KnurledNut
Well-known member
Have you posted any pics of your small toolbox setup?
It would be interesting to see what you decided to keep and how its organized.
Redundant Spark Plug Sockets
- Thread starter Garcky
- Start date
It would be interesting to see what you decided to keep and how its organized.
rust in the eye
Well-known member
tooljunkie4
Well-known member
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
5/8 is the size I find myself needing the most. I’ve never seen a spark plug socket just simply labeled 16mm. I do have a cheap no name that says 5/8 (16mm) on it exactly like that. I’ve got about every size spark plug socket though lol. Subaru takes 14mm most of the time so of course I use that a lot too working on Subaru. Then my small engines have 18mm and 3/4. My truck and Beetle are 13/16. I needed a 9/16 on a Ford once. Everything else I own is 5/8. So yeah I’ve got them all lol 
. I’ve seen 7/8 too but only use I know of for that is super old stuff. I’d always grab SAE first if I had both.
. I’ve seen 7/8 too but only use I know of for that is super old stuff. I’d always grab SAE first if I had both.finn
Well-known member
The plugs in my truck are 18 years old. I contrmplated ordering 16 new plugs for it a few days ago, but couldn decide if I should order the $1.73/ plug copper- nickel like the Oem Mopar plugs, and then have to change them in another 18 years when I’m 89, or spring for the $3.68 / plug platinum plugs that last three times as long and have to change them when I’m 125.
I decided to forgo the iridium plugs that last four times as long, since my financial planner guy didn’t run my finances out till I’m 143. He said it’s not probable that I’ll still be functional by then.
Exactly why I prefer my 14/16mm spark plug sockets.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...
Subaru, Toyota/Lexus. Only thing that matters in my world.
Unfortuntely too long for Subarus!Fortunately all four vehicles of ours are 6pt.
If you're ever in the market the Koken 16mm and 14mm spring clip spark plug sockets (250mm length) are incredible:
16mm only
You got the wrong guy. No sharks in Lake Eire. It's still salt and shark free.
You got the wrong guy. No sharks in Lake Eire. It's still salt and shark free.
Don't think so....
My First Fishing Boat
In the mid 1970s, I lived in a rental house overlooking the estuary area of Morro Bay, CA. I also fished a lot here and there on inshore waters. One Spring day, at low tide, I noticed that there were hundreds of sharks out in that estuary. So, the next weekend, I put together this 8' jon boat, made of a sheet of 1/4" plywood and a couple of 2x12s. I fiber glassed the joints and painted it green with a gallon of green paint I had around the garage. Then, I started hunting sharks with a bow and arrow as the tide was changing. Frankly, I was meat fishing, since my income was very, very spotty at the time.
A few years later, when I had started working as a freelance writer, one of the first articles I sold was the one below, published in Western Outdoors. Soon after that, I started seeing other boats out on the water, doing the same thing. I did a few more outdoor articles, but soon moved on to writing other types of things that paid a little better and had a larger market. An interesting period of my life, and the only boat I ever built. Not much of a boat, but it worked.
I missed that article.
I thought you were talking about me. I wouldn't hunt anything that might hunt me. Skyman
Well-known member
As difficult as it can be to access spark plugs in the cramped engine bays of modern vehicles, it's impossible to have too many plug sockets to choose from.
signcrafter
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- May 9, 2012
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- 12,497
Hes already admitted to not working on any vehicles and all his personal vehicles are under warranty so he doesn't have to do any work to them.
Hey if I can get that .005" tighter fit, I'm going to go for it. Most of the time I grab SAE and metric and I test out whatever is going to have the best fit, but that's probably a symptom of late 80's early 90's GM where you don't really know which they were using for what.
Ole Slewfoot
Well-known member
Every homegamer socket set ever included at least one spark plug socket, hence almost any bulk used tool buy will have at least two.
The damn things are like a plague of zucchini in the summer! I try to toss or give away the worst, but still they accumulate.
The damn things are like a plague of zucchini in the summer! I try to toss or give away the worst, but still they accumulate.
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
I'm just happy to see lots of like minded demented individuals that can agree/argue about spark plug sockets. lol.
