17 replies to this topic

[andy159]

my friend has a citreon saxo and three of the spark plugs are seized in, does anyone have any tips on how to unseize them

 

thanks

[sonikk4]

Good quality penetrating oil and not WD40 should help. If not then some hydraulic fluid, diesel something like that will do.

[andy159]

yep will have to give the penetrating oil a go

[hhhh]

Probably best to attempt removal when hot. Could try slight tightening alternating with loosening as well.

[cal844]

Get the engine hot then try slightly tightening and then try to loosen, if the plug goes tight as your loosening it, work it back and fore to get the rust to break down

[gazza82]

Swap out the engine for a good one!!

[carbon]

+1 for penetrating oil. Then if they are still seized you could try using a rattle gun, but this is risky.

 

I used this on a very old Aquaplane alloy head where the sparking plugs had probably been in for about 30 years. After a lot of soaking in oil they all came out, this was using an electric rattle gun (from Lidl)

 

But one plug cracked in the process. Not a problem as the head was off the engine.

[MatthewsDad]

A few drops of 50/50 acetone and ATF mixture in each plug recess and leave to penetrate into the threads for a day or two.

[wile e coyote]

A few drops of 50/50 acetone and ATF mixture in each plug recess and leave to penetrate into the threads for a day or two.

 

Cheapskate! - seriously though this works  very well indeed (pure acetone is often sold in poundland  as nail varnish remover)

 

When they're out smear a bit of copper grease on the threads and the issue will never happen again....

[slidehammer]

You need to tread carefully here as the head will be aluminium and too much force runs the risk of stripping the threads.You might find the threads are already worn which could be part of the issue.As above soak in penetrating oil and leave overnight and try to gently rock them back and forth (tighter and looser) and hopefully the seal will break and you can remove them.

[Dusky]

A longer lever.

[GraemeC]

Hold the plug and get some mates to turn the car round

[MatthewsDad]

A few drops of 50/50 acetone and ATF mixture in each plug recess and leave to penetrate into the threads for a day or two.

 
Cheapskate! - seriously though this works  very well indeed (pure acetone is often sold in poundland  as nail varnish remover)
 
When they're out smear a bit of copper grease on the threads and the issue will never happen again....

Have used this potion to release sticking piston rings on an engine which came out of long-term storage. Great stuff, and cheap as chips.

[Rorf]

Hold the plug and get some mates to turn the car round

 

You might damage the engine mounts

[Retroman]

Don't we just love modern cars and engines....

Vauxhall Vivaro Van a 4 hour specialist job to remove 1 injector with drills taps and a 20 ton puller, engines designed by idiots

 

Bi Turbo Range Rover turbo actuator seized Land Rover quote a £2700 body off job. I did the job for £400, it was a stainless linkage with a rusted mild steel bolt. They don't even have a dipstick on the engines now, they stay in the design office hahha.

    The 4 air suspension pipes at the front are some 4 feet long, nothing wrong with that, but each one has 19 bends...!!! takes 17 hours to fit new ones on a 6 year old car...and again its an expensive body off job according to Lrover....a 50 year old Mini can still have the original pipes.

If you ever have too much money buy a 3 year old Range Rover.