Spark Plug Removal Hot Or Cold?

D

DrSmith

Member

Sep 2, 2004

181

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Maine

Jun 25, 2012

#1

• Jun 25, 2012

• #1

I have been all over the net: ford says cold engine and people have done warm and warmer engines. My car has 33k on it, do I just buy the tool to remove the plugs if i break them....
thanks,
Doc
Yes, I have searched the forum......

 

Noobz347

Stangnet Facilities Maint Tech... Er... Janitor

Admin Dude

Jan 4, 1985

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Jun 25, 2012

#2

• Jun 25, 2012

• #2

Cold

/thread

 

SpartaPerformance

10 Year Member

Nov 5, 2006

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Long Island NY

Jun 25, 2012

#3

• Jun 25, 2012

• #3

Here is what you do. Get some good cleaner for internal carbon build up. The night before you decide to remove the plugs when you get home from hanging out while the car is hot and still running remove the PCV tube and spray some of the cleaner in there (car should stall out) but it should break up most of the carbon which is one of the major reasons the plugs break. After that remove the coils, loosen the plugs 1/4 or even 1/8 turn and spray in some PB-Blaster, decent amount you want it to wick down the plug over night. Next day when cold, slowly slowly slowly remove plugs 99% break free when done this way. Many Ford tech take them out hot, mine do it all the time, but then again they have the tools and experience to remove broken ones.

 

DeadLifter

Member

Mar 1, 2006

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19

Portland, IN

Jun 29, 2012

#4

• Jun 29, 2012

• #4

Use an impact and they shouldn't break. An impact will tap it loose. Twisting them right out is what breaks them.

 

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bigb427

Member

Nov 3, 2010

128

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Las Vegas, NV

Jun 29, 2012

#5

• Jun 29, 2012

• #5

DeadLifter said:

.... and they shouldn't break.

Click to expand...

That's awesome! The damned things shouldn't break no matter what you do, especially when removing them by hand!

I've replaced thousands of these plugs and in my opinion it makes no difference if the engine is cold or hot. The only real thing that seems to make a difference is mileage. The lower, the better!

 

Reactions: joe_momma

tbar327

Member

Mar 27, 2011

10

1

13

Vancouver BC

Jun 29, 2012

#6

• Jun 29, 2012

• #6

I was told if you removed them hot and they are stuck you could strip the threads in the head.

 

SpartaPerformance

10 Year Member

Nov 5, 2006

2,517

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Long Island NY

Jun 30, 2012

#7

• Jun 30, 2012

• #7

tbar327 said:

I was told if you removed them hot and they are stuck you could strip the threads in the head.

Click to expand...

You can strip the head cold too. The key is to be patient, turn them out s l o w l y!

 

streethorse

15 Year Member

Oct 8, 2005

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Dallas Texas

Jun 30, 2012

#8

• Jun 30, 2012

• #8

I'm thinkin a warm to cool engine might be good.
Why work on a hot engine, unless your in a huge rush.

 

D

DrSmith

Member

Sep 2, 2004

181

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Maine

Jul 24, 2012

#9

• Jul 24, 2012

• #9

streethorse said:

I'm thinkin a warm to cool engine might be good.
Why work on a hot engine, unless your in a huge rush.

Click to expand...

Hi Guys,
I already posted this, but thought I would follow up here as well. I started with a cold engine, cracked them 1/8 of a turn, soaked in pb blaster for about 24 hours. I got all 8 out no sweat. I worked them back and forth, no screeching but a few scary moments. I went real slow and it went fine. I bought the tool in case they broke, maybe having it and not needing it did the trick! I talked with a ford mechanic who thought the key was to work them back and forth and have plenty of patience.
Thanks for your input!
Look for my post on my supercharger install!
Doc

 

tr7driver

Member

Sep 5, 2006

117

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19

Illinois

Jul 26, 2012

#10

• Jul 26, 2012

• #10

Hey Doc, Where did you get the tool? Can I borrow it if I break one?

 

joe_momma

Member

Nov 29, 1999

115

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Jul 26, 2012

#11

• Jul 26, 2012

• #11

The tool is available on Amazon for $60 or so.

 

pudgy2342000

Member

Jun 28, 2010

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RI

Aug 11, 2012

#12

• Aug 11, 2012

• #12

I just did mine last night. My car has just a little over 40k and I attacked like it like a normal spark plug job. My car was cold seeing it had been sitting in the garage for 4 weeks (delay in valve cover project). Just take you time and you will be ok. Auto Zone may have a 3V spark plug tool if you should break 1. Sears sells them as well

 

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fullthrtle

Member

Aug 14, 2010

46

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19

TN

Aug 16, 2012

#13

• Aug 16, 2012

• #13

It doesnt matter cold or hot... We do them at the dealership when they come in. Break them loose then spray pb blaster in let soak then take them out. The lower the mileage the better. IF they break we use a took kit from napa at our dealership(yes its a ford dealership) works great and we can get the piece out in about 10-15 min easy. A couple of guys at the shop will break them loose spray pb blaster and then use an air rachet to take them out. I will have to say they break less plugs then the techs that use the rachet the whole time..... the 5.4 3valve are the worst for breaking IMO. But good thing is when you go back with new plugs you will never have the issue again due to the plug redesign...