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Car Forum / Driving, Maintenance, Tuning / General Car Topics / June 2009Seized spark plug
89 Toyota Camry with 16 valve aluminum head (3S-FE engine). I changed (or attempted to change) the plugs for the first time since owning it (about 40K of my miles). Two of the 4 plugs came out fine; #1 and #2 won't come out. I turned them as much as I dared -- about 3/4 turn on #1, maybe a little more on #2. Then they got tighter. I took the car for a 1/2 hour drive which thoroughly warmed it up. The 2 plugs didn't seem any looser. So, what are my options? In the dim corners of my memory I seem to remember a suggestion to loosen the plugs just a little and squirt some auto trans fluid around the base of the plugs (they're each in a well in the center of the valve cover) with the design that it will seep around the threads and soften some of the carbon deposits on the lower end of the threads. (Yeah, I know: anti-seize compound when installing new plugs. That was my intention...) Thanks,  SignatureDaveC me@bogusdomain.net This is an invalid return address Please reply in the news group > 89 Toyota Camry with 16 valve aluminum head (3S-FE engine). > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Thanks, Since they did at least break loose, I'd work them one directions than the other until I finally got them out. If you have the time it wouldn't hurt to let them soak with a good penetratingly oil but I'd go easy on that since it will all go down into the cylinder when the plugs come out. It's a good idea to loosen plugs and then blow compressed air to remove the build up before taking the plug out all the way, cleans the seat without blowing the "junk" into the cylinder. Hope it works for you. Worst case is the treads from the aluminum head come out with the plugs but this one sounds like it is carbon on the end and working the plugs one way than the other till you have them out ought to work. Good luck with it. DO NOT take spark plugs out of aluminum heads while the engine is HOT. Warm is fine/recommended, not hot! It will rip the threads right out of the head. >89 Toyota Camry with 16 valve aluminum head (3S-FE engine). > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > >Thanks, I'd give it a dose of PB Blaster every day for a week then try again. I did this with the head pipe bolts on my Crapillac and they finally yielded. > I'd give it a dose of PB Blaster every day for a week then try again. > I did this with the head pipe bolts on my Crapillac and they finally > yielded. Thanks. SignatureDaveC me@bogusdomain.net This is an invalid return address Please reply in the news group >> I'd give it a dose of PB Blaster every day for a week then try again. >> I did this with the head pipe bolts on my Crapillac and they finally >> yielded. Ive had to remove plugs with fouled threads a number of times. Patience helps, aided with a shot of penetrating spray and gently turning the plugs back and forth until they release. Never try to manhandle them out, and especially not out of a hot engine. > Ive had to remove plugs with fouled threads a number of times. Patience > helps, aided with a shot of penetrating spray and gently turning the plugs > back and forth until they release. > > Never try to manhandle them out, and especially not out of a hot engine. I got #2 plug out. It was not carbon build-up on the threads; the threads of the plug were flattened, like they were turned down a little on a lathe. Hard to describe how much -- 20 to 30 percent? Otherwise the plug was very clean. I used a tap to clean up this spark plug hole -- a mistake I now realize. A tap is NOT a chaser. If/when I get #1 plug out I'll use a chaser. The last plug is VERY stubborn. I can turn it a total of about 3/4 turn, then it binds up. I've sprayed PB Blaster down in the plug well (which is centered in the valve cover) several times today. I'm going to try turning it again in the morning. Do I just keep trying (turning back and forth 3/4 turn) even if there is no change in the resistance? Do I eventually use the breaker bar and force it out? Then look into installing an insert? Speaking of which, can inserts be done in-place? Or must the head be removed? Thanks, SignatureDaveC me@bogusdomain.net This is an invalid return address Please reply in the news group It might be time for some spark plug thread inserts. What brand / type are recommended for this application? Is it necessary to remove the head? Thanks, SignatureDaveC me@bogusdomain.net This is an invalid return address Please reply in the news group >The last plug is VERY stubborn. I can turn it a total of about 3/4 turn, then >it binds up. I've sprayed PB Blaster down in the plug well (which is centered [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >Thanks, If the last plug is the same as the damaged one you removed, you have little choice but to strong-arm the plug out. Everyone will tell you that you should remove the head in order to properly install the insert. I've done it in place, taking precautions to prevent the metal chips from entering the combustion chamber. Granted, this was on an aluminum head (similar to yours, I'm sure), and I could literally crush and grind the chips between my fingers. Figured if they were THAT soft and brittle, then the one or two I might have missed wouldn't do TOO much damage. SignatureRay Sirois SysOp: The Lost Chord BBS http://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6080 telnet://thelostchord.dns2go.com:6023 > I turned them as much as I dared -- about 3/4 turn on #1, maybe a little more > on #2. Then they got tighter. Loosen... run motor. Tighten... run motor repeat HTH ben This is another example of why spark plugs should not be left in there "forever", especially in aluminum heads. At least remove/reinstall them 3 years/30K miles, even with newer plugs with once-use antiseize coatings. A dab of antiseize at least 3 threads away from the tip. Find 1oz tubes at your local parts stores. Thread repair: for these high-stress situations, use Time-sert, I wouldn't use helicoil for plug or head bolt threads. http://www.time-sert.com/ A spark plug thread chaser, $4.99: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=97277 |
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