SteveRanieri

Whats the best way to do it?

mwpayne

I use a fairly soft wire brush on the end of a drill, works great.

DerangedHermit

I use a wire brush (brass I think) combined with some Brake Cleaner (doesn't leave any residue).

alwayssideways

sounds about right

yachtclb

why not just pay approx $28 for new ones, i am confused why you would clean them

DerangedHermit

Why not clean them? If they've got only 1k on them, might as well take them out and clean them. Takes 15 minutes. That's like checking the oil every fill up or something, why not?

YearsOfDecay

I have a glass beader, i just stick 'em in an adapter to keep the threads clean and hit 'em for about .5 seconds and that takes all the junk right off.. But i rarely do this, never on the TII.... Old spark plugs from the TII go into the beater if they still look good when they come out.

DerangedHermit

Brake Clean = $2
Brush = $5


I don't have a spare $28 lying around. I'm a poor college kid. I have better stuff to spend money on: tuition > goodies. Necessities > goodies.

HeffBoost

If they aren't worn then why replace them?

Syonyk

I just use a "wire toothbrush" type thing. 10 minutes with them seems to help significantly. I try to change the plugs every 5-7k miles, which works out to roughly every year. :-)

-=Russ=-

SteveRanieri

Yea the plugs are still fairly new, I don't feel like paying nearly 30 bucks every couple months when I can clean them for free. I don't call it cheap, I call it smart.

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

If they only have 1K on them, there should be no need to clean them. Unless there's something else wrong with your engine. Spark plugs are a very good indicator of problems...

I wouldn't use any chemicals or abrasives on spark plugs. Abrasives get stuck in the plug, no matter how well your clean them. Chemicals (brake cleaner) can attack the ceramic.

SteveRanieri

what would you use then aaron?

Aaron Cake

iTrader: (1)

I don't clean. I replace. My plugs also last me about 30K (kilometers).

Digi7ech

iTrader: (1)

your no fun Aaron

I use some sandpaper and gas on my plugs and they clean right up.

Right now my rebuild is getting about 50psi of gas at the rail during idle so I have to pull them and clean them every once in a while until I get a new FPR and parrallel setup.

Due to my rebuild I've got about 4-5 pairs of semi used plugs so i can just swap them back and forth.

RETed

I would NOT use any chemicals on the spark plugs.
The center electrode is porous, and crap can soak into it, causing weak or no spark problems.
This is now severely flooded spark plugs stop firing due to too much gasoline on the tips.

If you have to clean them, just use a brush.
If you're running pre-mix, you wouldn't have to clean them in the first place.


-Ted

DerangedHermit

Hmm, thanks for the clue in Aaron and Ted.