To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Redundant Spark Plug Sockets

Garcky

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Messages
3,434
Location
Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota
I was looking at my 3/8" drive drawer yesterday, and realized that I had both a 16mm spark plug socket and a 5/8" spark plug socket. I was all WTF do I have both, since they're the same size.

Same thing with other socket types and the 16mm and 5/8" sizes. I have both pretty much across the board.

"No skips." Hmm....
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

dnschmidt

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 3, 2014
Messages
7,291
Location
Phoenix, AZ
Must I have a point? Really?
Well, it would be nice. Does anybody benefit from knowing that you have two spark plug sockets? Typically, people come on this board to get an answer to a question, even extremely stupid ones. I have absolutely nothing against you Garcky but you seem to just throw random thoughts out there, which is fine, but I'm a question answering type of guy so you confuse me. What is it that you want to know? Do you wonder if other people have two spark plug sockets of the same size? (I bet many of the evil bastards on this board do.) And, if they do should they be shot at sunrise? It's clear that we have dramatically different personalities and variety is what makes the world go round but I don't understand many of your posts as I don't know what it is that you're asking. Once again, that's OK.
 
OP
G

Garcky

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Messages
3,434
Location
Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota
Well, it would be nice. Does anybody benefit from knowing that you have two spark plug sockets? Typically, people come on this board to get an answer to a question, even extremely stupid ones. I have absolutely nothing against you Garcky but you seem to just throw random thoughts out there, which is fine, but I'm a question answering type of guy so you confuse me. What is it that you want to know? Do you wonder if other people have two spark plug sockets of the same size? (I bet many of the evil bastards on this board do.) And, if they do should they be shot at sunrise? It's clear that we have dramatically different personalities and variety is what makes the world go round but I don't understand many of your posts as I don't know what it is that you're asking. Once again, that's OK.
I see. Well, I come here for a number of reasons. One of those is to share observations about issues of interest on this forum. I rarely ask questions. I also don't expect everyone to love my posts here. So, it's quite OK with me if you don't. Some of my posts generate a lot of interest and stimulate conversations that go on for some time. Other posts just go "thud" and don't get a lot of views.

I'm pretty sure there is room for both your and my perspectives on this forum. I promise that if you ask me a question, I will answer it.
 
Last edited:

honcho

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 2, 2011
Messages
2,305
Location
Near Sodom & Gommorah (aka Wash. DC)
Garcky has some good stories and some kind of pointless ones too, but then, don't we all? I've resigned myself that no matter how "right" I think I am, there are others who think they're more "right" in their solutions, opinions, facts, falsehoods......whatever! Live and let live......16mm and 5/8"

If Garcky's or anyone's posts bother you, skip 'em. Your time, your choice.
 
OP
G

Garcky

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Messages
3,434
Location
Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota
I'd rather use the 16mm.
OK. I do remember seeing a spark plug socket set where one socket had both 16mm and 5/8" markings. That makes sense to me. Unlike a lot of guys, I don't really want a drawer full of spark plug sockets. I only need one of each size taking up space in my 3/8" drive drawer, really. These days, I have a rather small toolchest set. Just a roller base and top box. Both are only 24" wide and 12" deep. That suits me at this time of my life. There's only one spark plug socket of each commonly used size in it. That's all I need.
 
OP
G

Garcky

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Messages
3,434
Location
Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota
5/8 is 15.875mm.
(.6250 vs .6299)
They are not the same, but typically close enough for use on a fastener head.

Yes, im being THAT guy...:lol:
Yup. They're not exactly the same, but close enough for spark plug sockets, I think. It's not exactly a high-torque situation. The spark plug holding insert is more important, from my point of view. Those need to work well for a lot of applications.
 

Madjik Man

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
1,534
I'd rather use the 16mm.

This is the only reason I have redundant spark plug sockets in my box.

I used to drive a Ford Bronco in the 80s/90s so I had the 5/8s.

But since 1998 I've only driven Toyotas. (two 1st gen Tacomas and a Prius). So now I only use 16mm and 14mm.
 

joel63

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 9, 2012
Messages
1,912
Location
Central FL
This is the only reason I have redundant spark plug sockets in my box.

