[QUOTE]Originally posted by RacerS2000
[B]I took it to the dealer yesterday.

 

I wonder if somebody just makes these numbers up. I just checked into some of the service manuals of the other aluminum headed cars I've owned and one states 20 ft/#(Viper) and the other states 26 ft/#(2.5L turbo Caravan). The TT Stealth quotes 15 ft/#. Go figure! It seems to me that 13 ft/# is just too little.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by RacerS2000
[B]I took it to the dealer yesterday.

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by DSF_S2k
[B]


Well the interesting thing was that my friend's spark plugs were changed (as were mine) to iridium's.

 

Greg,

Someone started a poll on loose plugs. If you saw this, do you happen to recall who it was? I did a search on "poll" and couldn't find it. I checked my plugs today and all were tight save the 3rd one from the front which turned only slightly, about 1/2 turn, before the torque wrench slipped and clicked at the 13 lb-ft setting. Thanks for bringing this to the attention of all.

 

jschmidt

 

I had mine checked Friday when having my oil changed. My mechanic said they were not as tight as they should have been, but not about to fall out either.

He said 13lbs was definitely Not enough torque for the plugs. He put on some anti-seize and torqued them to 18.

Perhaps the factory spec of 13 is a misprint?

 

Here's the poll:
https://www.s2ki.com/forums/showthread.php?...ight=spark+plug

And here's my last post in it that is (I think) relevant to above
So I guess it is time to start trying to answer the question, "Why?". With that in mind, I think there are only two possiblities (both related to installation):

1. The plugs were not torqued correctly at installation. They were left loose.
2. The plugs were installed to the called-for torque but the torque value was wrong. In essence, 13 ft-lbs is not tight enough to cause the washer to deform properly to both cause a seal and act as a lockwasher. (This is my new theory.)

Here are the recommended specs from three manufacturers. Bosch doesn't list a plug and Champion made it to hard to find it. These specs are for aluminum heads only.

Spark Plug Torque

 

I don't think the spec is a mis-print. It reads 13 ft lbs in the owner's manual, in the Helm's service manual, and I've not heard anything different from the local dealer. I stopped at the local dealership a few days ago to pick up a part and while there explained what I'm hearing. They said they had not received any notice of change; also, they said they would contact the Honda tech line later (it was busy at the time), and if there was any change, they would call me. I have not heard anything yet.

Having said all that, that does not mean the spec is correct. Perhaps it should be higher, and perhaps Honda will make a correction.

The problem I have with a couple responses who say their dealer said it should be 18 is this. It should be 18 N.m per all the above. This is metric equivalent of 13 ft lbs. My first thought is the serviceman either can't read or is mis-quoting the torque setting because he's using the metric side.

Personally, I think I'll bump mine up to 15 ft lbs the next time I check them out. That was the suggestion from the local dealership as well.

 

FYI, I have word from Woodwork that "13 ft. lbs. is the correct torque", so don't go tightening it too much, now....