Spark plug help

[brh11]

Hello Everyone
I recently decided to change my 09 Denali's spark plugs.Having changed many spark plugs on other things I knew I would be able to.The first three plugs on the right side came out just perfect.Pulled out in the socket and put new ones back in perfectly.The last on the ride side Cylinder 7 I think, it was in there pretty tight.So without thinking i used my 1/2 inch drive breaker bar.It came loose but ended up jiggling around a little too much.So i kept jiggling it and eventually it broke in half right below the part where you turn to take it out.So all that is left is half of the porcelain and the lower half with the thread.I have no idea how to get it out.I don't want to use the screw extractor if I don't have to.Also cylinder twos spark plug has the same issue where I needed the breaker bar.But instead of jiggling back and forth it just keeps spinning.Thanks so much.Been stuck on this for a few days :/.

 

[Brian Wilson]

Can you send a picture?

 

[Brian Wilson]

If you break the porcelain out you might be able to use a pipe extractor.

 

[brh11]

Completely forgot about that. I'm home in about 2 hours then I'll send it. Thanks

Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

 

[brh11]

Here's some pictures

 

[sumo]

soak it in some pb blaster. At this point you're gonna need to drill. Try using a left hand drill so when drilling you may be able to unthread as drilling. there are broken spark plug kits out there.

 

[brh11]

Okay great I'll give that a shot today and report back

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[Brian Wilson]

Be very careful. I feel like any way you get it out, you will get metal/porcelain in your cylinder. You might want to just bite the bullet, pull the head and do it on a bench. Then you can easily, grind drill weld or whatever you decide to do. It would be a good time to check your valves and springs while you are at it.

 

[retiredsparky]

Aluminum heads have always had this shortcoming (and other problems). The high heat in combustion chambers causes the threads to bind to the spark plug. You should remove the heads, before removing the broken spark plugs, so that no pieces are left in the cylinder. Those pieces can end up smashed between a valve and it's seat or falling down into the piston ring area, causing damage to the cylinder wall. Porcelain or ceramic dust and steel is very abrasive.

The auto manufacturers contribute to this problem when they have very long maintenance intervals on spark plugs. 50,000 miles is much more appropriate for such a heat stressed part inserted into aluminum threads.

 

[retiredsparky]

In all likelihood, you will need to install a "helicoil" insert after removing the spark plug. Many times, the threads are damaged, so a special drill and steel spring insert is used to provide a new threaded hole for the spark plug. Another reason for removing the head. Machine shops are experienced in installing these helicoils.