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Message started by Redryder652 on 03/11/16 at 21:29:31

Title: Spark plug torque
Post by Redryder652 on 03/11/16 at 21:29:31

I recently rejetted and wanted to make sure I was running a good mixture, so I pulled the plug. But I wanted to know if anyone on here has stripped a spark plug thread, how much does it take? I am going wrist tight off of a 3/8 ratchet with the engine cold, and I'm just a little paranoid of stripping something.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Kris01 on 03/11/16 at 21:44:51

You don't need to crank it down to 100 ft/lbs. You're doing it right.

The manual states to turn it 1/2 turn passed finger tight if using a new plug. 1/8 turn if reusing the old one.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Redryder652 on 03/11/16 at 22:32:05

Alright, good. Cause I must have taken it out and put it back in about 15 times to make shure I get it right.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Serowbot on 03/12/16 at 06:01:59

566160767D606176323136040 wrote:

Alright, good. Cause I must have taken it out and put it back in about 15 times to make shure I get it right.

Don't do that.. ;D

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Redryder652 on 03/12/16 at 06:13:32

Why? What can happen?

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Serowbot on 03/12/16 at 06:25:57

You may go insane. :-/

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Redryder652 on 03/12/16 at 06:28:37

That's all? No thread damage, or anything of that sort? Just insanity? Well, yeah I guess insanity is pretty bad.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Serowbot on 03/12/16 at 06:38:45

Seriously,.. if you are backing it back out, because you think you may have over-tightened then repeating it, over and over...
You may cause damage... (if over-tightening is bad, doing it 15 times don't make it better).
15 times?... you may be over thinking this... ;D

I thread it 'till it seats, then give 2 finger and a thumb snuggy...

The danger of too loose, is it will come loose... easy fix.
The danger of too tight... not easy...

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Redryder652 on 03/12/16 at 06:47:25

Wise words. I know I wasn't over tightening because every time I unt hreaded it came out with very little force and the whole thing came out with no problem. So I'm gonna assume I'm good. I even took a look with my cheapo harbor freight inspection camera to take a look and everything looked fine. I just wanted to be sure.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Art Webb on 03/12/16 at 08:17:57

till it seats. then 1/8 to 1/2 turn, like the previous poster said
if you overtighten it, you'll know right away
did you use anti seize?

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Redryder652 on 03/12/16 at 08:32:46

I didn't use anti seize. I have silver never seize. Should I pop it, and apply?

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Kris01 on 03/12/16 at 10:15:17

You're using a steel plug on an aluminum head. Two dissimilar metals will cause electrolysis and corrode the point where they meet. Anti-seize, Never-seize, whatever you wanna call it is your best friend. I love the stuff! It makes things go together (and come apart!) so much easier! If you ever have a stuck bolt in a soft metal, you'll kick yourself for not using anti-seize! ;)

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Dave on 03/13/16 at 10:03:42

And the new plug requires more of a turn once it is finger tight...because the new washer will crush as you install it - the next 14 times it does not need to be turned as far as the washer will not compress as far.

And anti-seize is a good idea for a plug in any head....regardless if it is aluminum or cast iron. Sometimes they are in there for many, many years and can become very hard to remove if you don't use the never seize.....in an aluminum head the threads are easier to damage than in a cast iron head.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Art Webb on 03/14/16 at 08:29:41

I've never seen this in iron head engines, but in aluminum head engines I've pulled a plug and had the threads come out with it, requiring the use of a thread repair
On iron headed engines they rust in place and are hard to remove, but I've never seen the threads come out with the plug

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Kris01 on 03/14/16 at 19:15:10

But even with an iron head you can damage the threads without completely removing them. The anti-seize lubes the plug so it comes out gently.

I broke the ceramic off a plug once and panicked! Then I realized the "nut" was still there and the ceramic didn't really matter. It was going in the garbage anyway. :D

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Redryder652 on 03/14/16 at 20:24:43

I pulled the plug yesterday applied anti seize, and the threads felt fine. They also felt fine earlier, but I figured, anti seize now, no worry later. And I'm pretty sure the threads are good. Bigger plugs can take some torque, and I didn't give them much. Like I said wrist tight. I'm pretty dang sure I didn't s screw myself. No pun intended.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Kris01 on 03/15/16 at 18:26:16

This engine runs at 8.5:1 compression. You shouldn't be blowing the plug out of the head! ;D Sounds like you got it right.

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Art Webb on 03/15/16 at 20:51:40

536A716B2829180 wrote:

I've done that very thig, that plug was so tight I though Godzilla musta worked on that car last, plus it was rusted
Anti seize on plugs is always a good idea

Title: Re: Spark plug torque
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 03/16/16 at 11:34:10

1. Always use anti-seize (light coating)
2. I've always torqued spark plugs to 25 lb-ft