WagonHo!
Well-known member
Got the pair of 3/8 drive, 6 point, 16mm, clip, 250mm and 70mm Coming to my garage soon Woo hoo!Fortunately all four vehicles of ours are 6pt.
If you're ever in the market the Koken 16mm and 14mm spring clip spark plug sockets (250mm length) are incredible:
Pinemarten
Well-known member
A person needs spark plug sockets at home, and in their vehicle toolbox. Then they should have the correct sockets for the spark plug that needs to be changed or cleaned. Oh........don't forget the oddball spark plug you might come upon in your travels. A friends weed whacker, chainsaw, etc.
Speaking of chainsaws...........do screches count as spark plug sockets?
Speaking of chainsaws...........do screches count as spark plug sockets?
Same. Mine are all SAE except for 14mm and 18mm.
8 out of 10 are SAE. I haven’t needed a 16mm one yet.
I just noticed my 3/4” one is made by Gorilla. I have no idea where it came from…
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I was going to say something similar. There's no redundancy - use your 5/8" on SAE vehicles, your 16mm on the metric ones. We've got a civilization to run, don't be a ******.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Regular spark plug sockets are generally useless these days except for lawnmowers.
This is where it's at.
Incredibly useful.
This is where it's at.
Incredibly useful.
Wakefield
Well-known member
A wobble extension will take care of that. Sometimes, though, you need a real wobble joint on an extension. Or even two extensions with a wobble joint between them and another one at the socket end. A guy does what's needful.Regular spark plug sockets are generally useless these days except for lawnmowers.
This is where it's at.
Incredibly useful.
That'll get in there, probably. Still, there are some spark plugs on some cars that are hella hard to remove and replace. I was shocked on my 1993 Ford Ranger which had two plugs per cylinder. One on each side of the head. 8 plugs on a 4-banger engine. And they fired at slightly different times, to boot. Emissions, I suppose. The ones on the left side of the head were almost impossible to get at, without removing the exhaust manifold, and everyone knows the perils of doing that on an older car.
Anyhow, I never changed them. When I got the pickup it had 247,000 miles on it and was running OK, so I just ignored the plugs and drove on. I had it for three years and maybe put 6000 miles on it in that time. I sold it, still running fine, with the same plugs in there. Who knows when the last time the plugs on the left side of the head were changed. Maybe never.
Now, there are other engines with two plugs per cylinder, but they're on high-performance engines, not a 2.3 liter engine in a compact pickup truck.
A wobble extension will take care of that. Sometimes, though, you need a real wobble joint on an extension. Or even two extensions with a wobble joint between them and another one at the socket end. A guy does what's needful.
That'll get in there, probably. Except that assembly is pretty darned long and you can't take it apart. Still, there are some spark plugs on some cars that are hella hard to remove and replace. I was shocked on my 1993 Ford Ranger which had two plugs per cylinder. One on each side of the head. 8 plugs on a 4-banger engine. And they fired at slightly different times, to boot. Emissions, I suppose. The ones on the left side of the head were almost impossible to get at, without removing the exhaust manifold, and everyone knows the perils of doing that on an older car.
Anyhow, I never changed them. When I got the pickup it had 247,000 miles on it and was running OK, so I just ignored the plugs and drove on. I had it for three years and maybe put 6000 miles on it in that time. I sold it, still running fine, with the same plugs in there. Who knows when the last time the plugs on the left side of the head were changed. Maybe never.
Now, there are other engines with two plugs per cylinder, but they're on high-performance engines, not a 2.3 liter engine in a compact pickup truck.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Extensions can come off the socket, which is problematic with ignition coils, since the socket comes off and is nearly impossible to remove from the well.A wobble extension will take care of that. Sometimes, though, you need a real wobble joint on an extension. Or even two extensions with a wobble joint between them and another one at the socket end. A guy does what's needful.
That'll get in there, probably. Still, there are some spark plugs on some cars that are hella hard to remove and replace. I was shocked on my 1993 Ford Ranger which had two plugs per cylinder. One on each side of the head. 8 plugs on a 4-banger engine. And they fired at slightly different times, to boot. Emissions, I suppose. The ones on the left side of the head were almost impossible to get at, without removing the exhaust manifold, and everyone knows the perils of doing that on an older car.
