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Seized sprk plug fix

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Old May 11, 2011 | 01:52 PM
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Default Seized sprk plug fix

Hopefully this wasn't covered recently on here. My 88 has had #2 plug seized tight since the day I puchased the car. I changed the rest but this one would not move even the slightest bit. I have tried everything from "liquid wrench" to "PB blaster". Soaked and soaked and nothing. I had givin into the fact that I would guts it and if it twisted or pulled the threads I would just end up having to pull the head to do the needed repairs. One last thing I told to try was turpentine. Yes turpentine. I still can't believe it but after three applications in about 45 minutes I put a wrench to it and it turned. I worked it tenderly out and had NO damage to anything. Who would a guessed. Just wanted to pass this along if it hasn't already been mentioned on here.
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Old May 11, 2011 | 02:08 PM
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Unbelievable , turpentine must have many uses. I have seen people use it on cuts to make them heal in a couple days, I have personally seen it work for this purpose.. It must be a wonder fluid..When you put the new plugs in give them a smear of antiseize so they don't stick again....WW
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Old May 11, 2011 | 02:47 PM
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Glad to hear that worked for you. I've been around for a while and that's a new one on me. As they say-live and learn
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Old May 11, 2011 | 03:12 PM
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That is pretty cool I have read that the best pentrating oil is atf and acetone mixed 50 50 not sure where I ran across it might have been here of another site FWIW
Dave
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Old May 11, 2011 | 07:30 PM
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One of the drawbacks of plugs that last for 100,000 miles or more; by the time you really need to change them, they're frozen stuck and you're pulling the heads! Heat sometimes works better than anything else. Run the poop out of it and then try (without burning your hands!). Otherwise, even the old tech in our C4's keeps the plugs happy for a long time and absent an obvious misfire, you might just check fuel delivery first. If it's dead on, you get nothing other than a shot at stripping some threads.
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Old May 11, 2011 | 09:24 PM
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Originally Posted by SunCr
One of the drawbacks of plugs that last for 100,000 miles or more; by the time you really need to change them, they're frozen stuck and you're pulling the heads! Heat sometimes works better than anything else. Run the poop out of it and then try (without burning your hands!). Otherwise, even the old tech in our C4's keeps the plugs happy for a long time and absent an obvious misfire, you might just check fuel delivery first. If it's dead on, you get nothing other than a shot at stripping some threads.
If you're fortunate, and get the plugs out without any damage, a thin stripe of anti-seize compound on the threads of the plugs that are going in makes a world of difference the next time they're taken out. Really solves the problem.

Live well,

SJW
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Old May 11, 2011 | 09:28 PM
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Wow, PB blaster didnt work...
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Old May 11, 2011 | 10:30 PM
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Never tried that, wonder if it would work any where else? Also got to wonder if the previous Liquid Wrench and PB Blaster didn't have something to do with it. No matter it worked and that is what counts.
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Old May 12, 2011 | 11:41 AM
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I don't buy the hyper expensive plugs so I toss them every 2 yrs max. Anti seize and you will be fine.
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Old May 13, 2011 | 05:30 AM
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Originally Posted by aklim
I don't buy the hyper expensive plugs so I toss them every 2 yrs max. Anti seize and you will be fine.
The same idea is worth mentioning for tires there is no sense buying tires that will go 75000 miles if you only drive 2000 a year they will be rotted before you get to the 75000 miles. Better to buy some softer cheaper ones that wear out in 25000 miles or less and change them before they dry rot.
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