Due to some unfortunate work situations, I have some new found free time. I had bought 6 Bosch plugs, and tubes for my Boxster S over the summer but didn't have time to install them. Yesterday, I got the car up on the hoist and proceeded to change out the plugs. The plugs were in good shape, nowhere near done, with maybe a 25% larger gap than the new Bosch's I put in. The tubes were removed with a boat transom plug.... google "Pedros Garage spark plug tubes" for details.

I used a tiny dab of Antiseize on each plug, and tightened them about 1/4-1/3rd turn past handtight.

I did the driverside 1st, and when I took the wheel off, I see a rip in the inner driver side CV boot steering me in the face. It wasn't there 4000km ago when I got new rubber put on the BoxS.

I found replacement boot kit at PartSource in Waterloo for $20 each. I decided to also replace the outer one, even though it had been replaced when I bought the car in June 2009.

Way easier doing it on a lift, vs on jackstands.

New purchase. Raven black nitrile gloves. These are 6mil thick, and the bees knees. I used the same pair to disassemble both CV joints, clean them, and reinstall the half-axle. Probably a good 60-90 minutes worth of work. Not one rip. $24 for a box of 100.... 3x more expensive than the cheapest onsale blue nitrile ones..... but cost effective if u are going to be working on the car for a while. They are still puncture free, and I'll use them tomorrow when I'm reinstalling the bracing on the rear.

For comparison, I used probably 6 pairs of the cheap blue nitrile gloves while doing the plugs/tubes.....

..... last question.... has anyone here survived on EI (Ontario?)

P

 

Darn It! Raven Gloves $12.95 / 100 at CarQuest stores apparently......

 

Petee ... sorry to hear .... Come March 30th, 2012 I will be retiring from the company after 38 years ... The pension is great ... EI should last for a while and keep you going.

Maybe put up your "resume" here and someone may have a position open or know of a job. Just give the 10,000' version!

Gotta look for those gloves as I have ham fisted hands that go through gloves like crazy.

Best of luck in finding a new job!!!

 

I don't like locktite on my plugs
sounds like a good job otherwise

 

Anti seize or locktite? I've always put antiseize on my plugs

 

I torque mine to spec and if there is a torque range, I torque to the lower end of the spec when using anti-seize.

I just installed spark plugs in my neighbour's Acura TL. He was surprised to see the spark plug go way past the angular spec listed on the box of the spark plug when torqued to spec.

 

I've started using the 6mil gloves from Princess Auto. I think they are called Grease Moneky and comes in a package of 50 for around $10. Just like you, I've found them to last many times longer than the standard "surgical" gloves. If they ar enot ripped, I turn them inside out to let them dry and the re use them until they rip.

 

I usually buy the blue ones at Cosco ($10 for 100), they hold up well for me but if the Carquest price holds up I'll give those a try next time.

Pete congrats on your maintence, you seem to have taken a page from the Iceman. he's the best DIY P-car mainteaner that I know.

 

Got the deal today and used a pair at my friends P-car shop (I help the wrenches sometimes). They worked a lot better than his shop supply which I usually rip.

Thanks!!!

 

I picked up a box of the Raven gloves on Monday night, I used a pair last night to replace the front brakes on my wife car. The hold up quite well and look cool but I still like the blue ones from Costco. It's a minor point but atleast I can tell when the blue ones are dirty.... I left finger prints from the Raven on several pages of a shop manual that I borrowed from a friend. It's minor but I feel bad about doing that.

BTW: get the large ones.

 

Back to the plug issue .. agter owning motorcycles for years I have never used torque wrench for plugs .. some things in my mind are just better left to feel. I can always tell when the compresion washer on the new plug is compresing and then when it stops i stop. Some plugs have a very light grey colour on the thread this is put there by the manufacturer to ease with removal. I have never added antiseize to plugs and never had ones stuck in . Just a data point. Pete you did the right thing changing those plugs for sure . cheap investment and great peace of mind.