Spark plugs

[burn_your_money]

Today I decided to take out my plugs to see what condition they are in. According to my haynes manual they have been in there way too long and my rings are leaking, great. Anyways, my problem is that I could only get # 1 and # 4 out. #2 and #3 were right seized in there. I didn't want to try super hard to get them out in case I broke them or something so I am wondering if someone has some suggestions for removing them? Can I spray WD40 around them? Can I wail away on them with my ratchet or will the break? How tight (ft/lbs) do I tighten them to?

[jettadude]

use some penatration lube on them. then crank away. if you break the top you can still get them out with the metal nut. as for tightening just tighen them with you own strength, but don't over tighten, when it gets hard to move give it a good quarter or half a turn.

[Mortal_Wombat]

PBlaster is the rawk.

[burn_your_money]

Ok great, thanks guys. I'll give it a try tomorrow.

[speedbump]

before you put the new ones in, put some of thet nasty gray never-seize on the threads, this will make them easier to remove next time.

[burn_your_money]

I don't have new ones yet, but I guess there would be no harm in instaling them now even tho my car is far from being ready to get out on the road? I'll definitly use some never-seize

[Slalom]

I don't have new ones yet, but I guess there would be no harm in instaling them now even tho my car is far from being ready to get out on the road? I'll definitly use some never-seize

ya install your new plugs, don't leave the plug holes open while the car is sitting, much higher potential for water, dirt, critters and corrosion to get in there and cause alot more problems

[burn_your_money]

I was just going to take them out and put them back in, then get new plugs later

[91wolf]

ya install your new plugs, don't leave the plug holes open while the car is sitting, much higher potential for water, dirt, critters and corrosion to get in there and cause alot more problems


ok......

[burn_your_money]

Good news, I got them all out!
Bad news, all my rings are leaking
It's not too bad, it should last me until I get my turbo diesel :D
Anyone know how hard changing the rings are? or should I just wait for my Bentley to arrive and decide once I see it?

[Mortal_Wombat]

you really dont change the rings unless your doing a rebuild on an engine
you will need the cyl bores to be rehoned by a shop (or yourself with the proper tools) and what do you mean by they are leaking?
did you do a leakdown test?
whats your compression?

[burn_your_money]

Well according to my trusty haynes manual, they are leaking, the color of the plugs can tell you this. Mine are black and kinda covered in oil, which (according to haynes) means my rings are leaking. I haven't gotten around to a compression check yet but that is coming next time the car is in the shop. What's a leakdown test?

[Mr_Diesel]

If your plugs are oily, then you have a topend problem... The bottomend on 1.8L 8v VW engines are totally bulletproof for 350,000 miles. The topend (head) however will need some service after about 200,000 miles.

[burn_your_money]

Well I am either 272k km or 227k km, I seen to think its the later however my mechanic wrote down 272k km when I brought it in to get safetied. Whatever, I guess it's 272k km. So my top end should still be fine. According to the reciepts that came with it, the car appears to have had regular maintenance, although in my opinion a few more oil changes could have helped, but those may have just not been recorded. If my plugs have oil on them, what should I do?

[jettadude]

try putting in a thicker oil. but it comes down to live with it till it dies or rebuild it.

[burn_your_money]

I guess I'll just live with it until I swap in my turbo diesel.
Thanks guys

[Slalom]

I was just going to take them out and put them back in, then get new plugs later

ah ok, sorry i read you question differently... thought you were going to leave the plugs out entirely

[burn_your_money]

I know better then to leave the plugs out. I've done that on my snowmobile once and I seized the engine. Luckily my grampa knows what he's doing and fixed it up.