How many beers per sparkplug is your car?

"Manwich - now Keto-Friendly" (manwich) 07/30/2014 at 20:08 • Filed to: beer, sparkplugs, maintenance, repairs

1

41

Someone recently mentioned that their old Mercedes had 24 spark plugs that they had to change in the past.

And my mind immediately thought of beer .

My initial reaction was "One beer per spark plug?"

But that got me thinking some more.

The spark plugs are harder to change on some cars and easier on others.

On my car, when you try to change the spark plugs, this is what you're presented with:

Can you spot the spark plugs or the wires? No?

That's because they're under the intake.

Luckily the intake is easy to remove. Just undo the screws, lift it off and use a bungee cord to hold it out of the way, cover up the lower portion of the intake so crap doesn't get in there and the rest is easy.

I rate my car 1/2 a beer per spark plug. And that's based on how quickly I drink beer, how long it takes me to complete the spark plug changing job and dividing that time on a per-spark plug basis.

How many beers per spark plug is your car?

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:12

0

this reminds me of this video I saw of a guy changing the oil on an old Honda. Has a fun first person narrated view and I'm pretty sure a few beer jokes are made.

V8VespaStoppie > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:12

0

16 beers here. Looks pretty simple on mine but some look impossible to change to me. So gonna leave it to the pro's.

T5Killer > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:20

0

95 Cobra. 1 beer its got 8 but they are super easy to get to and it even has that quaint old technology the Distributor.

96 Legacy 2 beers Flat 4 which half of the plugs are are to get to due to battery and fuse box taking up space that your socket and hands need to be

My Wife's 03 Diamante 5 beers Half of the plugs are under the intake plenum that has to come off to get to them and you have to also pull off the throttle body and EGR tube plus random vacuum lines. HUGE PITA.

ly2v8-Brian > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:24

1

Any FWD V configuration is an entire case at least. Good stuff like Hofbrau none of this Natty crap. With my Silverado...well that is so easy it qualifies as a sippy cup of O'Doul's. But I'll take a liter of Doppelbock instead.

Just4GP > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:26

0

I've only done the plugs on my current car once. I'd say it's about a 1/4 per plug. Started off as 1/2 beer per plug but after I broke the universal swivel extension, I realized I was doing it the hard way to begin with. I've got 16 plugs BTW CL55 AMG

RallyWrench > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:28

2

I feel bad for diesel guys on this one.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > ly2v8-Brian 07/30/2014 at 20:29

0

Did you, by any chance, ever have to work on a GM 3.4L Twin Dual Cam engine?

ly2v8-Brian > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:30

0

No, but I've heard stories.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > RallyWrench 07/30/2014 at 20:31

2

Diesel... the engine for the Temperance Movement...

McMike > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:34

0

I'm pretty lucky with most of my spark plugs. No obstructions or anything to get in the way. They go so quick that I don't even have time to open a beer.

Except for the driver's side bank of the vans. One is hard has hell to get around the power steering pump, and the other I have to crawl up behind the rear wheel and do it by feel. Scares the hell out of me every time that I'm going to cross thread that one. I'm so busy freaking out that I don't have time to drink one.

Now, putting away the three extensions, dielectric grease, ratchet, plug socket and the manual is at least a two beer job.

Oh, and I've been known to go through a six pack waiting for a K&N filter to dry,

Nibbles > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:37

2

Individually, all three of my cars are an easy 1/4 beer per plug. If I do them all in one run, that would be 1/4 beer per plug on the Focus, 3/4 beer per plug on the SPG and fuck it, finish the rest of the 30 pack while dicking around under the hood of the Dakota.

Decay buys too many beaters > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:38

1

Well fuck me.

Scion FR-S

5 beers per spark plug

Engine has to be lifted to gain access

'97 jetta

.25 beers per spark plug (SOHC 4 cyl)

'06 CBR1000RR

1 beer per spark plug (fairings and intake have to come off)

'85 Honda Aero 50

1 beer per plug (fairings have to come off)

RallyWrench > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:39

1

Possibly... although the beer to glow plug ratio is far higher on most engines, so maybe they' win?

dogisbadob > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:40

1

Most transverse V6's are a liquor store's entire stock.

lonestranger > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:50

1

'04 Sierra, V8, one plug per cylinder, two beers = 0.25 beers-per-plug.

The hardest part is getting the hilariously short plug leads off of the plugs, what with their metal-sheathed boots and sharp-as-fuck metal heat shields on the exhaust manifolds. Also, the two plugs nearest the firewall are angled towards the firewall, so they're especially cantankerous.

Overall though, not bad at all as far as modern vehicles are concerned.

Soloburrito > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:54

0

Yeah the benz v12 has two plugs per cylinder. The price to pay for 600+ lb-ft. Lol

MyCarDrivesMe > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 20:56

2

One of my cars is a F-150 with the 5.4l... the one that snaps spark plugs like it's its job.

So the correct answer is all of them. All the beers.

offroadkarter > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 21:08

1

Been there, done that

Dingers Ghost, Champion Jockey > lonestranger 07/30/2014 at 21:16

0

Done those before, on both my boss's truck and my dads. The wires absolutely suck.

Bad Idea Hat > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 21:25

1

Scion xB, just a shot of beer.

