Advice on what to do about a technician who stripped my spark plugs into the head

[Dave9]

I find it interesting that some people can say with certainly that an impact was used. Would any tech no matter how bad use an impact on spark plugs? I’m as lazy as the next guy and use an impact all kinds of ways I shouldn’t but I would never even think about using one on spark plugs.

What are you seeing that makes it 100% clear a impact was used?

I didn't see anything making it 100% clear, but it does seem probable, because if doing it by hand, it would have been far more obvious how much force was needed and to stop before causing this much damage, while with an impact wrench or driver, just pull the trigger and it gets full torque.

That's unless the mechanic was angry to stop the job and deliberately caused damage, which I hate to state but it is as believable to me as someone damaging 3 in a row. If I had damaged the first one, no matter the reason, time to stop and call the customer. Damage past the first one is clearly negligence, but that doesn't necessarily mean he's going to be made whole by the shop paying for someone else to do the work - I wouldn't want to let that shop do the work if they think it's acceptable to have mechanics staffed that do what his did.

 

[Mechanician]

I worked with many different mechanics over my career. The personalities, and the skill levels run the gamut out there.

How were they raised? - Some choose to be dedicated hard workers, others are always looking for a way to get something for nothing.
God given talent? - Intelligence, and aptitude, can be anywhere on the scale in the mix.

It's the same in all professions I'm certain.

To try and figure out what the individual was thinking, or what tool was used, is like picking lotto numbers.

 

[thastinger]

Okay, thank you for letting me know. What do you think the mechanic should have done in this situation?

And I'm guessing the Time-sert repair inserts would still be a pretty expensive job that requires removing the head?

Be mindful of the type of insert you select. Lock-n-stitch makes an aluminum repair insert than may be better suited to your high compression engine. I'm not saying it will happen, but a steel insert into an aluminum head can become a heat source in the combustion chamber and cause it to be more prone to pre-ignition.

The head doesn't have to come off, any shop that is worth using will put grease on the threads of the cutter tool to catch most of the shavings and then they will use a borescope to inspect the cylinder for any debris and remove any found. But yes, an incompetent tech can ruin your engine doing an insert.

 

[slomo]

Dirty plugs in a CNG engine? Sounds fishy. CNG burns super clean sompared to gas. As in you might change the oil every 5 years.

 

[4wheeldog]

Dirty plugs in a CNG engine? Sounds fishy. CNG burns super clean sompared to gas. As in you might change the oil every 5 years.

You mean to say cleaner than liquid fuel (Gasoline) that we call gas. English is so contradictory.

 

[Exhaustgases]

The head doesn't have to come off, any shop that is worth using will put grease on the threads of the cutter tool to catch most of the shavings and then they will use a borescope to inspect the cylinder for any debris and remove any found. But yes, an incompetent tech can ruin your engine doing an insert.

Did you see post #16? Two plugs broke off and the steel threads are in the holes, there is more to this job than you think.

Did you read what clinebarger posted?

And sure I suppose it would be worth the try in-situ, but in the end I'm betting it would still end up a head off job.

 

[thastinger]

Did you see post #16? Two plugs broke off and the steel threads are in the holes, there is more to this job than you think.

Did you read what clinebarger posted?

And sure I suppose it would be worth the try in-situ, but in the end I'm betting it would still end up a head off job.

No, I didn't see post 16, I'm sure that shifts the narrative as I've never seen plugs do that.