spark plugs stuck 3 & 4

MikeS

just started a major service on the astra and i have so far cleaned the TB - air pipe - inlet manifold
replaced fuel filter, air filter & pollen filter

gonna do an oil change in next few days

however i got spark plugs 1 & 2 out after some work cos they were really torqued in for some reason however 3&4 seem to be welded in - i let the engine cool down and allowed wd40 to soak in for a bit but it has made no difference and my tool for removing spark plugs has snapped in half

so far no cracked head so i am really reluctant to try and remove 3&4

local vxhall dealership that did last service want 55 quid to take em out even though i said you were the reason why they are stuck in there -c*nts

also the 5/30 oil has done the engine no favours even though it has done 60k - black residiue is everywhere so wondering whether to do an engine flush before chucking in semi 10/40

got to replace disks & pads nxt as the insides of the discs look corroded

vocky

try some 'plus gas' on the plugs

Sjdickso

Hope you get it sorted mike, and you dont get a damaged head in the process.

MikeS

invested in the pro set from halfords and let some wd40 sit in recesses whilst i idled the car for 15 mins then using some gentle persuasion and short movements they came free

never known plugs to be on so tight so i greased up the threads on the new plugs and screwed in the plugs and took em out a few times before hand tightening em

the pro kit is awesome though - handle & angle of the wrench is useful to say the least

JohnnyN

Well done there Mike. Sounds like a nightmare. You've been lucky to get them out without damage.

comet

I like Halfords pro stuff - good warranty. I've busted a few bits, but they change them no quibble.

Interested to hear how you freed them - I'd have been cautious about warming the engine up in case the hot plugs were tighter in the threads. So learnt a new trick there - cheers.

MikeS

I forgot to mention i let the engine cool down 10 mins as well 😛

comet

MikeS said:
I forgot to mention i let the engine cool down 10 mins as well 😛

D'oh - now I'm confused.

Matt

I really like the Halfords Pro tools as well, very pleased with the two sets I bought last year.

comet

Well glad to say none of my plugs were stuck. Just put a new set of platinums in because it was just beginning to hesitate on a hot restart, and on idle there was the odd misfire. All nice and smooth again now.

The only odd thing was that no.4 plug was surrounded by oil, which worried me, but I tested it and it was a clear gold colour so I think its just spillage from an oil change.

Sjdickso

Glad you got them out ok. Comet you may have been better genuine vxl plugs.

comet

I've got a spare set of GM ones in case these don't work out. But I wanted to try the platinums and although it's too early to say if they will be reliable in the long run, they certainly seem to make the engine smoother.