Preventive spark plug removal??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,677
Likes: 0
From: I have to return some videotapes
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
GM says no antisieze as it changes the torque
GM recommends that you do not use antisieze compound on the plugs as you will overtorque them when you apply the antisieze. I find it extremely hard to use a torque wrench on several of the plugs and use the time old hand torque method that says when they are tight they are tight. Haven't broken a plug in over 40 years but did snap one off when I was a kid. I used antisieze when I did the plugs at about 70K miles.
BIGHANK
BIGHANK
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 45
From: Castleton VA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Because at 21K miles, the plugs are hardly worn. I see no reason to throw away the money on new plugs when all I want to do is make sure they won't be stuck many years from now, when they're due to be replaced.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 6,993
Likes: 25
How do you know till you pull them? Still, if your going to pull them, may as well change them.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 793
Likes: 2
From: Milwaukee & Long Beach WI & CA
I couldn't get my plug wire puller on there with the factory heat shields in place. The boots were really stuck on there from the factory. What I found most effective was to use channel locks on the heat shields with one hand and pulling on the wire itself with the other. A sure fire way to screw up the plug wire, but it was effective in removing them. For the $50 bucks that the GMPP wires cost, I think it's worth it to get new wires so you don't care about what happens to the original ones while wrestling with them.
At 21k miles I'd try to remove the plug wires in a manor that won't wreck them and if you succeed awesome. Just grease them up well before reinstalling them. If not, leave things alone till you rack up some more miles. BTW, at 6 years and 46k my original plugs were toast. The car runs MUCH better now with new plugs and GMPP wires.
At 21k miles I'd try to remove the plug wires in a manor that won't wreck them and if you succeed awesome. Just grease them up well before reinstalling them. If not, leave things alone till you rack up some more miles. BTW, at 6 years and 46k my original plugs were toast. The car runs MUCH better now with new plugs and GMPP wires.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 25,889
Likes: 7
From: Virginia Beach
CI 3-5-6-7-8 Veteran
Remove the wire from the coil pack first, then grip the base of the wire on the heat shield and wiggle the wire and pull until it pops off.
On some C5s they'll just be plain stuck... It's wise to have a spare set of wires hanging around before you do the job just in case. You can get fresh set on here very cheap because many thing they're getting more power by "upgrading" to aftermarket units.
On some C5s they'll just be plain stuck... It's wise to have a spare set of wires hanging around before you do the job just in case. You can get fresh set on here very cheap because many thing they're getting more power by "upgrading" to aftermarket units.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 15
From: Jensen Beach FL
Exactly. A lot of us don't put many miles per year on our cars and I do believe that time as well as the heat cycling is a factor in making the plugs hard to get out. I pulled mine at 15K and put anti-seize and dielectric grease. BTW for the plugs you can get to enough to twist before pulling on them makes the job a lot easier. I did not break any.
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Instructor
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
From: Tampa FL
Did mine at 100k miles and the plugs all came out with no problem. As others have said, it was the wires that were a problem. I destroyed almost all of them getting them off and busted two or three knuckles in the process.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 46
From: Tampa FL
Change em!!!
Make sure you tighten them enough. I think i put too much anti sieze on mine and they ended up getting loose and it sounded like a ticking noise in the engine. 2 plugs were leaking compression.
Make sure you tighten them enough. I think i put too much anti sieze on mine and they ended up getting loose and it sounded like a ticking noise in the engine. 2 plugs were leaking compression.
