Is the tech blind and a ex-high school shop teacher?



Disclaimer: no offense meant to ex-high school shop teacher, it's just all of them I know don't have all their fingers and of course no offense meant to blind people, but they should be working on cars for dealers

 

Guuud Question! No idea, after I heard $6800 the rest is a blur...

 

It's possible that after 17K miles, the IK22's were exhausted. There is a thread in the Drivetrain forum where people pulled their Densos and took photographs, and the conclusion was that the Denso iridium wore out quite fast (and are not rated 30K-100K miles, as some initial claims).

 

I don't know about exhaustion on the plugs... Mine had about 8-9k miles on them... I'm very skeptical of the Densos now... Doubt I will ever use them again... Just cannot get excited about a plug that you have to re-tighten every 5k miles...

 

it's funny... everyone I have heard this happen to in the last few months were running densos.... coincidence...

I use NGKs... and have never had a problem... and I am running 28+ lbs of boost... if anyones should loosen... it's mine

 

Interesting; I will have to take a look at those threads. The center electrode and ground looked good (ie. not worn) on these and none of them seemed to be running too rich or too lean. I'll leave them out unless I see evidence that there's a significant advantage to using them.

 

I just had the same thing happen to my MINI, in my case I had stock plugs anda 15% pulley - my theory is that over time the plug worked its way out and eventually blam! I don't think it blew out all at once.

I like the re-sleeve option, at the moment I am looking for something on the cheap side and a new head was NOT cheap (I had the same figures from the dealer as far as parts and labor cost). A performance head is appealing but if I can get away with a repair that saves $1k (or more) I can't ignore that as an option.

 

Interesting... Stock plugs...

 

Well this just happen to me tonight on my way home. Plug #2 blow out. I had been getting a Code that was a Misfire but didn't get time to check the plugs before this happen.
I was running NGK plugs. I Don't remember the Model Number right now but it was the ones that run a little colder than stock. By the way the stock plugs are NGK. Well in my 04 there were. Anyway I'm off to try to fix this problem.

 

what were they TQed to?

 

The truth be told I don't know what they were TQed to but there were tight and shouldn't have come out. Also a note: My mini does have 111k miles on it so maybe that had something to do with it.

 

plugs shouldn't come out of heads if they were torqued properlly. this is crazy. i can't believe so many people are having this problems. good luck guys!

 

Yet another reason that I am staying stock on the plugs. The common denominator seems to be the fact that they are colder running plugs. I have seen posts with Denso and NGK both (more Denso).

The good news is that it can be repaired.

 

I am running one step colder NGK plugs torque to 20 ft-lb w/anti-seize. Then checked again after 1k with engine cold they moved a wee bit.

What torque value are you using?

 

as Joey said... PLugs shouldn't come out... but they have to be TQed right...



I have ran 25 ft lbs as per testing since I got my car.... I say as per testing cause... using the factory spec they would get loose.. then started cranking one lb at a time.... 25 has held.... even 40+ lbs of boost... they still didn't get loose!

 

Wow 25 ft-lb is a lot of torque on an aluminum head.
Next time (soon) I check them and they move I'm pulling them to have a look. Then torque them to 22 ft-lb, I'm only making 16~17 lb. on full boost.
I was going by the Bently manual torque speck on a stone cold engine.

The NGK website recommends;
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/techinf...300&country=US

(Wow 25 ft-lb is a lot of torque.)
But then extreme conditions require extreme measures and I'm sure NGK published data on the conservative side.

 

Problem fixed. I went to Advance Auto Parts and picked up a Helicoil kit. The kit is call Save-A-Thread and the part number is 5334-14.

I put this helicoil in with out taking the head off. All I did was use a ShopVac and taped a small holes on to the shopvac and got all most all the metal pieces . The MINI is running great once again.

 

At the dealer they give you a reacharound with the $6800.00 head right?

LOL...farking dealer service is smoking crack...

 

I had a 15% pulley and Alta cold intake done in 2005. Was advised to install colder plugs, so my tuner put in the IK22. These were in for 35-45k miles. Took in for oil, fluid service in 2008. Plugs changed to new IK22's. Oct. 2009, took off from a red light near work(after a 8 mile commute from home on the freeway). Heard a BANG, sucking sounds and all dash lites on. Was able to reinstall the plug (number 1), and drive home. Next am I re torqued all plugs to 21ft/lbs. Checked plugs every month (about 2k mi.). #1 seemed to always require about a 1/4 to 1/2 turn to torque to 21. All other plugs fine. June 1 I check the plugs. #1 just turns and will not tighten up. All other plugs fine. Take #2 plug and try to insert into #1 cyl. Just turns. Ordered a TimeSert and 2 inserts the next day. Called dealer and asked what the OEM plugs were. Was informed that they were NGK BKR6EQUP. Dealer quoted $24.99 ea. Called auto parts store, quoted $6.99 ea. My neighbor and I spent about an hour last Sunday, cut new threads, cut new seat, installed the TimeSert insert. Installed the NGK's watched as my neighbor's (Ford & Chevy guys) cringe as I torque the plugs down. So far, 125 miles on this repair, still a little gun-shy on full throttle except getting on the freeway, but so far so good. Gas mileage seems to have improved also. Total cost $220.00. Now the next question, Do I keep the MINI for another year (as I had planned) or trade now? BTW 78k miles on odo.