Changed the spark plugs last night

[lcbjr77]

While on lunch yesterday I decided to buy some Denso spark plugs (OEM)# K20HR-U11...Watched somebody's video on Youtube and attempted to swap them out last night.

Holy Christ were the old ones in there good, I swear at one point I thought I was going to turn the socket and have the old plug just spin in place. (there was definitely no anti seize used here) I was nervous the entire time...only one came out with very little effort.

The whole process only took about an hour and a half. As I replaced them I put them in order so I can take pics and show you folks the shape they were in... They were the same model number that I put in but who knows how long they were in there. I bought it with 118,000 miles on it and now have a hair over 130,000.... I'll post some pics tonight

 

[RonJR]

The key to getting plugs out of an aluminum head w/o damage is patience. As soon as it starts binding up, reverse your ratchet and turn it back in a turn or so, or as far as it will go easily. Then back it out once more until it binds up again. Keep doing that, and little by little it will continue to come out further until it releases and comes out all the way. I've spent 10-15 minutes working out a single plug on my '94 3vze, but ultimately it came out clean.

If you just force it you run the real risk of stripping the threads out of the head, and then you have a thread repair job on your hands. The steel plug will always win in a battle with the aluminum head.

 

[JEL]

PICS!


Let's see how that infamous #6 plug looks.

 

[lcbjr77]

I hear ya about taking your time...I almost sh*t my pants when I experienced the first tough plug...I've changed plugs many times but never experienced anything like this

The key to getting plugs out of an alusminum head w/o damage is patience. As soon as it starts binding up, reverse your ratchet and turn it back in a turn or so, or as far as it will go easily. Then back it out once more until it binds up again. Keep doing that, and little by little it will continue to come out further until it releases and comes out all the way. I've spent 10-15 minutes working out a single plug on my '94 3vze, but ultimately it came out clean.

If you just force it you run the real risk of stripping the threads out of the head, and then you have a thread repair job on your hands. The steel plug will always win in a battle with the aluminum head.

 

[lcbjr77]

Here are the plugs...
I have them positioned as if you're facing the engine

How many miles do you think these were in???

PICS!


Let's see how that infamous #6 plug looks.

 

[lcbjr77]

Passenger Side (Left is front of engine)

Drivers Side (Left is front of engine)

 

[fdbyrne]

If you had Densos in one bank and NGKs in the other, they are the original plugs.

 

[morphious]

Those have never been replaced, like [MENTION=118509]fdbyrne[/MENTION] said 2 different types because each side was produced in a different location. Here were my originals at 90K miles:

 

[AE1M]

While on lunch yesterday I decided to buy some Denso spark plugs (OEM)# K20HR-U11...Watched somebody's video on Youtube and attempted to swap them out last night.

Holy Christ were the old ones in there good, I swear at one point I thought I was going to turn the socket and have the old plug just spin in place. (there was definitely no anti seize used here) I was nervous the entire time...only one came out with very little effort.

The whole process only took about an hour and a half. As I replaced them I put them in order so I can take pics and show you folks the shape they were in... They were the same model number that I put in but who knows how long they were in there. I bought it with 118,000 miles on it and now have a hair over 130,000.... I'll post some pics tonight

I've heard NOT to use anti-seize on spark plug threads. Is that just an urban legend?

 

[morphious]

[MENTION=125426]lcbjr77[/MENTION] I don't want to say that you have a problem, but I would be a little concerned about the scaling on your #6 plug. If you look at mine all 6 plugs look about the same, in reviewing yours #6 appears to have build up which could be coolant residue. Something you may want to just keep an eye on. -UPDATE- I just realized you have an 07' so it should have the updated head gasket so this could be nothing at all and simply a coincidence.

 

[fdbyrne]

I've heard NOT to use anti-seize on spark plug threads. Is that just an urban legend?

I could be wrong, but I think the reason that people say not to use anti-seize is that it acts as a lubricant and makes it possible to overtighten the plugs without realizing it. I don't remember the exact torque spec for plugs but it's right around 15 foot pounds. 15 foot pounds comes a lot quicker on dry threads than it does on lubricated threads.

 

[jpless]

I just had my plugs replaced at 111k. The originals were in there and after doing the work, the tech told me the gaps were huge on the original plugs. He mentioned the new ones went in at .6 but the ones he took out were about .8 or more.

 

[CHawks_12]

I could be wrong, but I think the reason that people say not to use anti-seize is that it acts as a lubricant and makes it possible to overtighten the plugs without realizing it. I don't remember the exact torque spec for plugs but it's right around 15 foot pounds. 15 foot pounds comes a lot quicker on dry threads than it does on lubricated threads.

I have to ask.... 15 FOOT LBS? not 15 INCH LBS? I have to ask for that is a BIG difference. 15 inch LBS does seem pointless... but had to ask anyways.

 

[fdbyrne]

I have to ask.... 15 FOOT LBS? not 15 INCH LBS? I have to ask for that is a BIG difference. 15 inch LBS does seem pointless... but had to ask anyways.

Like I said, I was going from memory. I was only using that number because I didn't have my FSM handy. I just looked it up and I was close. It's 13 foot pounds for the V6.

 

[lcbjr77]

Morphious...Thanks for sharing, have you had any issues with your head gasket... I was nervous until I saw your "Update"

[MENTION=125426]lcbjr77[/MENTION] I don't want to say that you have a problem, but I would be a little concerned about the scaling on your #6 plug. If you look at mine all 6 plugs look about the same, in reviewing yours #6 appears to have build up which could be coolant residue. Something you may want to just keep an eye on. -UPDATE- I just realized you have an 07' so it should have the updated head gasket so this could be nothing at all and simply a coincidence.

 

[JEL]

Morphious...Thanks for sharing, have you had any issues with your head gasket... I was nervous until I saw your "Update"

Apparently 06-09 have a new design, but only if you have an '06 built in '06, at least according to what I was able to dig up some time ago when I was researching the issue.

Mine was built in Feb 2006 so I'm hoping nothing goes wrong...

 

[morphious]

Morphious...Thanks for sharing, have you had any issues with your head gasket... I was nervous until I saw your "Update"

Knock on wood, no so far, everything was clean when I changed my plugs 1,000 miles ago.