I used to drive a Ford Bronco in the 80s/90s so I had the 5/8s.

But since 1998 I've only driven Toyotas. (two 1st gen Tacomas and a Prius). So now I only use 16mm and 14mm.
What uses 14mm?
16mm?
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

signcrafter

Well-known member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
12,497
Must not have changed plugs in many newer vehicles? I have a whole drawer full of spark plug sockets and use them all at some point. Probably have half a dozen different 5/8" plug sockets and they all have their place. I have the standard one, long one, short one, swivel one, double swivel, a few different ones with extensions and swivels built in, and I'm sure more. They all have their place.
 

Debcrow

Well-known member
Joined
May 14, 2019
Messages
4,095
Location
New Mexico
No problem with me. Two v6 vehicles and one 4 banger. I have at least 16 plug sockets around.....one for each plug on each vehicle.
However, a guy could make a fortune if he could design spare spark plug wrenches that would morph into a 10mm.
 
OP
G

Garcky

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Messages
3,434
Location
Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota
What?... no love for the 13/16 spark plug socket?
I love those, too. Time was, that was what you had, because the spark plugs all were that size. Well, unless you worked on some really, really old cars with even bigger spark plug hex sizes. That changed, though, over time, so you added the new sizes as needed. But, you didn't really change spark plugs so much anymore. Heck, I can't even see the plugs in either of my cars. I know where they are, but they're not going to need to be changed for years.

On the other hand, other equipment with spark plugs need more frequent service. Some have 13/16" plugs. Some have 5/8" or 16mm plugs. I haven't encountered many other sizes since I'm not working in a shop any longer. I still have the sockets, though, but almost no duplicates.
 

four.cycle

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2015
Messages
29,272
Location
Tacoma, Washington
dnschmidt said:
And the point is?

Well... first we have to address the question of whether or not a "point" is requisite. This is the internet, after all, and I doubt there's anyone reading this that has not come across at least one thing on some website somewhere and asked "Why?"

More importantly, it's raised the question of "Do I have enough spark plug sockets, and it's occurred to me that I do not believe I own a spark plug socket stamped "16mm". I know for a fact that there are at least two dozen 5/8" spark plug sockets out there somewhere in the gararge - some of them are even IN the sets they belong to - but I do not believe there's a 16mm out there.
Of course, there's an overabundance of 13/16" spark plug sockets everywhere - in the garage, in the living room, here in the back bedroom - but my Ranger uses a 5/8" plug, so I'm not concerned about those. I usually just grab big pair of pliers for lawnmower plugs.

Fun fact: Indestro collectors will find that an abundance of 13/16" spark plug sockets is a necessity, because Indestro didn't include standard 13/16" sockets in their sets, assuming the end user would simply use the spark plug socket. Works great as long as there's no clearance issues! :thumbup:

As always, YMMV.
 

VolvoRyan

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 29, 2019
Messages
1,339
Location
Kentuckiana, USA
I was looking at my 3/8" drive drawer yesterday, and realized that I had both a 16mm spark plug socket and a 5/8" spark plug socket. I was all WTF do I have both, since they're the same size.


Same OD? Sometimes that's a thing. One funny/frustrating thing is that when you need a spark plug socket in a pinch, or simply need multiples, or you just want to try another flavor of them, you often have to buy a set with sockets you just don't need. Of my many neuroses, one is not allowing tools I don't use to go into the front line tool box.

What?... no love for the 13/16 spark plug socket?

All my red block Volvos take 13/16" That's always my favorite. :)

Now I have to have sockets for newer cars.... and the lawn mower. I hate the lawn mower. Everything on it is sharp. No matter how careful I am changing its two easily accessible spark plugs, it's a week before my knuckles grow back. I don't get it.

-Ryan
 
OP
G

Garcky

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Messages
3,434
Location
Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota
Same OD? Sometimes that's a thing. One funny/frustrating thing is that when you need a spark plug socket in a pinch, or simply need multiples, or you just want to try another flavor of them, you often have to buy a set with sockets you just don't need. Of my many neuroses, one is not allowing tools I don't use to go into the front line tool box.



