I was changing my spark plugs today in my ranger and it appears to be seized up. I'm afraid it is seized up pretty tight or worse cross-threaded.

On advice of another, I soaked it in PB Breaker and put the socket on and gave it a tap to "help the oil penetrate". All this succeeded in doing was breaking the porcelain :(.

When I attempt to turn with a 3/8", it appears that my ratchet "slips". I don't know if it is the ratchet of the sparkplug, but it kind of grinds with no progress. I think it is the ratchet, because when I feel the position of the sparkplug, it hasn't changed.

We are down a car with a newborn and 1 year old, so fixing this myself would be good. I haven't attempted with a 1/2" drive shaft and a breaker bar but that is what I'm thinking would help if it truely is slipping. Please give me any advice you can on this one.

Thanks

 

Make sure your plug socket fits firmly over the plug and use whatever you have (breaker bar, pipe over the handle of your ratchet, etc) to get as much leverage on it you can to get it out.

 

Does my issue sound like the wrench rather than the plug?

 

It seems that the socket isn't fitting on the plug correctly.

 

I'm possibly not describing it well. It requires a good bit of effort and then I get a bit of give and a grinding squeak.

 

Please dont take this the wrong way. But if your not sure whether your stripping the threads, wrong sized socket, or your ratchet isn't working, maybe you should get someone to help?

Run the truck until it gets to operating temp, shut it off and give it a try. The heat will help expand the threads around the plug. Also, put the socket on the plug and smack the socket with a hammer not tap. The impact helps loosen it up, not help the oil penetrate.

Your using a spark plug socket right?

 

What engine? What part number is the plug? Take one of the new plugs and see how it fits into the socket. Post a photo if you can..Is this the first plug you tried to change? Did the others come out easily?
The suggestion to start the engine to warm it up is good advice..if it is the right size socket..