Broken spark plug
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New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5
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From: Central NJ
Broken spark plug
I have a 94 Ranger (2.3L), and the front-most spark plug broke just below the fitting (i.e., almost flush with the block). Can anyone please give some insights as to how to fix this problem? Many thanks in advance.
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 544
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From: Ocala, Florida
First of all, carefully remove the offending unit. Try not to damage it any further. When you remove it, inspect the bottom of it. If it does not look like anything broke off and fell inside the cylinder, consider yourself lucky. If it looks like some porcelain broke away and fell inside, you will have to remove the cylinder head to get the shards of porcelain out.
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 984
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
I'd blow the surround area to the plug with an air compressor prior to removal first, to remove any possible shards of porcelain from under the head of the plug. Then remove it. If the bottom of the plug is intact, you're ok at this point, althoug shooting some lub into the cyl(engine oil) and spinning it over to blow possible left-overs out prior to installing a new plug is a good option to make sure. Install a new plug, and away you go. How did you break the plug? Using a non-spark-plug oriented wrench? If so, find the appropriate size and use it. A proper spark plug socket has a rubber insert in it to keep the plug from becoming damaged as you've described. Well worth the investment.
Edit:Likely to be 5/8 or 3/4(most common) unless in a metric size, but doubtful on a Ford, even to current date.
Edit:Likely to be 5/8 or 3/4(most common) unless in a metric size, but doubtful on a Ford, even to current date.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5
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From: Central NJ
Technique needed
I had a spark plug break off just below the nut. Basically, there is just a ceramic plug with metal lining in the hole, flush with the block. Any ideas as to how to get it extracted without filling the cyllinder with debris? Any tools that take care of this? Thanks in advance.
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5
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From: Central NJ
Clarification
How the plug broke:
- I was using the proper size spark plug wrench.
- the plug had been in a long time (at least 2+ years)
- I had not used any thread treatment in the past
- it appears that the plug's threads may have fused with those on the block
Currently, what remains of the plug is still filling the hole. Nothing left to "grab on to". How would you get it out?
I do appreciate the tips about how to get debris out of the cyllinder. That will be the next problem. Thanks.
- I was using the proper size spark plug wrench.
- the plug had been in a long time (at least 2+ years)
- I had not used any thread treatment in the past
- it appears that the plug's threads may have fused with those on the block
Currently, what remains of the plug is still filling the hole. Nothing left to "grab on to". How would you get it out?
I do appreciate the tips about how to get debris out of the cyllinder. That will be the next problem. Thanks.
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 544
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From: Ocala, Florida
Try soaking it real well with PB Blaster. That should loosen it up, the stuff is amazing at how well it works. You just may have to remove the head to get it out, if all other possible attempts to remove it don't work. I don't envy you. Good luck, and I hope it works out well.
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Tuned
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 268
Likes: 1
From: a little S/E of Nome
A shop vac with the hose close to the plug and an E Z out are two things that come to mind. Is this a steel plug in an aluminum head by any chance?
I would break away the porcelin with a screw driver while keeping the vac hose close to the source of chipped porcelin and then use the E Z out to extract the remainder of the plug. Seeing as how you have no nut left your in for a tough one.
I would break away the porcelin with a screw driver while keeping the vac hose close to the source of chipped porcelin and then use the E Z out to extract the remainder of the plug. Seeing as how you have no nut left your in for a tough one.
Tuned
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 483
Likes: 1
It would help to know what engine it is. Its possible to blow air in thru the intake and vac out the cyl after the fact with a hose or a straw. But, Eric's idea of removing the head is certainly reliable and depending on the age of the engine a new set of gaskets isnt always a bad idea anyway. A little of the removal techinque would depend on the tools you have availiable.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
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From: "Islander"
What to do?
letterman, be sure that the cylinder that your working on is on TDC, compression stroke. Punch out (in) the porcelain, remove the plug body, vacuum the cylinder clean if you can with the broken porcelain. Pull the piston down 3", vacuum again, wash the bore down with WD 40 all around, vacuum again. I know it sounds bad but the top compression ring edge will not let glass pass it. When you start up again any particles left behind will go out the exhaust port. Did you ever remove a plug with half the porcelain missing from detonation? Did you remove the head because you found porcelain missing from that plug? Plan B, is pull the intake, exhaust and head. Your choice. Just my opinion. Carl.......o&o>..........