Discussion
my car i use for running around is a ford fiesta 51 plat 1.3 engine ..prob is spark plugs are in solid and won`t budge ...is there any good stuff i can put into engine that can clean the plugs ..serious answers please ...not had car long and think they been stuck in for years thank you
tried spraying them with releasol and using socket .. but been told if break even one i have major problems getting it out.. law of averages says too much force and at the very least bound to break one ...thats why rather be safe at moment and maybe try some stuff to put in engine that would keep them clean ... thank you for replying
Any stuff "powerful" enough to clear or unlock plugs from inside, is powerful enough to ruin oiling and oil in engine, or maybe more (seals, pipes, etc); other hand - plugs typically "catch" from outside, on sealing cone or washer, by moisture and heat combine, not internal on screw. So dont try 'new' methods - fill plugs holes with spoon of gasoline or better solvent (pure kerosene is very good and safe for parts), cover to prevent fast evaporation (any foil), wait, wait, wait, next sharp good socket and try.
I heard tips like warm engine a little and cooling down plugs by ice, but never had to try and I dont recommend strange methods, most important is good socket and some sense in hands
I heard tips like warm engine a little and cooling down plugs by ice, but never had to try and I dont recommend strange methods, most important is good socket and some sense in hands
buzzer said:
spray a bit of plus gas on the base of the plugs, and use a quality socket and decent bar... they should come out...
As above. IIRC the engine is an old cast iron design so that the plugs go into a harder cast iron cylinder head rather than a softer aluminium head therefore there is les chance of ruining the spark plug threads in the head itself. .
I would clean right around the base of the plugs where they screw into the head. Soak that area with plusgas and leave it for a few hours. Then soak it again and leave again for a few hours. Now use a good plug socket and a decent bar and try to undo. You may snap off the ceramic top of the plug but do not worry as you shall be replacing the plugs.
If they still wont come out I'd use some more plus gas and a scaffolding tube/ steel pipe on the end of the bar. A foot or so should get the plugs moving.
Cheers,
Tony
Similar to everyone else above,
Release agent - diesel is as good as anything.
Plenty of time to soak in.
A bit of warmth in the engine can only help.
GOOD quality tools, and ensure the socket head is fully engaged & stable.
The fact that they are stuck will not be corrosion, it will be over-tightening, so as soon as they break the seal they will come out by finger more than likely.
Release agent - diesel is as good as anything.
Plenty of time to soak in.
A bit of warmth in the engine can only help.
GOOD quality tools, and ensure the socket head is fully engaged & stable.
The fact that they are stuck will not be corrosion, it will be over-tightening, so as soon as they break the seal they will come out by finger more than likely.
buzzer said:
spray a bit of plus gas on the base of the plugs, and use a quality socket and decent bar... they should come out...
Checked with a mate.... These are prone to snapping off so the OP has a right to be cautious.... Good luck, but if you are keeping the car, you don't have much option but to give it a try.What I would say though is use plus gas, not something like WD40, and give them a soak for a few days, hot and cold.
Be careful. Using a bar with or without plus gas or similar rarely works on badly seized plugs and the plug will shear off flush with the recess in the head. You must not allow any ceramic to enter the bore as this will do serious damage as it is harder than the cylinder walls and the pistons.
If the plug does shear off leaving the threaded part in the head, and all ceramic is removed safely, then you can drive in an Easi-out(left hand thread) and use that. You can also use heat on the threaded part now to soften it up a bit to help with removal.
If the plug does shear off leaving the threaded part in the head, and all ceramic is removed safely, then you can drive in an Easi-out(left hand thread) and use that. You can also use heat on the threaded part now to soften it up a bit to help with removal.
1st question is how long do you intend to keep the car for. If the car's running ok just leave things alone. When you have to change the plugs, then worry about getting them out. Maybe sell the car before they start playing up too bad. When you come to sell either sell at auction or tell the buyer it needs a service. If youre not careful youre going to create yourself a very messy job.
the old saying if it aint broke don't fix it springs to mind
the old saying if it aint broke don't fix it springs to mind
andyiley said:
The fact that they are stuck will not be corrosion, it will be over-tightening, so as soon as they break the seal they will come out by finger more than likely.
Nothing to do with overtighnening in this case. The reason they get stuck on the crappy 1.3 pushrod engine is that it uses taper seat plugs, and they are prone to corrosion. It's an extremely common problem on this engine.The other key to getting these plugs out without snapping them is to make sure you stay absolutely square-on to the plug as you apply torque. I position myself by the o/s front wheel and reach across so I am pulling on the t-bar/ratchet with my left hand and holding the socket and extension with the right. If you stand in front of the engine and try it with the plugs facing you chances are you'll go off-squiff as you twist and greatly increase the chance of it snapping at the base.
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