Ferrari Mailing List: Re: Steel plugs in aluminum heads

[Doug & Terri (dnt]

Ho haa.  Rx depends what’s in the head - - that is is it a cheapo job like VW whereby the steel plug (NEVER USE CHAMPION – they hang one thread too many in the combustion chamber to get carboned up and voila – out comes your threads) mates directly with the aluminum or is there some sort of a steel plug or insert  like Porsche?

 

Warm engine – start it, let it run 30 seconds, shut it off and extract.  Aluminum expands faster than steel but not if you let everything come up to same temp.

 

What am I doing here anyway?  You probably already have the little buggers out by now anyway.

 

Può la fortuna del tridente di bologna sia con voi.

 

DOUG

 

From: Ferrari [mailto:ferrari-bounces+dnt=dock.net [at] ferrarilist.com] On Behalf Of Richard Lindsay
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2015 2:18 PM
To: DOUG <dnt [at] dock.net>
Cc: The FerrariList <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
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