[Shop-talk] A problem I've never seen before......

[Mullen, Tim]

Gerald Brazil wrote:

> Last Saturday I saw my neighbor changing spark plugs on his
> truck. About a half an hour later he was knocking on my door.
> He handed me the insulator from a broken spark plug and said,
> "What do I do now coach?"
>
> When I looked at it closer I saw that it was not just the
> insulator, the steel hex portion of the plug was still attached
> to the insulator. The steel hex had snapped off of the threaded
> portion.

Was this by any chance on a relatively new model of Ford truck?

I remember reading about a problem with some new style plug that when
left in for the long duration life (i.e. 100,000 miles) have a tendency
to break like that.

There is a Ford service bulletin out about it, and some special tools
designed specifically to remove the broken plugs.  I do remember reading
that they recommend using penetrating oil, backing off a bit, oiling,
screwing it in, etc.

I'll see if I can find some references when I get home...

Tim Mullen

Chantilly, VA