unraveling (probably from it not being torqued properly). I would have thought that the tension in the spark plug wire would have prevented the plug from turning. Now need to check the other plugs to ensure they're tight. Was going to change them when I install headers, a project that I've been holding off for about a year now.
11-03-2018, 06:48 AM
#4
are you sure somebody is not messing with you? I've heard of spark plug wire popping off but. Whenever I remove a spark plug wire, most always it's a struggle to get it off, I cannot imagine the spark plug unscrewing in the boot. On another note...
Q. What's the difference between a light bulb and a women?
A. the light bulb you can un-screw.
Q. What's the difference between a light bulb and a women?
A. the light bulb you can un-screw.
11-03-2018, 06:59 AM
#5
With aluminum heads, I'm a fan of using a torque wrench set to 11 pounds for plug changes. Definitely would check the rest of them.
BTW - Couple of friends had a good laugh at me for using a torque wrench set to 11 foot pounds to tighten the plugs on my 99 TA back in 1999 when going to TR-55's. Ten or so plug changes later the plug threads are still in good shape. Later, one of those friends stripped a plug thread in an aluminum cylinder head going by feel.
The casual enthusiasts like me doesn't do this sort of stuff all the time. Often we either under torque or over torque when going by feel. We just don't develop the "feel" an expert gets over the years. Using the torque wrench is a little fiddly but worked very well for me.
New alum LS head the torque spec is 14 foot pounds if I recall correctly
BTW - Couple of friends had a good laugh at me for using a torque wrench set to 11 foot pounds to tighten the plugs on my 99 TA back in 1999 when going to TR-55's. Ten or so plug changes later the plug threads are still in good shape. Later, one of those friends stripped a plug thread in an aluminum cylinder head going by feel.
The casual enthusiasts like me doesn't do this sort of stuff all the time. Often we either under torque or over torque when going by feel. We just don't develop the "feel" an expert gets over the years. Using the torque wrench is a little fiddly but worked very well for me.
New alum LS head the torque spec is 14 foot pounds if I recall correctly
11-03-2018, 11:48 AM
#6
are you sure somebody is not messing with you? I've heard of spark plug wire popping off but. Whenever I remove a spark plug wire, most always it's a struggle to get it off, I cannot imagine the spark plug unscrewing in the boot. On another note...
Q. What's the difference between a light bulb and a women?
A. the light bulb you can un-screw.
Q. What's the difference between a light bulb and a women?
A. the light bulb you can un-screw.
