anone else ever get freaked out putting spark plug in ?

[Theiceman]

especially when its a new to you car when you are not sure what to expect.

The spark plugs in my car I was able to loosen with literally one hand on the top of my wrench .. so im thinking uh oh ...

went to put the new ones in with the torque wrench... tighter.. tighter... tighter.... then less tight ....

I know its coming as the crush washer decides to collapse an then it tightens up . But still to this day after 35 years of wrenching cars it still makes my heart stop when I feel it as I think I have stripped out the spark plug hole. BTW washer starts to crush at about 18-20 lbs torque ( I use a beam torque wrench as I just don't trust the clickers for that sort of stuff. )

[vortexjunkie]

I just did this exact thing last night with my new to me car. I have also started vacuuming out the holes before pulling the plugs because of crap found in there from other owners. The possibilities of a already stripped hole are my biggest fears.

[miA4]

I always get nervous, but I pull them when the engine is dead cold. Either that or have someone do it so if it breaks, it's their problem and not mine.

[80sGuy]

I always get nervous, but I pull them when the engine is dead cold. Either that or have someone do it so if it breaks, it's their problem and not mine.

Best way to do it because the metal is relaxed and 'loosen'. This way you know when not to over/under-torque. Misfires are easily prevented with this simple step.

[Theiceman]

believe me a tech would get it snug if he stripped it and get it out the door in most cases. even if they strip it you would have a tough time getting them to take ownership , you will hear it was already like that .

[allstock]

Always use a torque wrench. Do it yourself on cold engine and realize things change after removing a plug because if it's crush washer.

[Schweini]

^

Yup. Invest in a torque wrench guys. One very important tool

[Axis]

I dont even remember the torque specs lol Its always hand tight plus a bit. Worst is I have three different torque wrenches.

Is it 21lbs?

[Schweini]

^

I don't use it either on my plugs, and I have 2 also lol

[teg2audi]

22 lbs

[Brillo]

Guys: Don't be too concerned about torquing spark plugs in a warm or hot engine. The difference in the yield strength of aluminum and its alloys at ambient temperature relative to 212 degrees F is very small - probably about 5%, and few folks are working on engines at 212F . The factor of safety for plug torque is probably in the neighborhood of 60%. There is no reason to over tighten spark plugs. Just snug them to the specified torque hot or cold and you'll be fine. In my motorcycle racing days we used to do plug checks for carb jetting by killing the engine after 5 miles at pretty much WOT using the kill switch. We'd then pull the plugs and believe me they were hot as hell, check them, and put them back in, always torquing to minimum. Never stripped one, never had one loosen. Same thing with all the planes (air cooled engines, aluminum heads) i've owned but if you are not comfortable with this, that's fine too.

[allstock]

Unless you want to gamble with fissures in your heads. Use a torque wrench whenever you can wherever you can.