Spark plug vacuum attachment???

[metroplex]

I have a Ford 4.6l SOHC V8 where the spark plugs sit vertical right on top of the engine.

However, there are deep recesses for the plugs and you can't stick a normal vacuum cleaner in there to suck out debris.

Is there a special attachment I could use?

 

[doitmyself]

Metro,

how about using an air compressor to blow the debris out?

If that is not available, I have done this - "blow" the debris out with a gun type garden hose attachment. Then, get most of the water out of the hole with rag poked in there with a stick of some sort.

Of course, you do this with the engine cool and the old plugs still installed. Be careful not to get too much water into other electrical components and dry the wires well.

Good luck.

 

[metroplex]

Unfortunately my air compressor is in NJ.

I'm thinking about using a can of compressed air but that can get expensive.

How about brake cleaner?

 

[Kestas]

Use a straw and blow hard.

 

[Eddie]

Down to the local gas station or garage, blow stuff out and drive home.

 

[Whimsey]

How about "duck" taping a small section of garden hose or some other smaller hose to the vacum cleaner hose. I'm sure your neighbor won't mind "donating" a section of his garden hose. Or you can buy one at Walmart, cut out what you need and return the rest as being "defective"

. Just kidding about the last two ideas

.

Whimsey

 

[Bobert]

A can of compressed air is what I use to blow the debris away from the spark plugs. It works pretty well, and is worth the cost. Certainly better than having sand and bugs dropping down into one of the cylinders

 

[rob-the-oil-nut]

This is an easy one. Get something that has an inner diameter just maybe 1 mm bigger than the vacuum cleaner nozzle's outer diameter. It's just an idea but perhaps a thrift store that sells plastic cups that are tall, thin, and tapered. I know stores that have these and they are a dime! Or something LIKE such a cup. Make a hole in the bottom of it, put a straw through that hole. Between the outer diameter of the straw and the inner diameter of the hole, fill with used gum, hot glue, that 'plastic wood' stuff, or just duct tape the heck out of it.
You then have lots of sucking power through perhaps a 1/4" hole, great for detailing in the car as well, it gets in spaces other things bigger than a q-tip can't. If this gets cross-posted to detailing tricks, the real hero is not me, it's whoever sent it into the Winnipeg Free Press last year

If the end of the straw gets too dirty, cut off a bit at a time, and consider an angled cut as well. Whatever you use as a seal between the straw (or 1/4" PVC, 1/8" metal, etc) and the tapered cup, ensure it is reasonably removable and replaceable ...caulking / silicone is another idea for that, too.
Hope this helps
Rob