Hello all, decided to take a look at my spark plugs today, since I have a strange feeling that they might be the originals. took one wire off and didn't see the hex nut that you normally put the socket on to remove. sprayed a bunch of pb blaster on it thinking that it might be covered up with rust. afterwards used my finger to feel for the nut and my worst fears are realized. the nut has disintegrated from rust. anyone have any suggestions other than disassembling the engine? The veh. is a 1998 xl 4x4. thanks

 

maybe if the nuts rotted.. try a smaller deep socket..if plugs 5/8 normally try a 14mm or 9/16 hammered on to the steel case of the plug.. or use an easyout...pray you don't have to pull the head to have a machine shop do it..
video..

 

If the shoulders of the nut are gone, try a deep well bolt out socket that you can use a ratchet on, which is made for that kind of problem.

 

the nut is completely gone. there is nothing below the ceramic going into the spark plug hole for anything to grab onto. I'm starting to feel that this truck might have been used to plow snow. how else could the spark plugs be this rusted.