Argh... I can't get two plugs out...

Jeff T

Jeff T

Member
A little background. At 187k I had the dealership replace the head gaskets. Yesterday I passed 260k and decided to change the plugs.

The car was off overnight and definitely cool. The first four "cracked", not literally, when I when went to remove them. The final two, forward passenger side, turned about a 1/2 a turn and just didn't feel right.

Somehow I don't have a good feeling about this. With the aluminum head this does have me concerned. I sprayed some PB Blaster in each hole and tried again this AM, no difference.

Any suggestions on what to do next?

Thanks.
 
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Hit it again with PB blaster and let it sit overnight. Then use a socket with a short breaker bar to give it a 1/8 turn in each direction, back and forth, over and over. Then go for 1/4 turn in each direction, over and over, etc. The breaker bar is only so you don't have to keep resetting the lever on a ratchet - it's not for leaning on the plug. You probably just have some corrosion in there from a lack of anti-seize on the plug threads.
 
I just replaced my original plugs at 50,000 miles and had the same feeling. Something just doesn't feel quite right. I swear I thought I was going to strip every one out of cylinder head. I think part of it is the crush washer on the plug that I'm just not used to.

Same goes with reinstalling them. I used my torque wrench set to 15 ft-lbs (180 in-lbs) and thought I was going to again strip out the cylinder head.
 
for aluminum heads, a good trick when removing plugs,

break the plug loose by backing it out 1/8-1/4 turns, then retighten. then put it back together so it will run. start it and let run for 30 seconds or so.
then remove the plugs.


the initial turn loosens the carbon/crud that gets on the threads, then running it removes it, so you don't draw it back into the threads.



personally, I have never had to do this, as it seems to be such a PITA, but it supposedly works. worth a shot.
 
Oh and good luck getting them out. I almost forgot.

This thread made me pucker up thinking about getting mine out on my used Runner I just picked up.

I hope you get em!
 
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Replaced mine at 107k, pretty sure they were originals as they were half ngk half denso. They came out kinda rough but they did come out. I loosened them all the way then took the wrench off and used the extension to hand tighten them as much as I could, then took them out. Even putting the new ones in they felt likee they were cross threading, loosened and tightened a few times then just gave up and put them in anyway. I figured they just felt that way, I didn't use any anti seize cause the parts guy at toyota told me not to. Put it all back together and it runs great, hopefully in 30k they're not stuck! I did notice the "crack" upon the initial turn of the wrench, good luck!
 
Jeff T said:
Finally had a little time, breaker bar worked and the last 2 plugs came out! Whew!
Click to expand...

glad you got it.


I just remembered a job I did a few months ago. plugs on an s-10 blazer. they are a PITA to access anyway. but something got into the cylinder and damaged the threads on the end of the plug. it came out VERY hard the entire way....messing up the threads as it went.

luckily it didn't hurt them too bad, and the new plug went in, and tightened up just fine. it could have been bad.
 
montijo505 said:
Replaced mine at 107k, pretty sure they were originals as they were half ngk half denso.
Click to expand...

Can you elaborate on this please? When I changed my plugs, I also noticed that half were one brand, and half another brand (don't remember brand names). I assumed someone had changed the easy passenger side ones and decided not to fool with the driver's side plugs.
 
fullboogie said:
Can you elaborate on this please? When I changed my plugs, I also noticed that half were one brand, and half another brand (don't remember brand names). I assumed someone had changed the easy passenger side ones and decided not to fool with the driver's side plugs.
Click to expand...


From the factory Toyota puts half NGK plugs half Denso, not sure why but they all came like that, my NGK ones were in worse shape than the Denso. I replaced them with Densos from the dealer.
 
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