Hey guys. First time I've ever changed spark plugs. Got the old ones out, the new ones are in and on the threads, but not entirely tightened. I need to tighten them with my socket wrench, but I need to know how tight.

The manual says to either use a torque wrench set at 13 pounds, but I don't have one. It also says if I don't have a torque wrench, to use a normal one to tighten 2/3 of a turn after it comes in contact with the cylinder head. The problem is, I don't know how to tell when it comes in contact with the cylinder head.

Can anyone give me a quick response on how to tighten these properly?

Thanks!

 

make them snug.

 

a little tighter than snug, put a little arm behind it but you don't have to break a blood vessel trying to tighten it.

Just keep in mind, 13 lbs, just put about the same strenght it takes to pick up 13 lbs behing the rachet.

 

Snug could mean anything though. I need some details please!

Edit: 2nd reply, I think I understand what you're saying.

But what about the part about the manual talking about contact with the cylinder heads?


Modified by Markov at 5:20 PM 11/9/2005

 

after it stops spinning freely with little effort turn about 2/3 of a turn...don't let this intimidate you, there's really not that much to it. Good Luck

 

snug= taking the extension in your hand and tighten it as tight as u can by hand. then put on you rachet on there and give it ~ 1/2 a turn.

 

geez....we have a thread on spark plug install?

Okay. It's simple. There's a crush-washer on a spark-plug. It's there to make sure you don't snap the top of the spark plug off.

You want it tight enough to crush the crush-washer. That's it.

 

Alright, got it in snug, didn't tighten it to the point where I had to put a lot of strength in it. Also, there was nothing I had to do to my NGK Iridium IX before sliding it in, was there?