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Greetings - I'm doing a plug change on a 2000 4.6L 6-code and the #8 plug is giving me fits. I can't remove it. The socket doesn't bite, it just spins and spins.
On inspection, there seems to be some kind of build-up, or corrosion around the nut on the spark plug.
Pic #1 shows the location of plug #8 - it's not as bad as plug #4, but darn near. It's very hard to get tools or hands back in there. The firewall prevents a straight-down shot at the plug tunnel.
Pic #2 goes with pic #1. Just some more proof that this thing is hard to reach.
Pic #3 was taken with my inspection camera. Apologize for the blur, it's not a very good camera. You can see that I've purposely snapped the ceramic off the plug. On the upper leflt you can make out the hex shape of the spark plug nut, but if you follow it around to the right you'll see it disappear into a rounded-over lump of --- well, what is that, anyway?
I've tried soaking it in PB Blaster and scraping it with a pick-up tool, then tapping away at it with a piece of heavy wire. I don't think I've done much good at all.
What do you guys suggest to get that off of the plug so the socket can bite it? Remember, it's very hard to get tools in there. Perhaps some kind of chemical which I could flush out before removing the plug?
I've had #4 Do this on my in laws truck. Coolant from the heater hose and electrolysis ate the hex right off the plug. They had the motor pulled and replaced at 260k miles because of this. I didn't have time to mess with it and no shop around here wanted to mess with an insert on #4. Took the motor apart here at the house and the plug was welded in the head more or less. I tried all the tricks and couldnt get it to budge with the head off. Hope you have better luck.
I'll also add I have had a walnut hull get in the number 8 hole from my negligence to blow off the motor before coil pack removal. About 2 hours with a piece of tig wire and some balance and I had it out. Try a small hose on a vacuum cleaner if you didn't wedge it in there with the socket. Lol I forgot about that one.
I had a 4.6L Mustang engine that had a lot of crud built up around the spark plug like that. I was able to chisel it loose with a long narrow blade flat tip screwdriver and then blew it out with compressed air.
I saw a thread on another Ford forum not to long ago that also discussed this issue. I can't find it back but the poster indicated that he used a piece of thin-walled tubing (copper, maybe 1"?) that both fit inside the plug well and over the spark plug's hex section. He nipped a couple of "teeth" into the edge of the tube then was able to rotate the pipe around by had and it chewed up the debris so it could be blown out.
Last edited by ProjectSHO89; Jul 28, 2019 at 08:20 PM.
I ran into one that had an oil fouler around. I went thru what the OP did, until I took an 11/16--6 point deep socket and ground the sides down for clearance. Damn thing took it right out. I keep that socket in my box now.
I had a 4.6L Mustang engine that had a lot of crud built up around the spark plug like that. I was able to chisel it loose with a long narrow blade flat tip screwdriver and then blew it out with compressed air.
I saw a thread on another Ford forum not to long ago that also discussed this issue. I can't find it back but the poster indicated that he used a piece of thin-walled tubing (copper, maybe 1"?) that both fit inside the plug well and over the spark plug's hex section. He nipped a couple of "teeth" into the edge of the tube then was able to rotate the pipe around by had and it chewed up the debris so it could be blown out.
Stuck Spark Plug - Crazy!
