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Old 07-21-2012, 02:35 PM   #1
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Spark Plug Tubes

Hi all,
I;m doing a 120k service on my '01 Boxster & have broken a spark plug tube.
Do I need to drain & refill the oil now?

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Old 07-21-2012, 04:35 PM   #2
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So you broke a tube and did not get all the pieces when pulling it out? How big do you think the pieces are?
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Old 07-21-2012, 05:19 PM   #3
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Quote:
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So you broke a tube and did not get all the pieces when pulling it out? How big do you think the pieces are?
Upper 1/4 of the tube is missing. Guess I have to drop the sump?
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Old 07-21-2012, 07:26 PM   #4
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Yeah, something that large would be worth trying to retreive. The good news is that dropping the sump is pretty easy.
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Old 07-21-2012, 07:29 PM   #5
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I thought so. Bummer is I just changed the oil. Fresh 9 qts of Mobil 1
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Old 07-21-2012, 08:07 PM   #6
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You can "catch" the oil and reuse it. After all, 9 qts of M1 is expensive! Worth buying a clean $5 bucket to do it with.
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Old 07-21-2012, 08:22 PM   #7
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Just a "stupid" question.
Wouldn't a broken piece of a spark plug tube fall down into the cam cover area first?
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Old 07-21-2012, 10:09 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Spinnaker View Post
Just a "stupid" question.
Wouldn't a broken piece of a spark plug tube fall down into the cam cover area first?
Not stupid at all - good point!
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Old 07-22-2012, 08:37 AM   #9
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You might consider using something like this to get inside the cover and try to remove the pieces:

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PS90-1A-12-Volt-Optical-Scope/dp/B0046ZRYOU

http://www.amazon.com/MAXCRAFT-60184-Lighted-Magnetic-Pick-Up/dp/B0042D6H44/ref=sr_1_5?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1342974684&sr=1-5&keywords=flex+tools

You might have to pull-out the other spark plug tubes to see and get to the broken pieces.
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Old 07-22-2012, 10:32 AM   #10
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I got the tube out. This what I have.
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Old 07-22-2012, 12:54 PM   #11
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There's a picture that tells a story. What were you using to pull the tube out?
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Old 07-22-2012, 01:52 PM   #12
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I wasn't pulling the tube. Just changing plugs. I went high with the socket & extension heard a snap.
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Old 07-22-2012, 06:10 PM   #13
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Yager's post at #9 above sounds like a good method.

There are cheaper cameras out there. In fact, I saw one less than $100 in Harbor Freight's ad recently. however, it's both cheap in cost and cheap in quality...
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Old 07-23-2012, 05:12 AM   #14
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Did notice some snake cams on eBay, cheap since they are USB device and will plug into a laptop. Also sure they are not as great as the ones costing 100's of bucks but how many times will you really use it?

Portable USB Video Inspection Borescope Endoscope 7mm Camera 6 LED Snake Scope | eBay


good luck
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Old 04-06-2014, 06:30 AM   #15
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Unhappy

Did the same thing while changing my plugs and tubes. How did you make out? Did you drop the sump and get the piece out? Has anyone else had this problem?
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Old 04-06-2014, 09:57 PM   #16
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Dropping the sump will not help much as previously mentioned.
The broken piece(s) will probably be laying inside the valve cover area - they may just remain there or get caught up in the camshafts or timing chain depending on how big the broken bits are.......
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Old 04-07-2014, 02:40 AM   #17
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Thanks! That is kind of what I figured. I have one more to get out the one closest to cockpit, passenger side. Its very stubborn. I have been using the transom to get them out but this one is tough. Once I am done I am going to go back to the one I broke. I saw some long curved needle nose plier at the auto supply store. Going to see if I can pull the piece out. Nothing on these cars is easy!
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Old 04-07-2014, 05:18 AM   #18
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It would be nice if Porsche figured out when those tubes should be replaced, like every 50K miles or some-sort....

If there's no interval change, at least use a more durable material like aluminum. I mean ... com'on it's $50K+ car!! You can cheap all you want in the interior department but not the engine!!
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Old 04-07-2014, 07:32 AM   #19
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yeah I was thinking the same thing. Why use plastic its BREAKABLE. I have been using the transom but the last one is really in there so going to wrap it in sandpaper. I think they switched to aluminum tubes in 04 and so they dont need to get replaced.
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Old 04-07-2014, 08:06 AM   #20
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I couldn't get the transom to work, but I bought a right angle pipe fitting threaded thingy from Lowe's. I screw the threaded end into the spark plug tube and pull it out. When putting a new tube back in, I use the other end to provide an even pushing force around the perimeter of the tube. And the threads hardly do any damage to the tube if you need to re-use it and can't get the transom to work (and I never got it to work)

Like this, although I am not sure which size it was. I took a spark plug tube with me to Lowes until I found the right size:

Shop Mueller Proline 3/4-in Dia 90-Degree Galvanized Street Elbow Fitting at Lowes.com

Steve

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