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  #1   IP: 69.181.27.190
Old 11-07-2009, 04:35 PM
fullkeel fullkeel is offline
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bubbles around spark plugs

Last night I removed the thermostat housing to so I could remove the thermostat to run vinegar through the cooling system. When i removed the thermostat housing a little water ran down the top of the engine and spark plug wells. When i started the engine to draw the vinegar through the engine I noticed that the water that had collected around the aft three spark plugs began to bubble.

Should I be concerned?

Thanks.
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  #2   IP: 216.115.121.253
Old 11-07-2009, 08:15 PM
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I've never thought much about the seal of a spark plug much.
But it goes to reason that it would be hard to seal six or seven hundred psi very completely with just a few screw threads and some rust.
Maybe all engines leak a little?
Look for extreame rust that might have caused pinholes around the plugs.
If the threads are fine and the plugs take the torque when tightened, then it should be fine.

Russ
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  #3   IP: 142.68.253.180
Old 11-08-2009, 05:29 AM
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Could it just be boiling? Wouldn't that be among the hottest parts of the engine?
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  #4   IP: 64.231.125.40
Old 11-08-2009, 05:15 PM
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If all it is(?) - is water that seeped down from the thermostat housing boiling off then I wouldn't be concerned.

However, if it is boiling continuously then that would indicate a leak from the water jacket (lifting eye syndrome?) and would be of concern.
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Old 11-08-2009, 07:28 PM
fullkeel fullkeel is offline
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thanks for the responses. Just want to be clear that the engine was cold when started and i only ran it long enough to draw in the 4 gallons of vinegar. the head never got a chance to get hot.
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  #6   IP: 207.210.31.104
Old 11-08-2009, 08:42 PM
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plug washers

There is a small washer on the threaded part of the spark-plug. I would think that it is made of a softer material for torquing the plug to the head. Removing and reinstalling the same plug, would compromise the washer's efficiency/integrity, especially if the plug was over-torqued. I would try a new set of plugs and torgue them to spec (35 lbs).or just snug them up, as i do
Cheers Rick
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  #7   IP: 71.118.13.238
Old 11-09-2009, 07:03 PM
Dave Neptune Dave Neptune is offline
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Exclamation Plugs

fullkeel, unless you have water coming up out of the spark-plug holes don't worry!!!!!!
I have run 100's of engines on a dyno and have seen many a little leak around them. You don't really loose anything unless you can feel the "Blast" or really hear it. When the plug seats get old and tired and rusty and pitted they don't really seal well. MOST IMPORTANT DO NOT TRY TO OVER TIGHTEN TO MAKE THE PLUG SEAL, as that will eventually cause more problems or even strip the threads.

Dave Neptune
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Old 11-09-2009, 08:25 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Neptune View Post
fullkeel, unless you have water coming up out of the spark-plug holes don't worry!!!!!!
I have run 100's of engines on a dyno and have seen many a little leak around them. You don't really loose anything unless you can feel the "Blast" or really hear it. When the plug seats get old and tired and rusty and pitted they don't really seal well. MOST IMPORTANT DO NOT TRY TO OVER TIGHTEN TO MAKE THE PLUG SEAL, as that will eventually cause more problems or even strip the threads.

Dave Neptune
And a judicious application of "Never-seize" to the plug threads won't hurt either.
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