Spark Plug broke in half, thread stuck in socket still.

[speedbee13]

I was torqueing down my plugs, and one of them snapped in half and now the metal part of the plug is stuck in the socket still. They are NGK 97968 plugs.

 

[speedbee13]

I got them out, got a square cut extractor and it came out fine.

 

[SLOWESTN54]

Can we see pictures

 

[SlowE93]

I was torqueing down my plugs, and one of them snapped in half and now the metal part of the plug is stuck in the socket still. They are NGK 97968 plugs.

Ummmm.....how in THEE FUCK ????
What were you "torquing" them with ?
1/2" breaker bar
Or Milwaukee M18 impact ?

 

[SlowE93]

Can we see pictures

Of the torque wrench used

 

[wheela]

So was half the plug stuck in the head???

 

[speedbee13]

Yes I can take pictures. I was using my dad's torque wrench, it ranges from 10 to 120lbs. I set it to 17 ft lb, and had my mom torque it while i listened for click(I am not allowed to do anything rn per my doctor). The plug broke partially on the thread. I will take pictures right now qnd upload in 5 minutes

 

[wheela]

This isn't your mom, is it?

 

[speedbee13]

 

[speedbee13]

This isn't your mom, is it?

Lol, no. I think i need to get a digital torque wrench

 

[RuskiRacer]

Did you do this while the motor was hot or cold?

 

[speedbee13]

Did you do this while the motor was hot or cold?

Relatively cold, had to move the car in my driveway and waited about 15 mins

 

[wheela]

Wow, i've never seen that before. Obviously I can't see the fracture surfaces in those pictures, but it seems there may have been some fatigue cracking going on until the amount of remaining (un cracked) metal was so little that it ruptured under the torque? Not sure what would cause the cracking if that was the case. Have you been having a ton of timing corrections in addition to the misfires?

 

[wheela]

You must have been crapping your pants when that happened. Really glad you got it out. Hopefully no metal particulate fell into the engine throughout the event?

 

[RuskiRacer]

Relatively cold, had to move the car in my driveway and waited about 15 mins

Still to warm i think. Need to wait longer so that the metal can all cool down and shrink. I've done this same thing once and happened to me when the motor was hot and I was torquing the plug pretty aaggressively.

 

[wheela]

Still to warm i think. Need to wait longer so that the metal can all cool down and shrink. I've done this same thing once and happened to me when the motor was hot and I was torquing the plug pretty aaggressively.

Wow, I'd have never thought that would be a risk. Good to know!!

 

[RuskiRacer]

Wow, I'd have never thought that would be a risk. Good to know!!

Yeah I would definitely give the car a good 30 mins to cool down. I also didn't use anti seize on it and it broke I always use anti zieze and never had an issue when using it

 

[speedbee13]

For future reference if this happens to anyone, the part to get these plug threads out is a 5/16" tapered square extractor. Just lightly hammer into the thread, and then I used some needle nose pliers to grip it and spin out. Just use penetrating fluid if it is super tight(engine cold)

 

[speedbee13]

You must have been crapping your pants when that happened. Really glad you got it out. Hopefully no metal particulate fell into the engine throughout the event?

I was super confused at first because it also broke my spark plug socket, and so i got another one and it didn't fit, but then it did on cyl 2. Looked in there and i realized it was snapped. Once i realized that I was scared af until I looked it up, the part I used is $8 for a set of 5 different sizes(below reply has the part)

 

[SlowE93]

Nothing to do with that. (Hot or cold engine)
It is the torque wrench.
I would be willing to bet that at low setting (17lb ft) it does a VERY soft click. More of a feel vs sound. So, they just kept tightening waiting for a loud click that never came.