[s-cars] Spark plug backed out

[Fred Munro]

I wouldn't drive the car in this condition, Mike - if you have to move it,
get it flatbedded to the shop.

The traditional fix for a stripped plug thread is a helicoil or timesert -
they can be installed without removing the head if done with care.

I check the torque on my plugs every oil change - #2 and #4 were loose by
about 2 ft.lbs at the last change, so they do loosen up a bit over time.
They were all OK the change before that, and they were all loose about 1000
km after I first installed them.

Take note, listers - we've had a number of these failures recently. Put down
the beer & chips, turn off the TV, and check the torque on those sparkers
:o)

Fred Munro
'94 S4


-----Original Message-----
From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
[mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com]On Behalf Of Michael Bess
Sent: April 19, 2003 12:27 PM
To: S-CAR-List at audifans.com
Subject: [s-cars] Spark plug backed out


This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
--
[ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
Well, I read about the recommendations to retighten spark plugs monthly and
paid it no heed.  Today, the '95 S6 stared running slightly rough, then
really rough and then some oil smoke started to come out from underhood.
Luckily wasn't to far from home so got it back into the driveway and popped
the hood.  Oil stains around the back of the engine up high.  Lost about a
quart of oil in total.  Pulled the coil pack off and lo & behold  the #2
plug was laying on top with part of the busted up plug connection.  All plug
wells were filled with oil.



Hoped for the best and tried to rescrew the plug in.  No such luck; looks
like the threads were pulled out of the head.  Now of course I have a
business trip Monday, which will keep me from digging in further.  So its
off to the stealer.  While having things opened I checked all the plugs.
They were all loose to some degree.



Questions: is it safe to drive the 5 miles to the dealer on 4 cylinders with
the plug out (I could disconnect the injector to eliminate fuel going in) or
should I just be safe and get a tow?  If the plug stripped the head, is
there a good, easy and low cost fix?  I remember seeing something here about
some specialty threadserts (not helicoils) that could be installed without
pulling the head.



Help.



TIA,



Mike Bess

'95 S6 (hurting)



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