Spark Plugs--Don't remove hot! Why?

[kev99sl]

Well, as we all know, if you were to take your car to any mechanic or dealer to have the spark plugs replaced, they would let the car sit for a full three hours before pulling out the old plugs, just to make sure the head is nice and cool. So I think we should do the same thing. Yes, I'm being sarcastic.

I say cool to very warm is OK if you're careful. Just-turned-the-car-off-hot is probably not too smart. I always take the extension off of my ratchet, use a light to guide me to the hole, and then turn the spark plug counterclockwise a few times for a few clicks to make sure the plug is centered, and then carefully start threading it in. If I feel any resistance, I stop, back it out again, and start over. It's amazing what "resistance" feels like to your hand vs. when you're turning the end of a ratchet.

 

[BlazerLT]

Remove them warm, not hot.

Best of both worlds.

 

[kreigle]

I've been pulling the plugs on my all-aluminum Prelude engine for the last 70k mi (6 yrs). They come out easier for me.

Of course, I also use anti-sieze on the plug threads and I only tighten them down a little past snug - factory manual states 18lb/ft for my engine

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

---

Originally posted by TLAR640:
according to the guy who installed the heli-coil.

---

Good one!

Sorry though that it was a real event. Now if you had the old fashioned flathead lawnmower it would be easy/cheap to get a new head or to cut new, larger threads, but presumably he used helicoil because it is one of those new-fangled OHC Honda-type lawnmowers.