Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Steel plugs in aluminum heads

[Rick Moseley (ramosel]

Rick, I've found it pretty hard to get any penetrant passed the compression ring...  the obvious fix is hindsight, use a good anti-sieze with mixed metal fastening. ( I prefer the new ceramic anti-sieze and it stands up to heat like nothing else).   Now to your problem.  I've not had good results with a warm motor... the heads and plugs both heat soak and often times the plugs moreso... which fights your intent.  I've had good luck with thermal shock.  Pull the plug wires and heat the area around the plugs with a propane torch...  leave your Oxy-rig in the corner.   Once you get it good and warm, hit it with a water drenched rag.  Let it cool.  Repeat a few times then slowly break it free...  If you can get it to move a all and brake the compression seal, rather than penetrating oils, I use Aluminum thread tap oil...  NOT a steel tapping oil.   Let it sit a bit and then go at it slowly.

And if all else fails, heli-coils are your friend.

(the other) Rick

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From: Richard Lindsay <richardolindsay [at] gmail.com>
To: Rick Moseley <ramosel [at] pacbell.net>
Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2015 2:18 PM
Subject: [Ferrari] Steel plugs in aluminum heads

Hi Friends,

I need to change the spark plugs in my old Maserati. They are really tight, and may not gave been changed in 20 years! I have not forced them free for fear of thread damage.

What tricks do you guys use to avoid thread damage? Can penetrating oil get past the crush washers? Would it be better to remove the plugs with a hot engine? Should I just avoid the problem all together?

Advice please?

-rick

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