Doesn't matter because the #$@%$ pug knocked the rest of it over and pissed on the can so forget that.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 21:30

0

not my actual engine bay, no#3 is a bit of a pain but you can take the hose off and get to it without removing the whole throttle body.

so maybe 1/2 a beer per plug.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Decay buys too many beaters 07/30/2014 at 21:35

0

drill access holes in wheel wells? I helped my brother change the plugs in his SVX and that was a huge pain the arse too. We always joked about drilling holes if we had to do it again.

TheVancen- In Pursuit of a Greater Payday and Car Parts > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 22:27

1

The plugs on the JPS can be interesting. The left bank and the front one on the right side are maybe half a Canadian at most. The two under the turbo are probably three or four beers. Maybe a rum and coke.

Decay buys too many beaters > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 07/30/2014 at 22:28

2

i would totally do that, except it's not wheel wells in the way, it's a god damn frame member.

Milky > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 23:06

1

Im gonna say .5 beers per plug. The Merc V6 has two sparkplugs per cylinder. The front 8 are super easy, the back 4 on the other hand ….

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > RallyWrench 07/30/2014 at 23:08

0

The beer to glow plug ratio on the VW Rabbit/Golf Mk. 1 was about a 2 average, I think. Two easy ones, but then there's this one kind of behind the injection pump, rotten bastard... Had to replace a set that was dead across the board with snow on the ground once - just to get the one I had to start - froze my hand from both sides. Don't. Drop. The Plug.

I've never had to do it on my OM603, but I hope I don't have to. Would be not horrible but not great.

Unless I do something monumentally stupid in routing my exhaust pipes on my project (Rover V8), it should be the cakewalkiesy cakewalk to ever walk a cake, spark plug-wise. Nice fat Buick style heads with the plugs toward the middle of the engine (not my photo).

RallyWrench > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 07/30/2014 at 23:19

0

Unless the threads gall from carbon deposits, in which case you're hosed. The 603 is the engine I was thinking of when I posted that :) Done quite a few. Professionally, so sans beer, though it likely would have helped.

A buddy of mine here, a transplanted Brit, is an absolute Range Rover nutter. That and Mk1 VWs, go figure.

Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull > RallyWrench 07/30/2014 at 23:26

0

It's almost uncanny how well my 603 starts, given that it's >360,000 miles with no rebuild. Gutless as all hell compared to what it should be, though... Crossing my fingers on needing glow plugs ever. My buddy had a 606 - same intake manifold over everything sort of abomination, but he killed the car it was in before it ever needed much serious fuel or glow plug work.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/30/2014 at 23:31

0

DD: Haven't tried.

914: 1/2 a beer for all. So .125

RallyWrench > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 07/30/2014 at 23:39

0

I've seen them do 500k, so you're in good shape. Injection lines & the occasional pump are about all they ever need. Most cars that need glow plugs get used for lots of short trips, which is the absolutely wrong way to use a diesel,and with 360k, I'd suspect yours isn't one of them.

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > Decay buys too many beaters 07/30/2014 at 23:53

0

blegh. At least they're long life plugs so you don't have to do it often.

Decay buys too many beaters > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 07/31/2014 at 00:10

0

we'll see, about 25% of her life is track days/ autocrosses, 60% canyon runs, which leaves about 15% what falls under "normal usage" for most passenger cars.

Plugs supposed to be good for 60k miles

Squid > MyCarDrivesMe 07/31/2014 at 05:07

0

If you change them early like around 55-60,000 miles there is less chance of breakage. If you went the recommended 100k on the plugs, pay someone to do the job unless you have the damn special tool. The tune guy I used to work with would cuss up a storm when he got one of those in. . . . He also claimed to drink a 30 rack every night. . .

Cé hé sin > dogisbadob 07/31/2014 at 05:28

1

Yes, mine has different plugs for the front and rear banks for that reason. The rear ones are supposed to last 100,000 km, the fronts not so much.

Cé hé sin > Ramblin Rover - The Vivisector of Solihull 07/31/2014 at 05:33

0

...Googles OM603 to find out what on earth you're talking about

Imirrelephant > RallyWrench 07/31/2014 at 09:28

0

Like we need an excuse to drink beer...

nucciOMG > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/31/2014 at 09:56

1

Volvo S60R... 2 beers. 2 Dozen if your car has been driven in the past 2 days.. because the charge air pipe will still be roughly 9,000 degrees.

Jedidiah > offroadkarter 07/31/2014 at 10:44

0

None, because it is easy.

The most annoying one to change is just under the AC bracket, but you can get it out without removing the bracket if you angle your ratchet just right.

Not my actual car, but you get the idea

RallyWrench > Imirrelephant 07/31/2014 at 11:45

0

Good point ;)

.jdb. > Manwich - now Keto-Friendly 07/31/2014 at 14:05

0

Miata: 0.01 beers per cylinder — that is, there's no "I'm going to pause and have a sip and survey my successful work" moment. I think you could drive 10 minutes to a parts store, get new plugs, install them, torque them, test drive, re-check the torque, wash your hands, and drive 10 minutes back ....on an hour lunch break, stopping at a drive-through to pick up food on the way back.

MyCarDrivesMe > Squid 07/31/2014 at 15:15

0

I'll change them every 30k miles if it stops them from breaking, doesn't help the truck was used when I bought it and had gone close to 100k miles over the 12 years of its life with the original plugs. Every one broke, luckily had the tool on hand so it wasn't as bad as it could be, just isn't the best way to spend a weekend.