Should I drive with a busted plug???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 915
Likes: 1
From: UK
Should I drive with a busted plug???
If it ain't broken, don't try to fix it!!!
After reading on here about the stock plugs losing their pucks, I decided to take mine out to inspect them. Man, they're in TIGHT!! Started with the easiest-looking plug (passenger-side front) and managed to crack the insulator using a wobble socket! :eek: It's only slightly cracked... from the top of the insulator down about 0.5", but it's enough to make the car miss pretty badly and throw a P0300 :(
My question is this... do I risk any harm driving the car as it is? My daily commute to work is an 80-mile round-trip, so I'm thinking I should NOT drive the car. Trouble is, I'm in the UK and getting hold of a replacement plug is gonna be a PITA (like I may have to wait a week while one is ordered).
Thanks,
Ian.
:cheers:
After reading on here about the stock plugs losing their pucks, I decided to take mine out to inspect them. Man, they're in TIGHT!! Started with the easiest-looking plug (passenger-side front) and managed to crack the insulator using a wobble socket! :eek: It's only slightly cracked... from the top of the insulator down about 0.5", but it's enough to make the car miss pretty badly and throw a P0300 :(
My question is this... do I risk any harm driving the car as it is? My daily commute to work is an 80-mile round-trip, so I'm thinking I should NOT drive the car. Trouble is, I'm in the UK and getting hold of a replacement plug is gonna be a PITA (like I may have to wait a week while one is ordered).
Thanks,
Ian.
:cheers:
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 770
Likes: 0
From: DYER IN
Re: Should I drive with a busted plug??? (i_york)
My honest opinion, Dont drive the car
It would also be a little difficult driving the car for 80 miles with a bad misfire on one or two cylinders. And you dont want to make anymore problems for yourself over a couple dollar spark plug. So if you have another way of getting around until you get a plug i would do so.
It would also be a little difficult driving the car for 80 miles with a bad misfire on one or two cylinders. And you dont want to make anymore problems for yourself over a couple dollar spark plug. So if you have another way of getting around until you get a plug i would do so.
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37,329
Likes: 12
From: Plano Texas
CI 6-7-8-9 Veteran
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St. Jude Donor '07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
Re: Should I drive with a busted plug??? (i_york)
IMHO, do not drive the car until the plug is fixed.
Know that this is a PITA (awaiting delivery of new plugs), but is less of one than having additional issues develop by driving with a know issue and causing more issues.
Know that this is a PITA (awaiting delivery of new plugs), but is less of one than having additional issues develop by driving with a know issue and causing more issues.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,146
Likes: 0
From: The Internet
Re: Should I drive with a busted plug??? (i_york)
Well, I'd be inclined to take the wire off and see how she drives with 7 cylinders, at least if that's what it took me to get to the shops. Others will likely disagree.
Are you sure though that you'd have to special order the plug? I hope it's not too obvious but have you tried going to Halfords and looking in the spark plug cross reference there?
Also, if it helps, both Denso and NGK have offices in the UK. Maybe a call there will help you locate an outlet? Denso Sales UK: 01707-282400, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd: 01442 281000
Are you sure though that you'd have to special order the plug? I hope it's not too obvious but have you tried going to Halfords and looking in the spark plug cross reference there?
Also, if it helps, both Denso and NGK have offices in the UK. Maybe a call there will help you locate an outlet? Denso Sales UK: 01707-282400, NGK Spark Plugs (UK) Ltd: 01442 281000
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 915
Likes: 1
From: UK
Re: Should I drive with a busted plug??? (i_york)
Bingo! I've managed to apply a temporary fix!
Looked-up the specs of the OEM plug (14mm thread, 16mm hex, 18mm reach, taper seat) and found I had a brand new Autolite plug in the garage that had the same thread and hex sizes, but with a compression gasket and +1mm reach. To take care of the extra reach, I just put another compression washer on the plug. Just took the car out and it seems fine (although I'll take it a little easy just in case I get clearance issues at high revs). The 'new' plug is also 1 heat-range cooler, but that shouldn't be a problem.
Gets me out of a fix until I can get my hands on a set of new plugs, anyhow :)
By the way, my old plug was fine... good colour, puck still in place and gap exactly right (60-thou) at 28k miles.
Here's a pic of the cracked plug (ouch):
Cheers,
Ian.
:cheers:
Looked-up the specs of the OEM plug (14mm thread, 16mm hex, 18mm reach, taper seat) and found I had a brand new Autolite plug in the garage that had the same thread and hex sizes, but with a compression gasket and +1mm reach. To take care of the extra reach, I just put another compression washer on the plug. Just took the car out and it seems fine (although I'll take it a little easy just in case I get clearance issues at high revs). The 'new' plug is also 1 heat-range cooler, but that shouldn't be a problem.
Gets me out of a fix until I can get my hands on a set of new plugs, anyhow :)
By the way, my old plug was fine... good colour, puck still in place and gap exactly right (60-thou) at 28k miles.
Here's a pic of the cracked plug (ouch):
Cheers,
Ian.
:cheers:
