spark plug changes (VAG content)

[Joshua Van Tol]

Gotta watch doing that with the plugs out. If there's any combustible
mixture in the cylinder when you do that, the vacuum might go boom!
Fuel injected cars this isn't such a worry, but on carbed vehicles, it
can be a serious danger.


On Monday, February 10, 2003, at 04:27  PM, Paul Meyers wrote:

> What worked for me was a vacuum cleaner with a crevice tool. First I
> vacuumed around the plug before removal, then kept vacuuming as I
> removed
> the plug(s), making sure not to disturb the sand (literally) right at
> the
> lip of the threads. Once the plug is removed, I vacuumed vigorously all
> around the plug hole. Nothing could fall into the combustion chamber
> due to
> the powerful air flow. By the time I was finished, all the sand was
> gone and
> nothing got into the engine.
> Paul Meyers
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: quattro-admin at audifans.com [mailto:quattro-admin at audifans.com] On
> Behalf Of Lines Peter
> Sent: Monday, February 10, 2003 11:41 AM
> To: 'quattro at audifans.com'
> Subject: spark plug changes (VAG content)
>
> Over the weekend, I had a difficult time removing the sparks plugs
> from a
> '98 GTI 2.0L.  I had originally changed them at 40k miiles, and I did
> use
> anti-seize on the threads.  I'm now at 80k miles, and they were very
> difficult to remove.  I had to screw them out a bit, lube with WD-40,
> then
> in, out, lube, etc...  to avoid trashing the head.  I used ALOT of
> anti-seize when puting the new ones in this time.  Hopefully the 120k
> service will go smoother.  Does anyone have any magic lube other than
> anti-seize that works better on plugs?  I've never had issues with the
> plugs
> on the Audi I5 motors and I've changed plugs on that one several times.
> Speaking of Audi I5 plug changes does anyone have any clever tricks for
> cleaning the grit and gunk away from the plug before removing it?  I
> always
> blast it with an air gun, but it doesn't always get all the "baked on"
> gunk.
> I'm afraid of grit dropping into the cylinder when I remove the plug.
> Thanks.
>
> Peter Lines