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Question about changing spark plugs.

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Old 11-18-2017, 08:38 AM
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important
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Default Question about changing spark plugs.

Are the change intervals based on time or mileage?

Car is a 2010 (owned it since new) but only has 21k miles.

Stealership is telling me that they should be replaced...?
Old 11-18-2017, 08:42 AM
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MrJlr
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Dealer is trying to rip you off
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Old 11-18-2017, 08:46 AM
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Originally Posted by MrJlr
Dealer is trying to rip you off
What's new? And 90% of people are unsuspecting and go along with their "advice."
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important (11-18-2017)
Old 11-18-2017, 08:47 AM
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Vetteman Jack
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The plugs are recommended to be changed at 100K miles. There are always exceptions to that guideline, but I wouldn’t think at 21K miles they would need to be changed. Pull a plug or two and see what they look like.
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important (11-18-2017)
Old 11-18-2017, 08:47 AM
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important (11-18-2017)
Old 11-18-2017, 09:10 AM
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Murray Anderson
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Ask your husband to take care of it
Old 11-18-2017, 09:11 AM
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important
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Originally Posted by Vetteman Jack
The plugs are recommended to be changed at 100K miles. There are always exceptions to that guideline, but I wouldn’t think at 21K miles they would need to be changed. Pull a plug or two and see what they look like.
Which leads to my 2nd question as Ive never changed plugs before.



The entire process seems pretty easy.

But unsure about the amount of "torque" needed to tighten.

From the videos Ive been watching, people will hand tighten until snug and then apply an additional quarter turn with the wrench.

Sound about right?
Old 11-18-2017, 09:34 AM
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rkj427
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11 foot pounds is the spec.

approximate feel value would be hand tight.............

cylinder heads are aluminum and you do NOT want to over-torque them and possibly make removal impossible due to damaged threads
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important (11-18-2017)
Old 11-18-2017, 09:40 AM
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Originally Posted by rkj427
11 foot pounds is the spec.

approximate feel value would be hand tight.............

cylinder heads are aluminum and you do NOT want to over-torque them and possibly make removal impossible due to damaged threads
This is what has me a bit worried about doing it myself.



Should I disconnect the battery before attempting to remove the plugs?

Last edited by important; 11-18-2017 at 09:43 AM.
Old 11-18-2017, 09:46 AM
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cyclesailor955
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And add a dab of Anti-Seize compound to the spark plug threads before threading the spark
plugs into the cylinder head.
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important (11-18-2017)
Old 11-18-2017, 09:52 AM
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Originally Posted by cyclesailor955
And add a dab of Anti-Seize compound to the spark plug threads before threading the spark
plugs into the cylinder head.
Should the battery be disconnected?
Old 11-18-2017, 09:56 AM
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no need
Old 11-18-2017, 09:58 AM
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With 21,000 miles on your plugs ... your wasting your money by changing them
Old 11-18-2017, 10:01 AM
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sfrank2886
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Default Plugs

Yes it is always a good idea to disconnect the battery in most cases. Your 1/4 turn would be more for the rocker arms. Just make them hand tight and then snug them down a bit if you don’t have a torc rench. Not that big of a deal. I would do as others have said, pull one or two and if they look good then no need to change. Now if you are adding headers and pulling them anyway then I would change them out.
Old 11-18-2017, 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Turbo6TA
With 21,000 miles on your plugs ... your wasting your money by changing them
THIS!!! Waste of time and money at 21,000 miles. Forget what they said and drive your car. GM says 100,000 miles for spark plug change.
Old 11-18-2017, 10:42 AM
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Originally Posted by HBsurfer
THIS!!! Waste of time and money at 21,000 miles. Forget what they said and drive your car. GM says 100,000 miles for spark plug change.
I should have clarified, this is for a 2010 Mercedes GL550 not my C6.

But I would imagine that its still overkill to change them at 21kmi even though these engines are POS.

Will pull one as suggested, just worried about re-seating it properly.

Last edited by important; 11-18-2017 at 10:43 AM.
Old 11-18-2017, 10:44 AM
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Originally Posted by important
This is what has me a bit worried about doing it myself.



Should I disconnect the battery before attempting to remove the plugs?
drive it for another 80,000 miles then start worrying about it .... you are fine just as everybody else has told you so unless you have a "miss or it's running bad leave it alone

Dave

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Old 11-18-2017, 10:47 AM
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windyC6
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The mileage is definitely not an issue. But let us not forget that sometimes old father time doesn't do us any favors when it comes to getting those little B!@#$%#S out. Probably unlikely that one would have a problem getting them out at 6 years or so, and probably not a problem for longer than that. Even anti-seize could lose its properties after years. But after they've been in there 8 - 10 years I would think why not replace them, for no other reason then to be sure they ain't stuck....LOL.....
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Old 11-18-2017, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by windyC6
The mileage is definitely not an issue. But let us not forget that sometimes old father time doesn't do us any favors when it comes to getting those little B!@#$%#S out. Probably unlikely that one would have a problem getting them out at 6 years or so, and probably not a problem for longer than that. Even anti-seize could lose its properties after years. But after they've been in there 8 - 10 years I would think why not replace them, for no other reason then to be sure they ain't stuck....LOL.....
I thought of that before responding - I did my 07's plugs this summer for this reason alone - the car only had 75k miles at the time - I was relieved that they came out effortlessly so I think the OP should be okay
Old 11-18-2017, 11:01 AM
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Go on a Mercedes forum and ask.
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