4AGE Spark Plug Replacement

[arctophile]

Hi all,

Forum's been a bit quiet huh?

Anyhoo, holidays seem a good time to rip into the engine bay, and next job to do is check the plugs. Can anyone tell me how to go about removing them w/o letting the gathered cr*p fall into the bores?

Engine is blue top in an AW - the darn plugs are recessed about 10cm - not the most convenient arrangement - and all this detritus has gathered around them over the years since they were last changed (no idea when this was which is why I'd like to check em).

Do I need to remove the plastic panel between the cam covers or something?

Also if I get that solved, should I bother upgrading plugs/leads to fancy spec or would this make bugger all difference?


Cheers,

//Adam F

[roadsailing]

it is a bit quiet isnt it.

clean as much crap off the top ot the engine as you can, then remove the panel between the cam covers.

give the "valley" a good blow out with an air gun to remove whatever is in there.

some people loosen off the plugs and turn the engine over (with high tension lead removed so it wont star), which blows air out the threads, but i;m not so sure this is a good idea, as it would suck in also.

loosen off the plugs and give it another blow out.

i'd only replace them with platinum plugs, i checked mine a few years ago, saw they were platinum then just put them back in.

i wouldnt change leads unless you are having issues (same as plugs)

[arctophile]

Thanks v much!

I think I actually have some canned air I used to use to clean my cameras so I'll give that a go

//Adam F

[Ben Wilson]

Yeah - Pulling the cover between the plugs isn't a bad idea, as well as making it easier to clean, it's also a lot easier to get the plugs out. The cover is just the right height to grab the back of the socket when you try to pull the plugs.

[feral4mr2]

i use a vacum cleaner to clean the 'valley', they be awesome products of technology.

[maddog]

duct tape a smaller tube to a vacuum cleaner hose......the canned air won't move enough volume to be effective,i'd think.

[arctophile]

Thanks all - successful replacement.

Maddog you're right - canned air just blew the oil and crap around a bit...in the end i just used a rag on a stick like with a wind instrument

For any other total noobs attempting this, there's a funny cable channel thing obstructing the last two nuts holding the plastic channel cover on - luckily it just lifts away so you can get your socket in there. I also had to remove by accelerator cable bracket but that's pretty obvious.

When I got em out, the old ones looked to be the original (and I mean original - might have done over 100,000kms!) Denso ones, they looked well and truly fux0red with huge gaps - tis a miracle they were still working. Whacked in some new NGKs and can't feel much diff but we'll see if it helps economy or anything....

Cheers all,

//Adam F

[Gavatron]

If they were the original they were probably platinum plugs in the first place. Made to last a fair few clicks (<100,000?)

[kingmick]

an aw from before 1990 had platinum plugs as standard! intresting i always new the 4ag was way ahead of its time!