THE NEWBIES GUIDE TO CHANGING SPARK PLUGS ON THE ECOTEC (WITH PICTURES)
TOOLS YOU WILL NEED
Rachet
Extension
5/8 spark plug socket
10 mm socket
1. Pop your hood. If you cant do this please take your car to a mechanic
2. Remove ignition wire conector from the idi cover
2. Remove the 4 small bolts holding the idi cover to the valve cover (10mm)
3. Now remove the idi cover
your engine should now look like this
4. now grab your spark plug socket 3/8,ratchet,extension. Insert into the hole and turn
counter clockwise to remove the spark plugs. Dothis to all 4 plugs.
5. Now get your new plugs ready. Put anti seize on the threads before you put them in.
(I went with the bosch platinum 2 because they were cheaper than the acdelco
plugs and were pre gapped). If you plugs aren’t gapped it will tell you what to gap
them at in the owners manual. Mine says (.43).
(sorry I didn’t get any pictures of the plugs ready to go in I had antiseize on my hands)
6. Install new plugs by turning the ratchet clockwise. Torque spec is 15 ft lbs don’t
overtighten them because you could strip out the head. Do this to all 4
7.Reinstall the idi cover.
8. Reinstall the 4 bolts you took out with the 10mm socket
9. put the plug clip back in.
10. now close the hood and start the car and enjoy the feeling of taking care of your car.
Heya Cheesecake :
Good Job well done on that guide, I would give you an A+ for that.
How are the Bosch plugs running in your Eco? I'm asking because I work at a parts house and I've not had a single customer like the way any of the Bosch Platinums ran in any car. One customer came in, threw the plugs on the counter and said "Where's the @!#$ that sole me these @!#$ty plugs?". I'm putting the NGK Iridiums in my car come 100k
My Car Domain Page
Nice write up. I would like to add that is a good idea (not mandatory) to use compressed air (if available) to clear out the spark plug holes in case ANYTHING like dirt or small rocks has gotten in there.
Mike
"information is All Powerfull"
the saab h-series engines with direct ignition have really similar IDI covers (called DI cassettes on the saabs) and they break every 100k miles or so... cost $400+ to replace. just an interesting fact. good write up!
If you haven't got compressed air, use air in a can. That's the stuff you get from computer stores to clean keyboards. Put the thin extension pipe down the plug well and give it a blast of air. After loosening the plugs, put the extension pipe down again and give it another blast of air just before you remove them.
MSD wrote:How are the Bosch plugs running in your Eco? I'm asking because I work at a parts house and I've not had a single customer like the way any of the Bosch Platinums ran in any car. One customer came in, threw the plugs on the counter and said "Where's the @!#$ that sole me these @!#$ty plugs?". I'm putting the NGK Iridiums in my car come 100k
Got Bosch Plat+2 in my GAM 2.3L and love them, really work well. I've heard stories about them too. I only use Bosch plugs in all my cars and they all run good.
Jesse D wrote:the saab h-series engines with direct ignition have really similar IDI covers (called DI cassettes on the saabs) and they break every 100k miles or so... cost $400+ to replace. just an interesting fact. good write up!
The've also had two recalls for said di cassettes. lol
MSD wrote:How are the Bosch plugs running in your Eco? I'm asking because I work at a parts house and I've not had a single customer like the way any of the Bosch Platinums ran in any car. One customer came in, threw the plugs on the counter and said "Where's the @!#$ that sole me these @!#$ty plugs?". I'm putting the NGK Iridiums in my car come 100k
so far so good im getting really good gas mileage
Bosch plugs belong in european cars not AMERICAN CARS get acdelcos or densos
***Looking for a BLUE 03+ STOCK cavi wing pm me if ya got one you wanna sell***
can someone post a pic of that cover that has to come off?
thanks
You advise to torque the plugs in their bores, but don't mention the need of a torque wrench?!?! Last I knew, very few 'Saturday wrenchers' aren't capable of knowing what any torque value feels like. Try this instead; for plugs without a gasket (like ours, tapered seat meets the head), hand tighten by socket extension only (translates to gently snug with wrench on), then put the socket wrench back on turn an additional 1/8 turn. If you are a bit weak, then you can go a just a hair more than 1/8 turn - NO MORE! Keep the extension directly inline with the plug with one hand over the extension top, and the end of the wrench is turned by your other hand. If done at an angle to the plug, you risk snapping the plug (Oo! fun time there! LOL). If the plug has a pre-installed crush gasket, same technique applies, but you can go 1/4 turn instead. Non-gasket plugs usually seen in aluminum heads, gasket plugs in non-aluminum heads.
it doesn't say "ecotec" on mine but theres a cover that say's 2.4 liter dohc that has four bolts.
is that the cover hiding the four spark plugs?
again I have a 2001 z24.
thanks
Okay to the one poster if you wait till 100k, your an idiot. They will have seized in there and you wont be able to remove them. Then when you try it, and they break, you have to remove the cylinder head to get the broken plug out.
Every 30k, is the correct mileage to change them.
- 2004 Cavalier - 124k, owned since new
LOL aparently Rob up there doesnt read very thoroughly. I believe he was saying he is going to use the NGK plugs when he hits 100,000 miles. Not keeping them in there for 100,000 miles. LMAO! The flame has been put out.
-Bows-
-Justin
JBODY HONDA EATER wrote:Bosch plugs belong in european cars not AMERICAN CARS get acdelcos or densos
Don't be ignorant. That sounds like the lady who told me that Syntec was for Beamers and Mercs....
For ecotec the stock plugs are great. Don't buy into the hype of 2 and 4 prong plugs etc... The spark will always take the shortest route, and only one of the prongs is shortest.
-Chris
I wasn't planning on changing the plugs at 100k miles....but how often are you guys changing them?? Ever year?
"The Blue Bullet"
Quote:
Okay to the one poster if you wait till 100k, your an idiot. They will have seized in there and you wont be able to remove them. Then when you try it, and they break, you have to remove the cylinder head to get the broken plug out.
my Chevy dealer told me 100KMS. but that sounded too long so i did mine at 80KMS.
http://registry.gmenthusiast.com/images/my2005cav/my%20car%20the%20bash.jpg
/\ I'd like to see some proof too.
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