Spark plug torque?

For gasketed plugs, 15~20#ft is good, but you really want to do is just touch the gasket and then turn 1/2 a flat (30°). Anti-seize will life easier then next time.

Matt

Thanks for responding. Your method is new to me. Is your method a "general" guideline for all plugs? Sounds pretty good to me. Am I interping right in my mind if I...

Finger tight then apply torque to plug to 10:00 position (assuming my starting position is 12:00 position?

If you start at 12 and torque to 10, you'll be way too tight. You're going clockwise remember. Start at 12, and 1/2 flat will be 1. That sure seems like it wouldn't be anywhere near tight enough, or maybe I'm looking at it wrong?

Mechanic's feel. You'll feel an increase in torque when the gasket touches and starts to compress. Torque until you feel another increase - that means the gasket is fully compressed, so stop there. Maybe ~1/4 turn at most?

Only works with new plugs - on old ones, the gasket is already compressed, so the 1/12 turn is probably right.

I'm sure there is a torque spec, but standard procedure for 14mm/18mm plugs is finger tight then 1/16 of a turn for tapered seat (no gasket) or 1/2 turn for one with a (new, not already tightened) gasket. Not sure what size that plug is, but 10mm=1/4turn & 12mm=3/8turn.

Be careful using anti-seize on spark plugs, especially in aluminum heads. Many engine and spark plug manufacturers do not recommend it. Here is just one video explaining the problem.

video

Lynnmor wrote:
Be careful using anti-seize on spark plugs, especially in aluminum heads. Many engine and spark plug manufacturers do not recommend it. Here is just one video explaining the problem.

video

They recommend against it because of user error. Not any inherent problem with anti-seize. And it probably isn't as necessary as when heads were made of cast iron. I always use a dab and I've never had an issue with plugs coming loose, or worse, not being able to remove them. But it's just like Brylcreem.

The onan book says 7 to 18 so they don't think it's a big deal. I would go half way between snug and snap.