Over torqued spark plugs? help!
 

Hello all! I checked out my plugs today, and I torqued them to 20 ft lbs. I later realized that this is too much. Should I loosen the plugs and torque them to 10 or so, or is it ok to leave them at 20?

thanks!

Alex

Leave them at 20. as long as you dont strip them your fine.

what the stock setting anyways? Some say 16, some say 10, others say 8.. anyone know the maximum torque specs?

???????

i have never used a torque wrench on a spark plug so i just go snug. i have never had a problem with that but i have a pretty good feeling about how much to tighten things.

I finger tighten my spark plugs, than use the socket wrench and tighten it literally with my pinky.

just hand tight em and then with your socket wrench..just give it alittle snug..like 1/4 turn...thats all you really need..doesnt take much to seat em good, more than that and you risk stripping shit..which is a bad thing..been doing that for years and has worked for me.

Over torqued spark plugs? help!
 

Factory spec is 8-10 ft lbs.

leave them alone, cowboy.

I always snug those and never had a problem, just leave them alone as long they are not strip.

Great! Thank you all for your input! I'm gonna loosen them a little, since I havent really driven the car since I put the plugs in.... I dont want to risk them messing up the head when the engine gets hot!

thanks again!

Alex

They are tapered so tightening more than snug plus 1/4 turn to lock doesn't do anything but potential strip.

thanks for all your help everyone! I'm gonna order a new set of plugs since these are the original "fomoco" plugs on this engine with 70k miles!

next time... tighten with hand, then another 1/8 of a turn with a wrench and ull be good to go

The general rule that I use on plugs is I dont tighten them using the handle of the wrench, I hold the ratchet part of the wrench and tighten it about as tight as I can get it with my wrist. I am fairly strong and I know they are torqued to less than 15'lb.

It doesnt damage an engine to under torque a spark plug because even a loose plug will seal 90+% and it cannot back out with our coil on plug system or a spark plug wire that has a boot.