Donate NOW and support Jag-lovers!

IMPORTANT! We have moved! The new site is at www.jag-lovers.com and the new Forums can be found at forums.jag-lovers.com

Please update your links. This old site will be left up for reference, until we can move all the old content over to the new site.

Volunteers wanted! Please help us move information from these pages to the new site, and also join us in providing new, exciting content.



Serving Enthusiasts since 1993
The Jag-lovers Web

Currently with 3,166 members





Jaguar V12 H.E. Broken Spark Plug

JAGUAR V12 H.E.

SPARK PLUG REMOVAL

Always use anti-seize compound when installing spark plugs in an aluminum head.

Byrnal Haley decided to change the plugs in his '89 XJ-S convertible.  He put his wrench on the first one, and couldn't get it loose.  He then tried harder, and the spark plug broke off.  At this point he decided he clearly didn't know what he was doing, so he had the car flatbedded to his mechanic -- who broke off three more!

Obviously both Haley and his mechanic are applying obscene amounts of torque.  Or, maybe not.  Here's the half a plug Byrnal ended up with:

Yes, this is a "V-Power" plug, hence the little V notch in the center electrode.

Remember, the hex is 5/8", not the 13/16" found on most plugs.  This thing is small.  The fracture surface is really small.  It's an annular surface, about 9/16" OD and 1/2" ID.  The cross-section is therefore only about 1/32" across.  It broke extremely cleanly.  Honestly, the thing looks like it was designed to cleave here.

Once they broke, the mechanic was reportedly able to get them out with an EZ-out without further ado.  This makes sense; since the entire center section of the plug comes out cleanly there's no need to drill, just jam the EZ-out in there and start turning.

Byrnal suggests it'd work even better if you heat the head and then chill the plug, perhaps with compressed air or CO2 or maybe just an ice cube.  Dunno how you'll heat the head, though.

Folks, these plugs don't get stuck because some jerk installed them with a 6-foot breaker bar; if he did, they'd break off during installation!  Please get this through your head: steel threads will seize in aluminum if you don't use anti-seize compound.  And get it through your mechanic's head, too.
 
 

 

Please help support the move to the new site, and DONATE what you can.
A big Thank You to those who have donated already!

 


       
       
       
       

Go to our Homepage
Improve your Jag-lovers experience with the Mozilla FireFox Browser!

  View the latest posts from our Forums via an RSS Feed!

©Jag-loversTM Ltd / JagWEBTM 1993 - 2024
All rights reserved. Jag-lovers is supported by JagWEBTM
For Terms of Use and General Rules see our Disclaimer
Use of the Jag-lovers logo or trademark name on sites other than Jag-lovers itself in a manner implying endorsement of commercial activities whatsoever is prohibited. Sections of this Web Site may publish members and visitors comments, opinion and photographs/images - Jag-lovers Ltd does not assume or have any responsibility or any liability for members comments or opinions, nor does it claim ownership or copyright of any material that belongs to the original poster including images. The word 'Jaguar' and the leaping cat device, whether used separately or in combination, are registered trademarks and are the property of Jaguar Cars, England. Some images may also be © Jaguar Cars. Mirroring or downloading of this site or the publication of material or any extracts therefrom in original or altered form from these pages onto other sites (including reproduction by any other Jaguar enthusiast sites) without express permission violates Jag-lovers Ltd copyright and is prohibited
Go to our Homepage
Your Browser is: claudebot, IP Address logged as 54.92.155.93 on 29th Mar 2024 10:34:39