Hi chaps,

Yesterday I changed my spark plugs. They haven't been changed since I had the car (1 year+) and I didn't know when they were changed before, so just wanted to be sure.

sods law is that if you try any more it will break and your heads will have to come off sooner...leave it till its warm and the suns shining... ... - .- -.




Y. O. L. O.
.

Is the ring the rubber from the inside of a plug socket?
Or is it the guts out of your spark plug coil connection?
You need to invest in a good quality socket to get that out by the looks of it, seems to be well rounded now, a gentle tap or two with a hammer to get it on.
I think you will be changing your rocker cover gasket not the head gasket.

@Stan: True that!

@RRP38: Not the rubber from the inside of a plug socket, definitly metal. Nor the inside from a spark plug connection. Don't know if I ever will get any grip on it. To me it just looks round, not rounded.
You are right about the changing the rocker cover gasket  2002 L322 V8

Do you have access to a boroscope? You may get a clearer/closer pic with it?

Unfortunately not. Considering buying one though.. Since they are not that expensive and always come in handy.. 2002 L322 V8

If you know the size, you could get a cheap (ie) throwaway socket a half size smaller (eg use a 1/2" instead of a 13mm), put it on an extension, superheat it with a blowtorch (gloves!!!), tap it on, let it cool for 15/20 mins, the contraction from cooling may just give it enough grip.
Also, Irwin do some knackered/rounded removal sockets I have used before, not sure if long enough though.
Failing that, a glow plug mobile guy will get it out for you - you just have to weight the cost up against removal of rocker etc etc 2007 Vogue TDV8 with 255/55/20's fitted

Thanks Jonny. That might just do the job.
Think I will order myself a set of these http://www.amazon.com/IRWIN-Tools-Bolt-Gri...B001W02R0S

Seems to work:

Click image to enlarge

Just be aware they have a thicker body than a normal socket. 2007 Vogue TDV8 with 255/55/20's fitted

Those Irwin bolt grips are great, I have had a set of the standard size ones for ages and they work great. Those deep seat ones are new, not seen those before and look a good idea.
They will only work though if it grips onto the metal of the plug, obviously trying it on the ceramic is a sure fire way of spoiling your day! It's good advise to leave it until you know you have time to sort it properly should the worse happen.
As other have said it needs a bit more investigation as to whether that is the plug damaged or something broken off and jammed on the plug. A simple measurement to the metal part in comparison to the same style plug in another cylinder should tell you. If it's something wedged onto the plug then drilling down either side might be possible with care which will give a better idea of what it is.
It looks almost like the plug washer put on the wrong end of the plug!

Have you got a photo of it taken at an angle because it looks to be something over it that's broken off flush with the cylinder head. I think it's a part of a socket that someones wedged in there and it's snapped off in a weird place. Is the surface smooth or rough?
How was the coil attached to the plug? It can't have had the right boot on it?

Take a good look at the spark plug attachment for this cylinder..., up inside, and compare it to one adjacent. Try plugging a free spark plug into that rear cylinder boot. I think you'll find the plug gripping part missing, and you know where it's gone. The metal part shown appears to be attached to the top cap of the plug, so your socket can't begin to reach further down to where it can grip the hex base. It's also unlikely that the plug wire will reattach properly and securely to that plug.

A possible solution might be.... Drill a small hole on two sides of the offending metal ring, then use snap ring pliers to unthread the ring and spark plug terminal cap, turning in a counterclockwise direction. This should work, IF the plug terminal caps themselves thread on. To verify, use pliers to unscrew the terminal cap of one of your old plugs.

If successful, the plug will be easily removed, but you'll need to replace that one plug wire connection.

Hope this works....

Definitely looks to me like you have something extra that shouldn't normally be there. Worth a shot with a dremel type tool with a carbide tip to make a bigger gap to yank it out with. Only do on a day you don't need the car, though....  .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999

Thanks for the thoughts guys!

I don't have any other photo's of the spark plug. Maybe tomorrow I will try to take some decent other ones. Will also measure the dept

I already compared the coil of this plug to the others, they all look the same, no difference at all. Will try to put a new spark plug in this coil.
Coil is attached to the spark plug as all the others. Also the engine runs fine and very smooth. An indication that all spark plugs are working fine to me. Above that, the wire connection (small spring) was visible in the coil.

The drilling might be a good idea as well, though it is a difficult to reach place. 2002 L322 V8

Could be a previous owner replaced the plug coil cap when it broke off on the plug? .
Experience is the only genuine knowledge, but as time passes, I have forgotten more than I can remember
Volvo V70 P2 2006 2.4 Petrol 170bhp Estate SE
MG Midget Mk1 1962

Previous: L322 Range Rover TDV8 3.6 2008; L322 Range Rover TD6 3.0 2002; P38A Range Rover V8 1999