spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
I bought my daughter a 2005 Honda civic , I changed 2 of the spark plugs but 2 are rounded and cant get out. was wondering , I bought an Irwin extractor socket for grabbing rounded nuts, but is to thick to fit down in spark plug tube. are the spark plug tubes easy to come out once valve cover is off? I see no information on the internet at all on taking off 7th generation civic spark plug tubes. no videos or written mention. are they removable?
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
spark plug tubes
are they removable?
are they removable?
I don't think I've ever seen anyone booger a spark plug hex that way.
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
How stuck are the spark plug threads to strip the plug's hex nut?
Wouldn't be surprised if the engine has coolant leaking into those two cylinders and the car sat for a few weeks without being used..which caused rust to the spark plug threads. Either that or a severe over-heat condition that binded the threads. Just my guess.
OP: have you tried fitting the nearest size standard (not metric) socket onto what's left of the hex nut?
Try finding the closest fit standard socket and carefully tapping down with a hammer if needed.
You may want soak the to plugs/threads with PB blaster overnight first to possibly help if the threads are rusted or a previous installer cross-threaded them.
Wouldn't be surprised if the engine has coolant leaking into those two cylinders and the car sat for a few weeks without being used..which caused rust to the spark plug threads. Either that or a severe over-heat condition that binded the threads. Just my guess.
OP: have you tried fitting the nearest size standard (not metric) socket onto what's left of the hex nut?
Try finding the closest fit standard socket and carefully tapping down with a hammer if needed.
You may want soak the to plugs/threads with PB blaster overnight first to possibly help if the threads are rusted or a previous installer cross-threaded them.
Last edited by Wankenstein; Apr 29, 2018 at 01:36 AM.
Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
the car car has 200000 miles and who ever had last rounded off , just wondering about the spark plug tubes if they come out. many other types of cars you can take tubes out and reinsert tap in with hammer , wood and sealant, what about this Honda?
I thought about cracking the spark plug porcelain, drilling into plug and then backing out, but was looking for a simpler way.
car runs fine, but thought it would do just a little better with new plugs, couldn't get a smaller socket to grab on
I will try the pb blaster but not sure if anything can grab it
I thought about cracking the spark plug porcelain, drilling into plug and then backing out, but was looking for a simpler way.
car runs fine, but thought it would do just a little better with new plugs, couldn't get a smaller socket to grab on
I will try the pb blaster but not sure if anything can grab it
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
If it's running fine just leave it alone then approach it during impending head gasket replacement within the next 50k miles. Afterall, it's is a Civic..lol.
Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
car runs fine
plugs in these cars could last the lifetime of the car
Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
Sounds like excellent advice all around.
When I did a compression test the adapter to the compression tester remained in the head when the hose was unscrewed. It would not come out no matter how many times or how tight I screwed the hose in. The adapter was probably only getting tighter each time. The fitting on the adapter was 11/16" and a 11/16" socket wouldn't fit in the spark plug tube.
I guess this is the sort of thing that happens to novices (like me).
After a few moments of panic I decided to try to grind a 11/16" socket down. Hated to sacrifice a socket but it worked. Lesson learned: make sure that adapter is very snug on the tester hose before it goes in the tube.
If worse came to worse and those rounded spark plugs had to come out, I would try grinding down an extractor socket... but only if absolute necessary. Good luck!
When I did a compression test the adapter to the compression tester remained in the head when the hose was unscrewed. It would not come out no matter how many times or how tight I screwed the hose in. The adapter was probably only getting tighter each time. The fitting on the adapter was 11/16" and a 11/16" socket wouldn't fit in the spark plug tube.
I guess this is the sort of thing that happens to novices (like me).
After a few moments of panic I decided to try to grind a 11/16" socket down. Hated to sacrifice a socket but it worked. Lesson learned: make sure that adapter is very snug on the tester hose before it goes in the tube.
If worse came to worse and those rounded spark plugs had to come out, I would try grinding down an extractor socket... but only if absolute necessary. Good luck!
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Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
After I removed the adapter I reinstalled it on the tester lead with a bench vice and channel lock to get it as tight as possible without bending it out of place. Prior to tightening I added blue thread locker to the threads. Usedd it several times since without issue. Also, I use a thin coat of oil on the threads before inserting into spark plugs holes + screw down without over tightening.
Re: spark plug tubes/ rounded spark plug
"Chopstick style." 
Necessity is the mother of invention.
It has been many years ago but I believe the compression tester was purchased at a parts store. Anyway the fault was mine for not tightening the adapter sufficiently. That only happened once. "If you're gonna be dumb you better be tough" (or get used to living with frustration)!
Thin coating of oil on the threads...indeed.
Didn't think about thread lock...but anything that will prevent that adapter from escaping is fine with me.
Although, I still have that ground down socket. Just in case.

Necessity is the mother of invention.
It has been many years ago but I believe the compression tester was purchased at a parts store. Anyway the fault was mine for not tightening the adapter sufficiently. That only happened once. "If you're gonna be dumb you better be tough" (or get used to living with frustration)!
Thin coating of oil on the threads...indeed.
Didn't think about thread lock...but anything that will prevent that adapter from escaping is fine with me.
Although, I still have that ground down socket. Just in case.
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