All my red block Volvos take 13/16" That's always my favorite. :)

Now I have to have sockets for newer cars.... and the lawn mower. I hate the lawn mower. Everything on it is sharp. No matter how careful I am changing its two easily accessible spark plugs, it's a week before my knuckles grow back. I don't get it.

-Ryan
Oh, a guy needs many sockets. Maybe. I remember working on a Model A Ford in the 1960s. It had been in a garage for many, many years. Its spark plugs needed a 1 1/8" socket to remove them. I didn't have that size, so I used the box end of a 1 1/8 combination wrench to remove them. The ones I put back in had a 7/8" hex.

Don't work on cars like that any more. Don't really work on any cars any more. Still have tools, though. However, I trimmed down the number of tools until they would fit in a 24" x 12" 6-drawer top box and matching 4-drawer roller bottom cabinet. Lots of spark plug sockets went into the garage sale box. Lots of other tools, too. With age comes downsizing. At age 77, I've just about downsized all I'm going to. I told my wife how much to ask for when she sells my toolbox and tools. Someone will get a very good deal.
 

DAustin

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2021
Messages
5,167
Everything I've owned has been 5/8 or 13/16. Or maybe 16mm and 20.6mm. I'm not sure what size are in my HR-V guess I'll find out in another 80,000 miles. And for a Model A the spark plug tool in the tool kit was a wrench. So Garcky you did use the right tool for the job. :) I like these story post, but now I've got to go out to the garage and check out all my spark plug sockets.:)
 

Dave455

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2013
Messages
5,831
Location
Sussex, England
Spark plugs have always been something of an oddity, they have metric threads, but generally an imperial hex size. I think the newer sizes (such as 14mm) are exact metric sizes, as they originate from metric countries, but 5/8 and 13/16 remain the most common.

Although some manufacturers insist on labelling their sockets with metric sizes, they are obviously sized to fit standard 5/8 and 13/16 spark plugs.
 
Last edited:

Kurt4440

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 3, 2009
Messages
2,481
Location
Western New York
Do you wonder if other people have two spark plug sockets of the same size? (I bet many of the evil bastards on this board do.) And, if they do should they be shot at sunrise?
Does having multiple spark plug sockets in the same size make me an evil *******?
On a serious note; it takes all types to make this forum what it has become. I have been here for almost 14 years and just recently cracked 1,000 posts. Garcky has been here less than a year and has posted over 1,600 times. He is a retired professional writer who posts thought provoking topics and keeps the ball moving on this site.
 

cgrutt

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
8,362
I was looking at my 3/8" drive drawer yesterday, and realized that I had both a 16mm spark plug socket and a 5/8" spark plug socket. I was all WTF do I have both, since they're the same size.

Same thing with other socket types and the 16mm and 5/8" sizes. I have both pretty much across the board.

"No skips." Hmm....
Only now did I realize that I had FIVE 5/8ths spark plug sockets and not a single 16mm WTF is up with that? Two 13/16ths as well.

Only one of the 5/8ths works on my son's dirtbike so thank goodness for variety lol.

20230322_160500.jpg

And wait... you have a 3/8ths draw? Damn, I need one of those!!!!
 

DAustin

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2021
Messages
5,167
Can I count my Hazet spark plug, generator nut, and lug nut tool that came with my old VW Beetle?
 
OP
G

Garcky

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2022
Messages
3,434
Location
Twin Cities Metro Area, Minnesota
My OCD is killing me that 18mm and 3/4 havent been included in this discussion.
I feel much better now.
Only now did I realize that I had FIVE 5/8ths spark plug sockets and not a single 16mm WTF is up with that? Two 13/16ths as well.

Only one of the 5/8ths works on my son's dirtbike so thank goodness for variety lol.

20230322_160500.jpg

And wait... you have a 3/8ths draw? Damn, I need one of those!!!!
I have a small top box, though...
 

cgrutt

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
8,362
Don't worry about that, remember it takes a brave knight to fight with a short sword.
You do realize this is the same guy who recently posted venturing out into shark infested waters in a rickety homemade boat, bow and arrow in hand and bringing back Leopard sharks for the dining table, right?
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom