How do i change spark plugs on 03 element?

[iamperplexed]

No torque wrench here. I'm in Oregon now and all my tools live in Texas. Should I beg, borrow or buy a torque wrench or just do it the old fashioned way?

[Yoshi]

Originally Posted by iamperplexed

No torque wrench here. I'm in Oregon now and all my tools live in Texas. Should I beg, borrow or buy a torque wrench or just do it the old fashioned way?

Quarter turn after hand tight.

[iamperplexed]

Originally Posted by Yoshi

Quarter turn after hand tight.

Much appreciated, thanks!

[Hajidub]

To the poster who is having the misfiring issues, even after a spark plug change, it's probably pointing you to the ignition coil.

[iamperplexed]

Finally got around to changing the plugs last month and now I'm getting terrible mpg. 13 - 15 around town. Here's the back story. I purchased a torque wrench from Harbor Freight for the job and after several attempts, couldn't get it to click. So using info from the forum, I did the job by feel. After checking mileage, I immediately knew something was wrong. Went to Autozone, borrowed a (faulty) torque wrench and repeated the process. After not getting it to work, again I did it the old fashioned way by feel only this time a little tighter than "hand tight then quarter turn". I know what you're thinking, "this guy doesn't know how to use a torque wrench". However, the guy at autozone couldn't get it to work correctly when I returned it to them. So, after I re-installed plugs my mileage was back up to normal. Now, a few tanks later, I'm getting 15mpg around town. What gives? Improper tightening and compression leaking? Maybe someone is stealing my gas! I've come up with several scenarios in my head. Maybe someone else has a theory?

[k-series]

Is everyone making sure that the plugs installed are correctly gapped for their motor? You can't just take a new plug and screw it in.

http://youtu.be/lk70oyUEftY



Steve

[iamperplexed]

Originally Posted by k-series

Is everyone making sure that the plugs installed are correctly gapped for their motor? You can't just take a new plug and screw it in.

http://youtu.be/lk70oyUEftY



Steve

I checked gap but no adjustment was required before install. Thanks for the input.

[larrh7]

I just bought my 2004 Element used with 89000 miles on it. I was going to put new plugs in even though it is running fine. It has KGKIZFR6K-11 plugs in it and the tip looks fine. The gap is set at .40 like they should be. Is there anyway of telling if they are good or not? I don't want to replace them if they are ok. I'm guessing the the origonal plugs.

[motoracer47]

Originally Posted by dohcvtec

i have been working on cars for years but i have never changed spark plugs on a direct injected engine/coil pack ignition.

Just gotta throw this out, our engine's do have coil packs, but do not have direct injection. Honda is pretty late to the game on that, they just now have implemented DI on the new "Earth Dreams" engines.

The tube thing is a good idea. I always just use an extension with a spark plug socket, but I've been working on cars a long time and just have a feel for being able to tell if Im cross threading or not.

As far as plugs go, I have always had good luck with NGK and Denso's. Main thing would be getting a plug that is the proper heat range for our engines. Obviously gapping them correctly is important as well. If someone wanted to really get the most out of their ignition system, here is a trick I learned from my racing days. You will get the best light-off by having the open end of the electrode facing the intake valves. You can buy a spark plug shim kit that allows for adjusting which way the plugs face once installed. Its kinda time consuming to do, and for a street engine, I doubt its really worth it, but I will say I did notice a difference on my racing engines.

[eedviking]

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