Silver Bullet

I feel like an idiot! This just happened to me too (with the OEM plugs).

I wanted to check the condition of each plug and then torque them to 18-20 lb-ft. I was going to take a picture of each plug and then post them here because I've noticed a "ticking" sound coming from the engine. I was told that checking the plugs would be a good way to determine if I'm having a #4 cylinder problem.

I removed the first plug (closest to the front of the car) which seemed a little loose. I also noticed a little oil on the bottom of the ceramic (above the threads, nut, and washer).

I put the plug back in by hand until I could no longer turn it. Then I took my torque wrench to it and the damn thing broke. I had the setting on my torque wrench too high (30 lb-ft).

The threaded portion is still stuck in the cylinder head while the rest of the plug came out.

I called my local Honda dealer who said they don't have a tool to remove the broken plug. Most likely they'd have to remove the head and send it to a machine shop for them to do the job.

David1

Seems like we might not want to use the factory plug once it is removed. Might be safer to replace upon inspection. I have broken the porcelin on many plugs in my days on hard to reach plugs, but never had the nut seperate from the threads.