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12-06-2015, 08:35 AM | #1 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
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Iridium Sparkplugs Experiment
In a moment of weakness I bought a set of OEM GK iridium plugs for my wifes Camry. Its got 126k on it and has the original plugs. $40!
This was stupid because I had resolved, based on my experience of 40+ years fixing cars to never change them. I don't believe its necessary to change even regular plugs for the life of the car unless its burning oil or they become manifestly defective. This is because of unleaded gas and high energy 50,000 volt today vs 12,000 volt in the past ignition systems. However its also my opinion based on the above that one still needs to r and r the plugs every 30k or so miles so they don't become seized. This I have not done Im sorry to say. However I have resolved to have the old ones out. If they ARE stuck this will be impossible. We will see. I will examine the plugs and of theyre OK I will regap and clean them and reinstall them. I can get my money back. If not I'll put the new ones in. It may take a while because Im old. Maybe one a week? Stay tuned!
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12-06-2015, 09:00 AM | #2 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
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HA that was quick! Cant get em out theyre stuck! I turned one of them about a 1/4 turn to scary creaking and squeeking noises with a great deal of effort on the cheater pipe. So I tightened it back up. Don't want to strip the threads!
So the results of the experiment are: r and r your plugs every 30k miles/every two years even though they are good for 100-125k miles! Clean and oil the threads or lube them. Any opinions/advice on how or whether to proceed?
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
12-06-2015, 09:15 AM | #3 |
ULTIMATE
Drives: 09 5dr LB, 2x 08 3dr LB Join Date: Oct 2008
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Maybe try squirting a bit of penetrating oil down into the tubes and let is sit for while. Also try with the engine crazy hot to see if heat helps at all.
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12-06-2015, 10:00 AM | #4 |
1NZ-6spd
Drives: '05 6-Spd Vitz RS Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,967
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I've used my electric impact gun on stuck plugs. I've had more success removing seized fasteners with it than manual tools as the rapid impact of the gun breaks them loose without the risk of twisting and snapping it.
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12-06-2015, 10:25 AM | #5 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
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I think I'll leave the plastic cover off and try the heat experiment sometime in the future. Would penetrating oil get into the threads even with the plugs unloosened?
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
12-06-2015, 10:26 AM | #6 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
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I have one of those but stripping the threads would be a disaster. Still its something to think about thanks!
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12-06-2015, 11:03 AM | #7 | |
Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
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Quote:
Also, since you did manage a quarter turn, after penetrating oil has been allowed to work for a bit try backing it out a little then turn back in. Keep doing this and eventually each time you back out it should come a little further.
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12-06-2015, 11:30 AM | #8 | |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
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Quote:
But what penetrating oil do you recommend? all I have is WD40.
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
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12-06-2015, 01:46 PM | #9 |
Drives: 2007 Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: motown
Posts: 339
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PB Blaster works well for me.
First I would heat the plugs and spray it as it's cooling, a lot. This will smoke. The cooling will help draw in the oil. Since you can get a little movement on the plug keep tightening and loosing to help work the lube in. |
12-08-2015, 05:59 AM | #10 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
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Ive decided to try again to remove the sparkplugs from the wifes Camry with the engine hot this time. If that doesn't work Im going to try and get my money back for them and just go with whats in there forever. I think I know why the plugs are hard to get out. The threads of the plugs aren't sealed from the combustion chamber and brown deposits build up over time, making removal difficult. Add a little corrosion to that and the metal thread in the head will come out if you try and force matters. You can see in the picture Im using a pipe cheater on the ratchet!
BUt Im thinking I better try and get the plugs out of my 09 Yaris with 42K on it before they seize too. So that's another project. I figger get the plastic cover off and one plug out is a days work for my back.
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
12-08-2015, 08:17 AM | #11 |
Drives: 2007 Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: motown
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Never Seize is your friend.
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12-08-2015, 08:26 AM | #12 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
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Do you use it? Ive heard using it on plugs can short them out?
True or false. If you say you use it OK (or others do too) I will get some.
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
12-08-2015, 08:52 AM | #13 |
1NZ-6spd
Drives: '05 6-Spd Vitz RS Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Oshawa, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 2,967
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I always use it. Just a dab'l'do'ya.
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12-08-2015, 09:43 AM | #14 |
Drives: '08 2zr swapped Vios M/T Join Date: Oct 2012
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I've always used antiseize, never any issues and plugs always come out like butter
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12-08-2015, 10:40 AM | #15 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
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OK Im sold.
Im thinking have the AS in there on the threads will serve to block the combustion gasses from building up as the brown deposits on the threads. Which is what in my opinion makes the plugs hard to get out if you don't r and r them once in a while.
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
12-08-2015, 10:55 AM | #16 |
You're only 50, what's with all this old talk?? My pops is 80. He'd say you still have half an egg shell hanging off your @$$
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12-08-2015, 12:04 PM | #17 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
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59. Torn muscle left lower back 1999. Ruptured disk in the neck 2003. Arthritis in middle back. Botched ingrown toenail operation 2001. No feeling in the feet as a result.
Lumbago in the neck and back. Sounds trivial unless you overdo stuff. Then its like being electrocuted. Its true Im not old!
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Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
12-08-2015, 12:53 PM | #18 |
Yeah, I'm familiar with all that stuff. Not first hand, but from my pops. He's had knee replacement on both knees, titanium put into his lower back, shoulder surgery, arthritis everywhere and more cortisone shots than I can count--among many other things. My best friend is only 44 and takes heavy duty pain meds for back issues. You don't have to be old to suffer from that stuff and it's no joke. I feel for you, bud.
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