Spark plug tubes

[healthservices]

Originally Posted by kjc2050

I've never seen this as a requirement for removing the spark plug tubes... is this the commonly accepted practice? (I didn't remove the plugs before changing out the tubes when I did this recently, and didn't have any issues, so I'm curious.)

If you are going to use the bolt method, the spark plug may be in the way... besides spark plugs are partially made of porcelain and the last thing you want to do is cause another issue. Better safe, than sorry.

Transom tool grabs from the top of the plastic tube, the bolt method grabs from the bottom edge of the tube.

[kjc2050]

Originally Posted by healthservices

If you are going to use the bolt method, the spark plug may be in the way... besides spark plugs are partially made of porcelain and the last thing you want to do is cause another issue. Better safe, than sorry.

Transom tool grabs from the top of the plastic tube, the bolt method grabs from the bottom edge of the tube.

Oh, right, of course - thanks.

[kk2002s]

A bit of a revised thread
Getting ready to order new plug tubes. Question to those who did this, do you do all 6 as a matter of course when only 1 or 2 actually leak?
I have 2 with minimal leaking, both driver's side, but I am of the mind set that I should just bite the bullet and do all 6

Also I'm ordering from Pelican:
Porsche originals, which need rubber seals separately
Or non-Porsche which include rubber seals

Opinions welcome

[tommy583]

I got the ones with the rings. I also replaced all six. Cheap enough to do them all, because the ones that aren't leaking now will sooner than later i figured.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by kk2002s

A bit of a revised thread
Getting ready to order new plug tubes. Question to those who did this, do you do all 6 as a matter of course when only 1 or 2 actually leak?
I have 2 with minimal leaking, both driver's side, but I am of the mind set that I should just bite the bullet and do all 6

Also I'm ordering from Pelican:
Porsche originals, which need rubber seals separately
Or non-Porsche which include rubber seals

Opinions welcome

I did all 6 even though only 2 (the front ones) were seeping badly. I got the ones from Pelican that had the O-rings included, that were non Porsche brand, the ones for $5.25 that were "German".

When I had the car at a shop earlier this year they told me I had leaking at both sides, less than 1,000 miles after replacing them. I think they saw residue from when they were seeping before (I didn't really clean up that good but I did clean underneath where it was dripping down to and haven't seen any new oil there). I haven't had a chance to get in there and see for myself but I will do so the next time I have the rear wheels off. They said that the Porsche O-rings were the best. But if you buy the Porsche tubes off Pelican you have to get the O-rings separately and they sell the Victor Reinz O-rings. Auto Atlanta sells the Porsche O-rings and tubes as well.

If I had to do them again because they were still leaking I would spring for the more expensive Porsche ones, but I think mine are fine and the tech was just seeing the residue from the previous seepage.

[healthservices]

If I cheap out (I do that a lot...) I replace as a minimum, just the 12 - O rings if not all the tubes with the o rings. but I always replace all.

[clickman]

Here's my el-cheapo tube removal and re-insertion tools, made from what I found laying around:





I just turn the pvc cap into the tube for a few turns, then grab it and yank.

The wood block is used to pop the new tube in.

[clickman]

Here's what a 119k km (75k mile) 13 year-old o-ring looks like compared to a new one (on the right). Hopefully that explains my leaks.

The width of the o-ring groove on the tube looks overly generous, allowing spreading of the o-ring. A narrower groove might keep the o-ring effective for longer.