MY spark plugs are stuck !!?

Question

my spark plugs wont budge when i try and unscrew them, i have allowed the engine to heat up to normal temp then while its still warm tired to remove them, but they didnt budge ive tried to heat it up with a blow torch then tried to loosen them, still no luck, the plugs nut isnt mangled its in perfect condiction so my tool wont slip

does any one have any suggestions on what i could do next to remove them safely, thanks

i did manage to get the 4th plug out since the wrench ive got is small im plannin to get a longer one with more leverage hopefully the rest will come out more easier,

one other thing tho, some people have said that WD 40 would penetrate all the way through and some people said the opposite, i sprayed the other plugs 1, 2 and 3 with lots of wd 40 and left it for a good 5 hours but it didnt seem to budge them when using the smaller wrench

thanks for your help and advise

im not sure what the make of the spark plug is tho on the ceramic layer theres a number BPR6EFS

The engine has 4 cylinders and it was created back in 1994, Ford Festa L reg

Answer 1

Is there any way you can get a cheater bar on you ratchet while it is on the plugs. Or could you get a long breaker bar and be able to get it on you plugs. And expanding the metal with a blow torch might make it tighter give it a try cold. As crappy as it is you might end up having to take it to a mechanic. But I would keep trying. Good luck I hope you can muscle them out.

Answer 2

Stuck and stripped are two different things. If it is "stripped" it has spun the threads on the well; good luck and get it to a mechanic to use an ez-out or perhaps drill it out but a mechanic needs to do this. If it is stuck or overtorqued into the well, then you need to slowly work it out without damaging the spark plug nut or rounding it. Once you have rounded it you are in the same position as when it is stripped. Another alternative is to buy a 90 degree box end wrench the same size as the spark plug and use that in very small increments to break it loose.Once loose you can remove with a socket IF the nut isn't rounded. An act of desperation is to take a hammer and chisel, then put the chisel on the rounded nut and hit the chisel with the hammer in the direction necessary to loosen the plug. You should only do this if you are a very experienced mechanic.

Answer 3

You didn't say what make and model and year, number of cylinders, etc. Volkwagen engines used to have this problem sometimes and we used to run the engine at very high idle and pore about a pint of auto trans fluid in the carb. It would soften the carbon on the plugs and 'lube' the threads on the plugs, keeping the plug threads in the aluminum head from being stripped. I can only imagine what that would do to the catylitic converters and computers of today.

When you do break them loose, if they don't come out easily I'd consider liquid wrench or WD40 once the seal is broken between the plug and the head.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Things expand when they are heated. So why did you get the engine to operating temperatures and then heated them up? Did you want them even tighter?

WD-40 isn't going to help since there is no way it can penetrate the threads of the plug which are inside the metal. With the engine cool, put a properly sized spark plug socket in place, then use a breaker bar to apply pressure to it. If it still won't move, assuming it starts and runs, drive it to the mechanic and have it done, and next time put anti-seize on the threads. If it won't start, tow it to the mechanic and follow the above advice.

Answer 5

Take it to a garage and let them do it, if they snap them off, then the cylinder head will need to come off for some bench work drilling the little sods out which may lead to helicoiling at an engineering shop
I only snapped 1 plug in 30 odd years in the motor trade, in my 750 Triumph bike which had been stood for years, normally a steady pull on a 30" breaker bar shifts them.

Answer 6

remember righty tighty lefty loosey Use some pb penetrating lube its available at walmart soak them overnight the pb will penetrate the threads don't pour anything in your carb! don't use heat try and use a longer wrench for the most possible leverage always use the anti-seize when you replace them. plugs are steel and most heads these days are aluminum. There is electrolysis present so you need the anti-seize What is electrolysis? touch a piece of aluminum foil to a filling in a tooth

Answer 7

They should come out when turned counter/anti clockwise.Have you tried tightening them,ie clockwise,to fool the thread? Only a bit mind.It shouldnt need a lot.Then turn anti clockwise as per normal.Dont heat the plugs or the engine just do it with a cold engine.You could also try using a longer lever on your sparkplug tool to increase your torque.

Answer 8

I can't remember ever having a spark plug come out without a fight. My "Plan B" method for really unco-operative spark plugs is a top quality 1/2" drive socket, suitable extension bar (if required) and then one of those extending 1/2" drive wheel braces!

Answer 9

A blow torch will expand the plugs and make them harder to remove. Find some electronics freeze spray, or plain old butane if you don't smoke and cool down the plugs.

Answer 10

You would be better to try when the engine is cold, and get the best quality and best fitting plug spanner you can and if necessary put a bar on to give more leverage, and don't forget to undo you turn ANTI CLOCKWISE.