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Spark plug removal

DNT on Wed April 27, 2005 11:21 AM User is offlineView users profile

Year: 1991
Make: Ford
Model: Explorer
Engine Size: 4.0 V6
Refrigerant Type: R-134a
Ambient Temp: n/a
Country of Origin: United States

Ac repair people seem to have real good motor vehicle knowledge, hopefully someone can help here. I helped my neighbor install a set of plug wires and plugs yesterday in his old explorer. One of the spark plugs would not screw out (all others were fine) it seems to be gaulded in the head, it will turn out tightly for about one turn then get so tight I am afraid to crank it any further. We changed everything else out and started and warmed the engine to full temperature and then tryed the plug, still no luck, just a nice burn on hand LOL. I have seen the helicoil kits but have never used one I guess that is the only answer, but thought I would check with you guys before I cranked the thing on out and ruined the threads Note: the old plugs had over 90k and all were at least 20 over gapped so it really needs to come out and be changed and the reason we were doing the work was because of a engine miss which WAS NOT CURED by the 6 plug wires and 5 plugs changed out I would like to eliminate that plug from being the culprit before moving to next phase of engine miss repair. Any input would be appreciated.

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Anyone who gives up freedom for the sake of safety, deserves neither freedom nor safety!

Edited: Wed April 27, 2005 at 11:23 AM by DNT

Shepherd777 on Wed April 27, 2005 12:44 PM User is offlineView users profile

Quote
Originally posted by: DNT
We changed everything else out and started and warmed the engine to full temperature and then tryed the plug.

I'm not familiar with Fords. Are those 4.0 V6 heads aluminum or steel? My old 1990 Chevy uses aluminum heads for its V6 motor.

If they are indeed aluminum, you have to extract those plugs while the motor is ICE-COLD, as the steel plugs have a different coefficient of expansion than the aluminum heads. That is, the steel plugs will expand more than the aluminum heads when warm/hot and lock/seize the plugs in the heads.

DNT on Wed April 27, 2005 1:00 PM User is offlineView users profile

Great info guys thanks I just went by tool crib and grabbed a can of PB blaster and I think the heads are aluminum so I will try it again this afternoon after work (neighbor is afraid to drive it untill repaired so it should be ice cold) . We did use the antisieze and boot protector when we reinstalled the new parts so we have that part covered. I am going to pick him up a Haynes repair manual and some lucas fuel injector cleaner for this vehicle on the way home, that way he can study up in case this last plug is not the problem and the gas treatment never hurts LOL. I will let you know how it goes. I hope it is not a internal problem with the cylinder (burnt valve or something) that caused the the stuck plug, that thought ran thru my mind hopefully it will come out clean.

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Anyone who gives up freedom for the sake of safety, deserves neither freedom nor safety!

bohica2xo on Wed April 27, 2005 7:25 PM User is offline

Yes, the heads on the 4.0 cammers are aluminum.

Don't sweat it if you need to do a helicoil job - it is not that bad. If you grease the cutting tools up, the chips stay stuck to the tool. The few aluminum chips that do fall into the cylinder don't seem to cause any trouble. Be glad the heads are aluminum - cast iron chips do tear stuff up.

Here's a pic of the current 4.0L Explorer - the truck is parked normally, not on a jack or anything.



Any deep puddle, and the plugs see water.

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"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."
~ Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, An Autobiography, M. K. Gandhi, page 446.

DNT on Wed April 27, 2005 9:30 PM User is offlineView users profile

Guys thanks for all the help the plug came out fairly easily after soaking it with with PB Blaster several times and working it in and out about 20 times ( I think I was a bit reluctant to put to much pressure on it before) no damage to the threads and the new one, with antisieze on it, threaded in nicely and the truck runs like new. The old plug had a thick layer of what looked to be dried baked on oil on the threads, I have a sneaking suspicion that the valve cover leaking oil onto this particular plug and many years of heat cooked up a nasty combination on those threads. I guess I will have to put him some valve cover gaskets on when I get a chance LOL. I really appreciate the help, this is a forum that in my opinion is unmatched anywhere on the web thanks again.

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Anyone who gives up freedom for the sake of safety, deserves neither freedom nor safety!

steve325is on Thu April 28, 2005 3:15 PM User is offline

Quote
Originally posted by: bohica2xo
Yes, the heads on the 4.0 cammers are aluminum.


Except that the 1991 he is working on has the "old school" pushrod 4.0. Those have cast iron heads.

Steve

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