That Tuesday last month where every single plug I grabbed was ready to snap off

I was replacing spark plugs on a 2010 Ford Focus, nothing crazy, but the first one came out with half the ceramic still in the head. Then the second one did the same thing. By the third cylinder I was already 45 minutes behind and the customer was pacing in the waiting room. Had to use a vacuum and a pick set to fish out the pieces, and I still have no idea why that specific batch of plugs was so brittle. Anyone run into a batch of plugs that just decided to give up like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

abby_scott14d ago

I had a 2012 Focus in my driveway last year and swapped plugs as maintenance, not a single one cracked or gave me any trouble at all. I just used standard Motorcraft plugs, torqued them to spec, and they came out fine when I checked them a few months later. Seems to me like maybe the issue is more about the install or the removal technique than the plugs themselves. If you're reefing on them cold or using a wobble extension that cant them sideways, that's on you not the metal. I've pulled plugs out of 200k mile engines that looked welded in place and still came out whole with some penetrating oil and patience. Maybe that batch was cheap no-name stuff or old stock that got heat cycled weird, but I'm not buying that a whole set snapped for no reason.

evanr7914d ago

Most of the horror stories come from people who ignore the TSB and use the wrong spark plugs or skip the anti-seize. If you follow the factory procedure and use quality parts, these engines are pretty reliable. Is it really that common of an issue, or is it just a few loud bad experiences blowing it out of proportion?