spark plug blew apart

[Goforsho]

had a spark plug blow apart on me a block away from home. Drove it home, took the plug out and found that not only the top tip of the plug was broke but the wire that runs through the porcelain insulator was missing and the bottom part of the porcelain insulator below the hex nut was gone also. I can only assume that these pieces dropped into the cylinder. What kind of damage would this do and how would I clean them out?

 

[1993MTXSHO]

damage might be nothing since there small but they might have scored your cylinder wall. Id say the only right way to do it is pull the head off and clean it out and assess the damage.

Edit: could have gotten up in a valve and screwed it up. However you might be lucky and it all flew out the exhaust, which in that case check your cats because if you downshift it could suck it back up again.

 

[egroce11]

The only smart thing to do is pull your head, with the ceramic and electroid pieces missing, you can pretty much be sure there are some pieces inside that are more than likely going to score the side walls.

Ernie

 

[Off Road SHO]

The ceramic was probably busted up into small pieces and went out with the exhaust gasses. The center electrode might have dented up the piston top and head for quite a while. If you're real lucky, the pressure of the compression stroke might have just blown everything out the top. Find a shop with a borescope and ask how much they would charge to look into the cylinder through the sparkplug's hole. I definitely wouldn't pull the head just yet. Good luck.

Tom

 

[Goforsho]

thanks for the replies.
Is this a common thing with the SHO? This is the second time within a year that a spark plug blew apart. Luckily, the first time only the top broke off.
They were champion spark plugs.

 

[SASHO91]

really? what was the PN for the plugs? were both sets Champion?

 

[Goforsho]

3071 is the no#. Same set of plugs that came with the car a year ago.

 

[SASHO91]

were they Double Platinum?

EDIT: i looked into it... they are single platinum plugs...
Which bank did they blow on? Were both the same side?

 

[Goforsho]

Not sure. Is there any way to tell by looking at them?

 

[Goforsho]

Can't remember if it was the same cylinder but definitly both were in the front.

 

[SASHO91]

Hmm... wonder if this is related to the SHO's Ignition system (waste spark)....

 

[Goforsho]

I have not heard of it happening to anyone else.
You think it might be because they are single platinum?

 

[AREA 91]

Use anti sieze on the new plugs and use a torque wrench. 17-19ftlbs.