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a-marshal Samba Member
Joined: March 21, 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 6:05 am Post subject: Sprak Plug Crush Gasket Replacement |
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I've been leery about pulling spark-plugs too many times in case I ruin the crush washers. Is that something I need to worry about?
If I am right to worry are these an acceptable replacement?
https://www.aircraftspruce.ca/catalog/eppages/spgaskets.php _________________ -Ob. vehicle info....
1973 Westy w/ '74 1.8 liter / PDSI (type3?) carbs / 009 distributor / pertronix |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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raygreenwood Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008 Posts: 21510 Location: Oklahoma City
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Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 7:41 am Post subject: Re: Crush Washer Replacement |
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Ooooh.....thanks for that link SGKent!. Along with the Aircraft Spruce.....I have another source I found a while back I will post later.
As for is not replacing the crush washer when gapping or checking....significant?
I used to never think about many years ago.....but between when I started installing a head temp sensor on my cars (which always made me worry about that plug staying tight)....and a few peculiarities I started finding....the occasional odd misfire from a plug or two that did not seem to be grounding right and were found to have worked slightly loose after gapping.......I started replacing the washers on every removal of plugs.
Yes....it was equal parts of not tight enough and the small amount of anti-seize combined. And yes.....I use a torque wrench and no.....when I say loose I do not mean turning out loose. I mean taking maybe 2-3 ft lbs to crack loose. And...finding more carbon leakage on the inner threads on plugs found that way.
They were cheap and readily available back in the 90s......and it made a difference.
Although its a different material set.....this practice has never been better illustrated than on my 2006 Jetta and my current 2012 Golf. When the plugs get gapped or inspected.....yes it uses and part # of nickel copper.....after gapping once.....unless you change the washer.....you will eventually in about 3000 miles get an odd at idle low frequency misfire. Whe. You go to check the plugs.....you will find that they take virtually no effort to crack loose. Maybe 1-2 ft. Pounds. So you have to up the torque on the previously crushed gaskets. And when you do the misfire goes away instantly.
Those modern systems use the plugs as a sensor (ion sensing) to hep set fuel mixture and spark advance.
Just that subtle change in ground is enough to make a difference.
Ray |
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a-marshal Samba Member
Joined: March 21, 2009 Posts: 270 Location: Toronto
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Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 10:21 am Post subject: Re: Crush Washer Replacement |
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Thanks SGKent for the link, I'm going to keep looking for a Canadian source since the cheapest shipping option from Sparkplugs was $30 US (and I drive past aircraft spruce every few weeks). _________________ -Ob. vehicle info....
1973 Westy w/ '74 1.8 liter / PDSI (type3?) carbs / 009 distributor / pertronix |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 11:52 am Post subject: Re: Sprak Plug Crush Washer Replacement |
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fix the thread title so later searchers can find |
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Tcash Samba Member
Joined: July 20, 2011 Posts: 12844 Location: San Jose, California, USA
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Posted: Fri Jul 20, 2018 12:42 pm Post subject: Re: Crush Washer Replacement |
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a-marshal wrote: |
Thanks SGKent for the link, I'm going to keep looking for a Canadian source since the cheapest shipping option from Sparkplugs was $30 US (and I drive past aircraft spruce every few weeks). |
The only issue with copper spark plug gaskets, is sometimes they remain on the head when you remove the spark plug, and they are not magnetic, so it is a pain to fish them out.
If you reuse them, they need to be Annealed. They become hardened in use.
Good luck
Tcash |
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