Spark plug help

[brh11]

Hello Everyone
I recently decided to change my 09 Denali's spark plugs.Having changed many spark plugs on other things I knew I would be able to.The first three plugs on the right side came out just perfect.Pulled out in the socket and put new ones back in perfectly.The last on the ride side Cylinder 7 I think, it was in there pretty tight.So without thinking i used my 1/2 inch drive breaker bar.It came loose but ended up jiggling around a little too much.So i kept jiggling it and eventually it broke in half right below the part where you turn to take it out.So all that is left is half of the porcelain and the lower half with the thread.I have no idea how to get it out.I don't want to use the screw extractor if I don't have to.Also cylinder twos spark plug has the same issue where I needed the breaker bar.But instead of jiggling back and forth it just keeps spinning.Thanks so much.Been stuck on this for a few days :/.

 

[Brian Wilson]

Can you send a picture?

 

[Brian Wilson]

If you break the porcelain out you might be able to use a pipe extractor.

 

[brh11]

Completely forgot about that. I'm home in about 2 hours then I'll send it. Thanks

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[brh11]

Here's some pictures

 

[sumo]

soak it in some pb blaster. At this point you're gonna need to drill. Try using a left hand drill so when drilling you may be able to unthread as drilling. there are broken spark plug kits out there.

 

[brh11]

Okay great I'll give that a shot today and report back

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[Brian Wilson]

Be very careful. I feel like any way you get it out, you will get metal/porcelain in your cylinder. You might want to just bite the bullet, pull the head and do it on a bench. Then you can easily, grind drill weld or whatever you decide to do. It would be a good time to check your valves and springs while you are at it.

 

[retiredsparky]

Aluminum heads have always had this shortcoming (and other problems). The high heat in combustion chambers causes the threads to bind to the spark plug. You should remove the heads, before removing the broken spark plugs, so that no pieces are left in the cylinder. Those pieces can end up smashed between a valve and it's seat or falling down into the piston ring area, causing damage to the cylinder wall. Porcelain or ceramic dust and steel is very abrasive.

The auto manufacturers contribute to this problem when they have very long maintenance intervals on spark plugs. 50,000 miles is much more appropriate for such a heat stressed part inserted into aluminum threads.

 

[retiredsparky]

In all likelihood, you will need to install a "helicoil" insert after removing the spark plug. Many times, the threads are damaged, so a special drill and steel spring insert is used to provide a new threaded hole for the spark plug. Another reason for removing the head. Machine shops are experienced in installing these helicoils.

 

[Chip18]

WOW that is "seriously" messed up!! As close as I came to that ... would have been had I chosen to work on my neighbors 5.4. I did some research and saw "broken Spark Plug Extractors" coming up a lot??? Apparently with those motors "Broken Spark Plugs" is expected??? I declined doing the job.

Some combination of post 6 and 8 would be a very good idea. Pull the head and take to a machine shop and say ... fix it.

But ... before going that route ... you could take that photo and try shopping around for a Mechanic that can get that part out without pulling the head??? Hey .... maybe a "Ford" guy???

 

[Rocket Man]

I agree that you need to pull the heads, unfortunately. And dont forget to use anti-sieze when installing plugs in the future to keep this from happening again.

 

[retiredsparky]

Use a small amount of anti-seize-- if it gets on the electrode when heat causes the grease to run down the threads, no spark

 

[Brian Wilson]

This sprang back to life. Lol. Also I would seriously use a HelicoIL as last resort. Alot of times a thread repair tap will work. This is not the same as a regular tap. And it's not the same as a thread chaser.

A thread repair tap has blunt flutes that are made to roll the damaged threads back into proper places and clean them out. Where as a regulart tap would just cut the damaged thread out and make a much weaker outcome in aluminum

 

[brh11]

Sorry for this super late update. I ended up having to put the project on hold for a little bit. But yesterday I was able to finally get 1/2 out. I used a #5 screw extractor attached to a 3/8 extension which then was forced into 12mm socket. After I got it to sit it came out so easy with some pb blaster.

But for the other spark plug that just spins I'm clueless on how to get it out. Thinking of running the engine for a bit then trying that.

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[Larryjb]

Ok, now I'm afraid to touch my plug on my new-to-me '02. I have no idea when they were last changed.

 

[Brian Wilson]

The plug just spins? That would be bad. And I also see the ceramic is gone out of that plug you pulled. Did it fall into the cylinder? Even 1 small fragment of that ceramic will ruin your engine if you run it in the cylinder. I have seen it.

 

[brh11]

Yes it does so I'm thinking of doing the same thing and breaking it off like the other one. Also for the ceramic, nope I started the engine up, made a loud noise but the ceramic ended up blowing out of the spark plug perfectly. Also to be sure after I removed the spark plug. I ran the engine to make sure the cylinder was clean. Going to do it again when I get the other one replaced. Also for spark plugs 4 6 and 8 that are stuck. Apparently heating the engine up will solve it as the head is aluminum like the spark plug. I've used tons of pb blaster but there still a ***** to turn at all. So probably going to do that. Seeing as if I try to yank on it. Might be back to stage 1 again...

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[sumo]

Kroil or crc freeze off will work awesome on spark plug threads du to metal difference

 

[Brian Wilson]

Ok. Maybe I'm wrong but, spark plugs aren't aluminum. and if it is spinning and not coming out then yiu have stripped threads and since the spark plug has stronger threads than your aluminum head, I would say the heads threads are gone. it's time to hit the junkyard or a really good machine shop. I hope for your sake that I am wrong.