Time for plug swap?

[duhtroll]

Hey all -

Who's done their own spark plugs? How hard is it and how long did it take you? I have something in the back of my mind that says it's tricky and they're hard to get to.

This is not something I am going to do, but it will be done soon. Just curious as to how long it takes.

Thanks for all input.

-A

[Fourth Horseman]

Hey all -

Who's done their own spark plugs? How hard is it and how long did it take you? I have something in the back of my mind that says it's tricky and they're hard to get to.

This is not something I am going to do, but it will be done soon. Just curious as to how long it takes.

Thanks for all input.

-A

Piece of cake. 30 minutes tops with the time it takes to gap the plugs. If you decide to do it yourself the only recommendation I would make is to use one of those plug sockets that has the rubber insert to hold the plug. The tunnel through the head down to the threads is so long that if you use a regular deep socket the plug will fall to the bottom.

Also, I found I had to just barely push the plug into the socket just enough to hold it, but not so deep that it really held, otherwise when I pulled the socket and extension out, the socket stayed down there on the plug. :)

I would use the socket with the rubber in it just to get the plug down and in by like one or two threads, then I'd pull the socket out and replace it with a regular deep socket (no rubber) and then torque the plug down with that. Plug torque setting is 11 ft-lbs or 15 nm. Oh, I also used a little anti-sieze on the plug threads.

[RF Overlord]

^^^pretty much what Fourth said^^^

They ARE very easy to do.


when I pulled the socket and extension out, the socket stayed down there on the plug

Just tape the socket to the extension with some black electrical tape.


pull the socket out and replace it with a regular deep socket (no rubber) and then torque the plug down with that

Why? The rubber insert is there not only to keep the plug in place while removing or inserting it, but to prevent the socket from contacting and possibly damaging the insulator while tightening.

[dwasson]

You can also start threading the plug into the head with a piece of heater hose.

[Ross]

What Overlord said about the tape. I would definitely tape the socket to the extension so you can get it all out in one piece. Also, I didn't have an extension long enough to reach way down into the DEEP hole that the plugs go into, so I had to use two extensions. If you do that, tape the extensions together, too. Still, with all of that, it's a pretty simple job. If you have ever turned a wrench you can do it yourself.

[MENINBLK]

Make sure you change your plugs with the heads COLD.
Remember they are ALUMINUM and they don't take kindly
to anyone ripping out the plugs when they are HOT.
You may want to put just a DROP of Anti-Seize on the new plugs also.

[duhtroll]

So -

2.2 hours of labor is a bit excessive? :fire:

I love my :censor: dealership!

[RF Overlord]

So - 2.2 hours of labor is a bit excessive?

No, 2.2 hours would be about right...

...if you include driving around town looking for the Snap-On truck to flag down to buy the tools to do the job in the first place. That figure would also include a stop at the local package store for the beer to celebrate doing it yourself...

:rolleyes: :shake: :bs: :eek:

[1 BAD 03 MM]

The plugs on my MM were a heck of alot easier than the plugs on my 93 Crown Vic (4.6 SOHC)

All the above info is exactly what I went through. :rock:

[GarageMahal]

The plugs on my MM were a heck of alot easier than the plugs on my 93 Crown Vic (4.6 SOHC)

All the above info is exactly what I went through. :rock:

My old 93 Vic PI was the last car I changed plugs on myself... talk about a pain in the :censor:

jta

[carfixer]

So -

2.2 hours of labor is a bit excessive? :fire:

I love my :censor: dealership!

We charge 1.2 hours, and that's almost excessive.

[duhtroll]

I certainly don't mind paying them for their time, because I ask them to do lots of stuff that is not necessary or warranty work that they don't make any money on. I just wish they wouldn't try to take advantage of me. I wonder what they do with other customers who have no idea what things cost or are unwilling to find out. Makes me think the whole dealership is a racket.

-A

[Fourth Horseman]

^^^pretty much what Fourth said^^^
Why? The rubber insert is there not only to keep the plug in place while removing or inserting it, but to prevent the socket from contacting and possibly damaging the insulator while tightening.

Because, as I said, the socket would disconnect from the extension and stay down there on the plug. As long as you're careful you're not likely to break the plug with a regular deep socket.

I might give the tape trick a try next time, though. :)

[MarauderMark]

Aww man it is that eazy?? well since the dealer can kiss my a$$ :fire: i'll be doing this from now on.Thanks for all the info brethern :rock: :rock: :banana:

[TripleTransAm]

No, 2.2 hours would be about right...

...if you include driving around town looking for the Snap-On truck to flag down to buy the tools to do the job in the first place. That figure would also include a stop at the local package store for the beer to celebrate doing it yourself...



ROFLMAO!! :lol:

I think 30 minutes is about right... I was looking under the hood one afternoon and on a whim decided to check the gap on all the plugs (reasons described elsewhere - the experiment continues, BTW). I think I lost the most amount of time staring at the rubber bands I discovered surrounding the bottom linkage of my steering column. :cool4:

[nexstar7]

ROFLMAO!! :lol:

I think 30 minutes is about right... I was looking under the hood one afternoon and on a whim decided to check the gap on all the plugs (reasons described elsewhere - the experiment continues, BTW). I think I lost the most amount of time staring at the rubber bands I discovered surrounding the bottom linkage of my steering column. :cool4:

on my mark 8 and marauder i start the car for about 10 minutes ti warm up then let it coll for about the same time. its enough for expansion and contraction. then they come loose. i think its about 11lbs for torque

[jgc61sr2002]

A piece of fuel hose works great. Fits the plug perfectly and you can turn it in by hand. As stated above a little anti sieze will make the install easier. IMO.