Help - Broken Plugs

[bojans]

Changing the plugs on my 06 V8 tonight and 7 of the 8 broke. Any one in the McHenry area have a broken plug removal tool I can borrow, rent, buy? Any tricks to reomve the broken plug w/o the tool?

Thanks
Scott

 

[jupiterak]

I've been reading horror stories about these plugs breaking. How many mile do you have on it? I'm gonna have to change mine very soon.

 

[bojans]

65k. I did the1/8 turn and penetrant then the sheath and nut came out leaving the insulator and electrode. Soaked them again and grabbed the insulator and now all that is in the hole is the base of the plug, just a corrosion / friction fit but still going to be a bear to get out.

 

[junkYARDbuilt]

do these 06 and up have aluminum heads? I've taken out some ugly plugs, but I don't think I've ever broken one inside the engine.

 

[freetodragdoors]

SPARK PLUG REMOVAL INSTRUCTIONS - 4.6L 3V/5.4L 3V/6.8L 3V
Remove the coil-on-plug assemblies and thoroughly blow out the spark plug wells and surrounding valve cover area with compressed air
Back out the spark plugs no more than 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn. Using Carburetor Tune-Up Cleaner, fill the spark plug well just above where the jamb nut hex sits (1/2 - 3/4 teaspoon). A minimum period of 15 minutes of soak time is required. DO NOT WORK the spark plug back and forth at this point. just let it sit for 15 minutes no less!!
EXCESSIVE CARBURETOR TUNE-UP CLEANER, OR REPEATING THE PROCESS SEVERAL TIMES WITH TOO MUCH CLEANER FLUID, COULD INTRODUCE ENOUGH LIQUID VOLUME TO HYDRO-LOCK THE ENGINE.
This is a given but just in case DO NOT USE AIR TOOLS ONLY HAND TOOLS
Tighten, and then loosen the spark plug, working the plug back and forth. Some screeching and high effort may be noticed. The expected removal torque is about 33 lb-ft (45 N-m). Repeat the back and forth turning as needed until turning effort is reduced, and remove the spark plugs.
NEW PLUGS SHOULD BE INSTALLED USING A FILM COATING OF HIGH TEMPERATURE NICKEL ANTI-SEIZE LUBRICANT ON THE GROUND ELECTRODE SHIELD. DO NOT COAT THE ELECTRODE STRAP

 

[bojans]

FYI Lisle 65600 is an amazing tool. Took no more than 1 hour to remove all 7 broken plugs. If you plan to change your plugs I would suggest either buying one of these or knwing where you can get one quickly if things turn bad.

 

[cherry ford]

The use of anti seize is a very good tip.The two types of metal involved work against each other to creat a type of weld.I have found that some times a chain saw spark plug tool comes in handy if you have room to work.The only thing I can add is when you replace the plugs is to make sure the threads are very clean and to spin the plugs in & out with the anti-seize to make sure that they don't bind and torque to spec.

 

[bojans]

amazingly there was no corrosion anywhere on the plug body. I thought for sure with the disimilar metals they would have been welded together, not the case. It was friction and carbon holding the electrode body in the head.

 

[Bill MacLeod]

What type of penetrating fluid did you use? How long did you let it soak? At what temp was the block/heads?

Going to change mine soon. Just need the time and nerve to do this. Not going to enjoy this job.

 

[cherry ford]

I belive the person that original person with this problem used carb cleaner.This is a good idea because they said that the problem was carbon build up.I would think if you were to do this job when the engine was hot or at least warm might help because the alum heads will expand to help with removal.Maybe the use of a throttle body cleaner sprayed in the engine while running will help break down the carbon build up.Wish you the best of luck.I thiny one thing that might help down the road is to remove the plugs at regular intervolts so as to keep corbon build up at a minum.

 

[bojans]

I actually tried both penetrant and carb cleaner, did it when the engine was rather warm but not so hot that it was burning me. By the time I got the extracor the ngine and plugs were cold, might have been easier if I had the tool when the engine was warm. Good Luck.