[erader]

 

[orndog]

Good job!

 

[GB49]

Good job on the extraction!!
Did the plug break on removal or install? What caused the plug to break? What would you do differently to avoid breaking another plug?
...Just trying to gather an much info as I can before I change mine.

 

[AstroKats]

Good job on the extraction!!
Did the plug break on removal or install? What caused the plug to break? What would you do differently to avoid breaking another plug?
...Just trying to gather an much info as I can before I change mine.

I wondered that, too. Not that I will be changing my own again but out of curiosity as I've changed a lot of spark plugs in my time (my Jags were V12) and never saw anything like that. Could be a faulty spark plug to shear like that. The fact that you were able to get the threaded part out tells me that wasn't the problem...

 

[erader]

I wondered that, too. Not that I will be changing my own again but out of curiosity as I've changed a lot of spark plugs in my time (my Jags were V12) and never saw anything like that. Could be a faulty spark plug to shear like that. The fact that you were able to get the threaded part out tells me that wasn't the problem...

my guess is it was overtightened

 

[nbs0524]

Good job on the extraction!!
Did the plug break on removal or install? What caused the plug to break? What would you do differently to avoid breaking another plug?
...Just trying to gather an much info as I can before I change mine.

my guess is it was overtightened

ding ding ding! Yeah it was. It was on the install.

I guess my advice would be to just go hand tight on the plugs.

 

[aba4430]

Great job on this. That came out clean enough. If you feel you might have residual debris, you can blow into the hole with compressed air.

PS. Regarding overtightened plugs. On plugs that are equipped with a crush gasket, I don't even use a torque wrench, I blow the hole out, remove the plug, blow the hole again, thread the new one in till it bottoms. Then I will use the wrench to tighten until the crush gasket is totally compressed. It is a pretty firm feel when the crush washer bottoms out. Have not had any issues with plugs on any vehicle.

 

[Scythe]

Champion, Bosch, NGK, etc., have the torque requirements and the 1/2 turn, 3/4 turn, etc. based on which plug you are using. It's important to get the spark plug the right amount of tightness. An under torqued spark plug can cause problems.

 

[77'911]

Nice job on getting that out of there, no easy task. My guess is with those 14mm spark plugs, we will see lots more broken plugs. There just is not a ton of integrity to them, along with having little to no proper leverage in the location for removal. Our Boxster has loads more room in there for spark plug maintenance. I never torque my spark plugs, but then I've installed way too many over the decades. Most of them on flat engines(German, etc..). If you want to torque them, I'd suggest a flat head precision instruments click type wrench. Before installing the new plug, I'd get a small rigid shop vac with the small attachment on it as close to the spark plug hole on the head as possible. Enclose any gaps with your hand or a cloth to get out as much as possible. Again, congrats on the removal, nice going.
regards

 

[adc]

ding ding ding! Yeah it was. It was on the install.I guess my advice would be to just go hand tight on the plugs.

I doubt itj was over tightened. (IMHO) Plugs are difficult to get out of aluminum heads. The aluminum bonds with the steel as anyone who has worked on motorcycles knows. People tell you to make sure the heads are cool when you remove the plugs. I disagree with that as aluminum expands more than stainless steel. So it it is easier to remove them with the heads war, But I have never done that.

DO NOT GO HAND TIGHT. If you can't torque its a bit over 1/2 turn after hand tight.

I agree with Astro. I have never seen this happen. And at the age of j74 I have removed a "Few"

Congrats for getting it out.

 

[CRAZYHAWK]

I doubt itj was over tightened. (IMHO) Plugs are difficult to get out of aluminum heads. The aluminum bonds with the steel as anyone who has worked on motorcycles knows. People tell you to make sure the heads are cool when you remove the plugs. I disagree with that as aluminum expands more than stainless steel. So it it is easier to remove them with the heads war, But I have never done that.

DO NOT GO HAND TIGHT. If you can't torque its a bit over 1/2 turn after hand tight.

I agree with Astro. I have never seen this happen. And at the age of j74 I have removed a "Few"

Congrats for getting it out.

Place a one foot long, 3/8" inner diameter vacuum hose over the porcelain of the spark plug. Start threading the plug. Lightly tug to make sure the threading started. Finish tightening the plug. Pull the hose off. Use a 9/16" spark plug socket to tighten5/8 turn or 225*.

 

[xv-v]

Based on pictures - it seems the NEW spark plug was either defective or over tighten during install. Congrats on successful recovery though!

 

[jlrover]

I couldn’t sleep this morning and took a crack at it. I was able to remove it.

Hello
Unfortunately I'm in the same position, but my plug broke on the passenger side, and the porcelain broke in half too just like the plug, can you share how you got the tool to do the work, since space is the main issue please.

thank you

 

[jlrover]

I try a few extractors with limited tools no luck so far, the valve cover was leaking so I removed it to have more space, and replace the seals, still no luck, no space or angle to try to tap any extractor so far, specially hard to know if I'm taping at the broken part, center of it, mechanics that I have found/called have not helped.

 

[erader]

Dealer charges $450 to replace four spark plugs because nobody would take their car to them when they charged $1,000...It's $450 cause they've found that people are willing to be soaked for the amount.

soaked? i'll gladly pay $450

 

[AstroKats]

I'm with @erader on this one. I grew up helping my dad do all his own maintenance on cars and did so my myself for many years. However, I'm done crawling under cars, getting covered in oil and scraping my knuckles. Besides, I wouldn't even know where to begin with my new to me car...

 

[erader]

I'm with @erader on this one. I grew up helping my dad do all his own maintenance on cars and did so my myself for many years. However, I'm done crawling under cars, getting covered in oil and scraping my knuckles. Besides, I wouldn't even know where to begin with my new to me car...

it's part of the 60k service as i recall which i believe cost me under $700 when i did my 2016. i'm sure it costs more now but i'm okay with that. i charge more now too

 

[ironman1518]

You’re the second person to mention the possibility of loosening the bolts for the engine mounts and jacking it up a little. I’m hoping I don’t have to since it’s the tube near the battery.

Wonder that’s why the dealer charges $450+ for a spark plug change.

Crush washer fell off lol

I have changed mine no engine bolt removal. Using various park plug tool and extension.

 

[ironman1518]

I couldn’t sleep this morning and took a crack at it. I was able to remove it.

AWESOME GOOD FOR YOU!!

 

[nbs0524]

I try a few extractors with limited tools no luck so far, the valve cover was leaking so I removed it to have more space, and replace the seals, still no luck, no space or angle to try to tap any extractor so far, specially hard to know if I'm taping at the broken part, center of it, mechanics that I have found/called have not helped.

View attachment 315386 View attachment 315387

I am just seeing this, I apologize as I haven't been very active on here since adding a 2022 4Runner to the fleet. Hopefully, you made some progress with this already.

The fix for me, Irwin Ex-5 extraction tool. IRWIN Hanson Ex-5 Screw Extractor and 19/64 In Bit Combo in the Screw Extractors & Sets department at Lowes.com

Thanks goes to MrSubaru and his network of Subaru techs for the advice.