Changing Spark Plugs - Time To Panic?

[Boss Hoss]

I am planning to address my leaking intake manifold this weekend.

While the intake manifold is off of the car, I will take this opportunity to change out the spark plugs. This is simple enough for me—I’ve done lots of spark plug changes before. I want to start fresh, with a set of plugs that hasn’t had coolant dumped all over it!

But a couple of horrible thoughts occurred to me. Please keep reading...

Approximately three years ago, I was married to a woman who had a 20 year old son. The son absolutely LOVED my Mustang, and one day he took it so he could detail it and give it some TLC.

When I got it back, he had washed and waxed the car (but used rubbing compound on some spots on my clearcoat finish…GRRR….I still see the scratches).

He also changed the spark plugs and installed new spark plug wires.

The car has run just fine with “his” spark plugs in it, but I am wondering a couple of things now:

1) What if he didn’t use anti-seize compound on the spark plug threads? How much of a struggle am I going to have removing the plugs?

2) Is it possible that he might have cross-threaded any plugs? The car has been running FINE, so I am going to assume that he properly threaded all of the plugs, and that I won’t have any messed-up threads…FINGERS CROSSED….

I plan to spray a bit of PB Blaster down around each spark plug and let it soak in, just to lubricate things a bit more.

I want to say that things will be fine. But I can’t help feeling some panic at the thought of encountering some serious damage that has been hidden to me up to this time. My ex-wife’s son was a good boy, but he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.

Should I be worried about anything? Is there anything I haven’t mentioned that I should be worried about?

Thank goodness my 4.6L is a 2V type and I don't have to worry about leaving a piece of spark plug buried inside the head like folks with the 3V type engines do!

Nervously awaiting the weekend…..

 

[Jhussey1280]

Well, everything mentioned is a possibility, but I really wouldn't stress yourself out about it. As long as the gap and temp range of the plugs is right for your stang you wont have an issue. The heads are aluminum so yes cross threading is a possibility. Horror story of my own, I went to change the plugs on my stang a few years ago and the plug ports in the head were stripped so the engine would shoot the new plugs out while driving. Just take your time, use antisieze to be safe and if you feel resistance STOP and start again with alittle more PB blaster.

 

[Noobz347]

I don't think that you will have any problems. Were it me, I would also have a new set of Taylor plug wires on hand.

Use the proper sized deep well socket and take care as you remove the plugs and everything should be just fine. I've never used anti-seize on my pushrod motor a day in my life. Granted yours is not pushrod but I think you will be fine.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Skip the pb blaster, clean the wells before starting the job, do this when the engine is cold. You will be fine.

 

[sneaky98gt]

Long as it's done on a completely cold motor, you shouldn't have any problem. As Noobz said, the anti-seize thing is more of a precaution. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don't. Never had a problem. If the previous owner did crossthread one of them (unlikely), then it's most likely going to blow out sooner or later (when you're least expecting it). So might as well go ahead and fix it now (assuming it's even an issue).

 

[04GreyGtUSAF]

I agree with what everyone else has said. Anti seize good precaution. As long as they aren't cross threaded all I would say is use the torque wrench putting them back in.