Anyhow, I never changed them. When I got the pickup it had 247,000 miles on it and was running OK, so I just ignored the plugs and drove on. I had it for three years and maybe put 6000 miles on it in that time. I sold it, still running fine, with the same plugs in there. Who knows when the last time the plugs on the left side of the head were changed. Maybe never.
Now, there are other engines with two plugs per cylinder, but they're on high-performance engines, not a 2.3 liter engine in a compact pickup truck.
This eliminates that problem, and its magnetic (at least mine is) so it holds the socket. Plus, it's knurled, so I can use it to get the socket started by hand, and then use a ratchet. Well worth the money.
Having experienced that once, I now use a locking extension on the socket when they're buried deep. Not saying your solution isn't even more elegant, but I bet that socket wasn't cheap.
I looked it up. It wasn’t that much more expensive than the Gearwrench that I have. Mine are much shorter, and are not magnetic.
I've got one of those Snap-on 6" long, 5/8" spark plug sockets. I bought it at a swap meet it looked un-used. I've had it for years, it still looks un-used. But I'm sure one of these days I'll really need it. Once in a while I'll pull it out of the toolbox and using my Crocodile Dundee voice I say "That's not a Spark Plug Socket, this is a Spark Plug Socket.
kbeefy
Well-known member
I have the Gearwrench 4 piece set, it's my go to for spark plugs as long as their 5/8.
And they are magnetic.
On inline 4 cyl, yes. On transverse v-6 engines, they can be challenging.
And they are magnetic.
On inline 4 cyl, yes. On transverse v-6 engines, they can be challenging.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Not counting the ones you have to pull the upper intake manifold off to get at them............................
Nothing like a 250/292 chevy pick up to change plugs in
Hannahranga
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- Mar 8, 2023
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- 217
Could be worse, at least you have some use for them. Only having owned diesels till very recently the small collection I've acquired from various tool kits have just been gathering dust. That koken spark plug socket looks very tempting tho.
minke
Well-known member
I can't find where to sign up for GJ therapy. My only vehicle now has a Ford V8 with 16 plugs. How many sockets do I need? Will I ever be OK?
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
I think it was around $15. Mine was Neiko, I think, but pretty much identical. Locking extensions are probably more versatile, though.
Madjik Man
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- Dec 3, 2015
- Messages
- 1,534
Prior to the Koken extended spark plug sockets I now use I’d always use gaffers tape to secure the socket to the extension.
Bubba Fett
Well-known member
Dude, I love me some gaffers tape.
Houdini5150
Well-known member
Where was this post 2 weeks ago when I put in new plugs in my Rogue.
I had a cheapo spark plug socket that the darn plug would stick to the plug and when I would pull on it, the extension would come off when doing my gf's car. So I thought I could use a deep socket... I realized I had 1/2 inch deep sockets and had to go pull out my 1/2 inch extensions and ratchet since my plugs have those 10mm bolts holding them in. Then I tried using a magnet pick up tool... And I couldn't get magnet to release plug or tighten plug. But I got it figured out. Took me longer than I wanted. So yeah again I need to prep and get a good set of sockets or some vacuum hose. But I don't do a whole lot of spark plugs anyways.
I had a cheapo spark plug socket that the darn plug would stick to the plug and when I would pull on it, the extension would come off when doing my gf's car. So I thought I could use a deep socket... I realized I had 1/2 inch deep sockets and had to go pull out my 1/2 inch extensions and ratchet since my plugs have those 10mm bolts holding them in. Then I tried using a magnet pick up tool... And I couldn't get magnet to release plug or tighten plug. But I got it figured out. Took me longer than I wanted. So yeah again I need to prep and get a good set of sockets or some vacuum hose. But I don't do a whole lot of spark plugs anyways.
Wrench97
Well-known member
Be careful pulling the wires off the bottom ones, only available from Ford, you buy them individually and half the time the dealer around here only has 2 in stock......................................
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