Spark plug ejected
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2004
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Spark plug ejected
When idling at Costco the other day the 2.3L started to make a racket. Thought that the exhaust manifold gasket had gone. With the engine running, did some quick troubleshooting and noticed the #3 wire was off and could feel airflow from the cylinder. Got the truck home and discovered the plug laying between the cams next to the #4 plug. Threads looked OK but the cap was missing and wire damaged. Could see threads in the head for the plug. Got lucky, replaced the plug and wire set. The truck runs fine now. I replaced the plugs at 74000 miles; the truck now has 113000 miles. Has anybody else had anything like this happen? I know the Triton V-10s had a issue with plug ejection due to thin heads. I'm sure I torqued the plugs when installed. Could something else be going on in the head to allow the plug to unscrew? Your help and advice will be appreciated.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
The plugs either were not torqued to the correct tightness or he has an upcoming problem with the threads in the head, aka Heli-Coil time...
The only way this happens is the two things above. The plug worked its way loose, and the final bit of thread holding it in let the plug blow out. Aluminum heads like the threads of the plugs coated with a bit of anti-sieze. The dissimilar metals can form a bond that will chew up the threads. The 100,000 mile spark plugs are fine... for the first owner who sells before the magic number, but the next owner may be saddled with plugs that are not removable without damaging the cylinder head.
tom
The only way this happens is the two things above. The plug worked its way loose, and the final bit of thread holding it in let the plug blow out. Aluminum heads like the threads of the plugs coated with a bit of anti-sieze. The dissimilar metals can form a bond that will chew up the threads. The 100,000 mile spark plugs are fine... for the first owner who sells before the magic number, but the next owner may be saddled with plugs that are not removable without damaging the cylinder head.
tom
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Junior User
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There were no issues, noises, or backfires. Engine has always been maintained in tip-top form. I used anti-sieze on the threads when changing plugs. Still guessing as to the cause, but it's becoming apparent that I must not have torqued that plug (i.e., lack of damage to the threads in the head). I guess I'll have to wait another 29000 miles to see if it happens again. Thanks for your help.
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
Plug was screwd in but was not torques and ......
What is 4-cyl engine head is made of?
Old ZIL 6.1-7.3 V8 engines had made of aluminium heads and spark plugs with short thread. If they were not torqued properly they could come out and when they were screwd in for 1-2 turns they could easily be shot like a bullet...
Newer heard anyone was killed ore injured with spark plug, but saw failed heads and hoods with holes.
What is 4-cyl engine head is made of?
Old ZIL 6.1-7.3 V8 engines had made of aluminium heads and spark plugs with short thread. If they were not torqued properly they could come out and when they were screwd in for 1-2 turns they could easily be shot like a bullet...
Newer heard anyone was killed ore injured with spark plug, but saw failed heads and hoods with holes.
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
I would avoid the helicoil route. I know a lot of people find they work just fine, but after my last job involving them, I will never go back, too much trouble getting it in properly.
There are similar products that are much stronger and better, use one of them if it comes to rethreading something. The ones I are reffering to are the units that are a solid steel sleeve.
There are similar products that are much stronger and better, use one of them if it comes to rethreading something. The ones I are reffering to are the units that are a solid steel sleeve.
Freshman User
Joined: Apr 2007
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If you can install a new plug and get proper torque from it then most likely the old plug was not properly torqued. It happens to all of us. We were going back to get back that one after we answered the phone or talked to someone or whatever.
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Final Update: After the rain stopped, I checked the #3 plug to ensure it was seated in the head. I measure the depth of the other three plugs from the pan shield between the cams. The plug was at the same depth. Pulled the plug, measuring the breakaway torque (I know this is not a good indication, but it was a better check than none), ensuring the #3 cylinder was at TDC, then pressurized the cylinder to check for a crack in the spark plug boss. Happy to say the cylinder held pressure with no evidence of cracking. Put the unit backed together and put 200 miles on the Ranger. Measured the breakaway torque again, it was a little higher (I expected that) then re-installed and torqued the plug. CONCLUSION: I must not have properly torqued the plug when I first installed it. A lot of work for such a silly mistake. By the way, the Ranger runs geat. 
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,242
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From: Kiev, Ukraine
It was many years ago, my brother and me were kids. We had to 1-cyl motorbikes, something like in Terminator-II mouvie, remember kid draw one....
Once my yonger brother hit a car that draw on red. Fortunatly nobody was heart, front wheel of byke and drver's door on car were damaged, window was broken..... But after all police reports were done we tried to start engine, and no effect. It was simple 150CC 2 stroke engine. We were surprized when to check compression we tried to scres spark plug out and it was not torqued. I pulled it out with hends w/o socket. That's why starter cranked engine so fast. How it is related with accident? nobony knows...
Once my yonger brother hit a car that draw on red. Fortunatly nobody was heart, front wheel of byke and drver's door on car were damaged, window was broken..... But after all police reports were done we tried to start engine, and no effect. It was simple 150CC 2 stroke engine. We were surprized when to check compression we tried to scres spark plug out and it was not torqued. I pulled it out with hends w/o socket. That's why starter cranked engine so fast. How it is related with accident? nobony knows...
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 210
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From: South west Wisconsin
It was many years ago, my brother and me were kids. We had to 1-cyl motorbikes, something like in Terminator-II mouvie, remember kid draw one....
Once my yonger brother hit a car that draw on red. Fortunatly nobody was heart, front wheel of byke and drver's door on car were damaged, window was broken..... But after all police reports were done we tried to start engine, and no effect. It was simple 150CC 2 stroke engine. We were surprized when to check compression we tried to scres spark plug out and it was not torqued. I pulled it out with hends w/o socket. That's why starter cranked engine so fast. How it is related with accident? nobony knows...
Once my yonger brother hit a car that draw on red. Fortunatly nobody was heart, front wheel of byke and drver's door on car were damaged, window was broken..... But after all police reports were done we tried to start engine, and no effect. It was simple 150CC 2 stroke engine. We were surprized when to check compression we tried to scres spark plug out and it was not torqued. I pulled it out with hends w/o socket. That's why starter cranked engine so fast. How it is related with accident? nobony knows...
Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 5,242
Likes: 0
From: Kiev, Ukraine
So strange spark plugs of air planes... They have short thread and a pice of tube is welded on them, wire is inside made of steel tube. My grandfather used them on motorbikes.
He used to get them in local air base. they were used and changed t new. after sandblaster they worked fine!
He used to get them in local air base. they were used and changed t new. after sandblaster they worked fine!
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: South west Wisconsin
So strange spark plugs of air planes... They have short thread and a pice of tube is welded on them, wire is inside made of steel tube. My grandfather used them on motorbikes.
He used to get them in local air base. they were used and changed t new. after sandblaster they worked fine!
He used to get them in local air base. they were used and changed t new. after sandblaster they worked fine!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
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From: suburban atlanta
Karl, I have a piston from a radial, cut in half, that my Dad used for bookends. Came from Wright Field in Dayton, I think. He was part of the FoMoCo team that worked on the N-4360 14 day certification. Not that I know anything about that... Four rows of 9-cylinder radial engines...
tom
tom