Adventures in spark plug changing
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,293
Likes: 18
I would use Kano Labs 'Kreen' rather than carb cleaner - it is designed to dissolve baked-on hard carbon and it contains oil for lubricity. I like the gradual, loosen/tighten method. I say this in the academic sense because I don't have a 3V engine and probably never will. I haven't put plugs in an engine since my 1990 Ford Escort GT. It typically is not needed since I never go over 100K on a vehicle. In the case of the Escort it was very easy so I did it. Didn't make any difference - never has since they took the lead out of the gas.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Lombard Il.
I used motorcraft carb cleaner and Hoppes #9 gun solvent and it worked great. I let them sit for about 4 hours and then did the back and forth routine. They all made alot of noise coming out but no issues.
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
Carb cleaner works just fine.
Update: I used my truck to get a car with a car trailer, putting 1400 miles on it in the process. After I got home my truck developed a dead miss. I tracked it to cylinder #7 via code reader and determined it was the spark plug and replaced it with a new one. It now runs great again. The plug I took out had a cracked porcelain insulator around the center electrode.
Update: I used my truck to get a car with a car trailer, putting 1400 miles on it in the process. After I got home my truck developed a dead miss. I tracked it to cylinder #7 via code reader and determined it was the spark plug and replaced it with a new one. It now runs great again. The plug I took out had a cracked porcelain insulator around the center electrode.
Trailering
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
Getting ready to start the changing if my plugs.I have found the SP515 plug for around 4 bucks on Amazon. This is way cheaper than any other place I have found them. Was considering the Champion plug but not sure. Some use the and some use the SP515. Is there really any one is better than the other advice?
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 29
Likes: 1
I can't comment on the Champions as I have no experience with them. I do know after the TSB is performed the SP515 plugs come out fine the next time with no problem at all. As per my earlier post I had one develop a crack in the porcelain but a new plug fixed the problem. I put 73,000 miles on my first set of SP515 plugs and was very satisfied with them.
Freshman User
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
I think if its going to break its going to break however you choose to remove it. I used the impact and broke three. Still think it was easier and the Lisle tool worked perfectly and didn't really slow me down that much. Only components removed were the PCM and its bracket to access plug 3 and 4. I looked at it this way...... don't worry about breaking a plug, you've got the tool to remove it so go for it and save some cash in the process. And it was a good reason to drink cold beer and get greasy, lol.
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