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2005 Spark plugs hard to get loose

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by chrisreed26, Jan 29, 2012.

  1. chrisreed26

    chrisreed26 New Member

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    I read several of the other posts on spark plug change and attempted to do mine as well. I would consider myself pretty handy working on cars but with the hybrid I'm a little nervous. I tried to remove one plug and it seems very tight. It would turn a slight bit but I'm scared to mess up the threads. Should they be that tight and hard to turn? I have 112K miles. The engine was cold. Any ideas? Thanks
    Chris
     
  2. hill

    hill High Fiber Member

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    (edited) Whoops ... I presumed your ride had an average amount of miles on it and skimmed your OP. Yes, they can seem tight, after being seated for a half dozen years. Try blobbing a bunch of penetrating oil all around the top of the threads. Let it sit for hours. I prefere this brand. It really does the trick:

    Penetrating-Lubricating Oils

    It'll work in there some, and make the going easier (usually :) ) ... and ... if you're extra fearful of seizing a plug .... after you let the penetrating oil do its magic - use THIS stuff - it works VERY well:

    Welcome to: Loctite® Freeze & Release

    Using both products together is a real "1-2 punch". The reason it works well is because when you significantly change the temperature of one of the mating surfaces, their diameter temporarily shrinks, believe it or not. If you stick a funnel around the plug (as much as possible) the freezing will primarily be contained to to plug.

    good luck!

    .
     
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  3. chrisreed26

    chrisreed26 New Member

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    Thanks I will give it a try. So the penetrating oil will not hurt anything if it gets into the spark plug hole? I did buy anti seize to put on the new plug threads so this will not happen again. I hope to have the Prius until it will not run anymore! I drive over 600 miles a week and going from a 2005 QX56 getting 14mpg I was spending $1200.00 a month in gas...as you can imagine I LOVE my Prius! Even only getting 47 mpg avg I'm happy...that's driving hwy over 80 mph most of the time.
     
  4. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    Yeah I hate pulling plugs out after that many miles. Your whaling on them and they still don't come out. Its smart to be concerned as you can mess up the threads and then your in it.

    Which is why everyone needs to pull the plugs out at 50,000 miles and apply thread lube to them. A stuck plug is a nightmare in an aluminum head. You usually bust them off if you don't know what your doing.

    Like Hill years ago I found the best way to pull them out but its hard to get the stuff you need asap.

    I use freeze spray on the plug. It physically shrinks the plug and it comes right out. Freeze spray comes in a spray can as a electronic technician aid. It sprays..well...freezing cold air. It freezes whatever you spray it on. Its used to find thermally intermittent electronic circuits.

    I get a piece of paper and roll it up to the size of the plug. Put it around the plug to isolate it from the engine block. Spray freeze the plug and it becomes frozen solid and metallurgically shrinks....and
    it comes right out with no drama.

    Its this stuff here for future ref:
    http://www.mcmelectronics.com/product/20-3000


    Works real good on bolt heads too.
    But for you, use a big breaker bar and bounce on the bar. Gently Tug tug tug. Take your time.
    Bounce on a big bar till it gives instead of just hitting it as hard as you can.

    PB Blaster works ok but takes alot of time. If you could use Blaster on it and let it sit for a few days that would help.

    Good Luck.
     
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  5. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    Use a breaker bar. They are stubborn but 99 times out of a 100 they will give way with a snap and a groan. The other 1%, grab a Helicoil.

    If you use antiseize on the replacements, be very careful about how much torque you apply. Do not exceed the spec.
     
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  6. chrisreed26

    chrisreed26 New Member

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    @edthefox5 Hi neighbor..and thank you...I bought my Prius with 107K miles. Was able to see the maintenance history on Toyota.com/owners and did not see that the plugs had been done. It was always serviced at Sun Toyota in New Port Richey by the prior owner. The plugs seem to turn a little but it just does not feel like other plugs I have pulled in the past on cars. I was just scared to go any further. It appears to be normal after that many miles for them to have a LOT of resistance.
     
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  7. tv4fish

    tv4fish Member

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    Agreed - also - you may help your odds if you use a spark plug socket that has the little rubber "boot" inside it so you don't break off the top porcelain - try to hold the ratchet/extension as vertical as possible when you pull on it. Mine had a 135,000 miles on the original plugs - stubborn, but they DID come out. :)
     
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  8. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    Another trick is to coax the plug out, see if the plug will tighten a bit, then CCW again, and so on. Be gentle and not too much torque. It helps a lot to have a rubberized center as it allows the spark plug to stay attached to the socket and come right out instead of dropping back in the well. If you don't have one, buy one. :cheer2:
     
  9. Hal W

    Hal W New Member

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    What do you mean by CCW?, Andy. Hal
     
  10. cnschult

    cnschult Active Member

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    I think I read on another post that if you're going through all the trouble of changing your spark plugs that you should also replace or at the very least clean out your PCV valve as they both pretty much require removing the drain pan and wiper arms, and since they have similar life expectancy it just makes sense to replace them at the same time,

    I plan on doing this soon and want to know if the $7 toyota iridium plugs are the best option or is there a cheaper one that's just as good if not better. since there's only 4 I don't even mind paying $8 for bosche if its a lot better, I'd just like to know what my options are.
     
  11. seilerts

    seilerts Battery Curmudgeon

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    No need to remove the wiper tray for the PCV, just loosen the main engine wiring harness.

    Denso or NGK, iridium, are the best option. There are several that fit. I have Denso IK16 in mine.
     
  12. uart

    uart Senior Member

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    Counter Clock-wise, the normal direction for removing the plugs. :)
     
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  13. andyprius

    andyprius Senior Member

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    I'll second that, I have done both ways. CCW=Counterclockwise CW=Clockwise :cheer2: