I've had my 87GT for awhile now and finally got around to changing the plugs and wires. I had looked at plug #5 some time ago to get an idea of "how they all looked" and decided I could wait--the plug looked pretty good actually. What a mistake!!! With new plugs and wires in hand this evening, I started with #6 to get the worst contortions out of the way and what did I find? That old plug was rusted, oily, and the electrode was pretty well fried. I have never seen such a lousy plug in my life. Well, when 2 and 4 came out next they looked just as miserable. I would estimate that those three plugs hadn't been changed by the prior owner/owners in 10 years? 50K miles? Well, what a difference when I started her up!! The little annoying pop-pop backfire I had when shifting was gone and the acceleration was more peppy. I'll bet my gas mileage improves as well. Together with last weekend's throttle body job and IAC valve replacement, the car idles very well. Man, I'm grinning ear to ear ...

Makes me wonder, how many other Fieros are tooling around out there running on antique plugs and 3 cylinders ...

At least they didn't all twist off like mine did. Everyone had rusted to the point they just broke off flush with the head. The center came out thank goodness I have gotten very close with my easy outs.

Yep, you were pretty lucky. I have shared that same outcome with Earl. 2 on the GT and 1 on the coupe. First time i ever kissed and ease out!

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Yipes! So, should 1st-time plug changes be done by soaking 2,4,6 in penetrating oil just to be safe? Getting an EZ out down there must have been awful.

Yes. I would recommend all buyers of new Fieros to quickly change their plugs after buying and to start by cleaning around the plugs then soak overnight with PB Blaster or some penetraing oil. Also have a large ease out handy.

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Well, weeks later something is up. My gas mileage shot up to 240 miles/tank after the change. Since then it has been slipping back down to about 200 miles/tank with my normal routine. Any thoughts?

i think that its due to a "growing foot"

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'86 Fiero GT

www.KylesFiero.tk www.XoticRydz.tk

OK "Tarus"........Excellent come-back!!

Near as I could tell my Formula still had the original front bank plugs in it when I overhauled the engine. All were rusted way to shapeless blobs. I pulled the heads and worked at removing the plugs from the inside and was able to save the plug threads in the heads.

JazzMan

how do your cap and rotor button look nad if they look fine you might want to test your coil and maybe even your ignition control module~~~~i think thats what its called its a little horse shoe shaped sensor thing in the distributer.

quote Originally posted by 1MohrFiero: Yes. I would recommend all buyers of new Fieros to quickly change their plugs after buying and to start by cleaning around the plugs then soak overnight with PB Blaster or some penetraing oil. Also have a large ease out handy.

Especially the forward bank of plugs! They're tough to get to, I think a lot of people get discouraged and just skip 'em all together.

I absolutly hate changing plugs in a 6/60. It is the biggest PITA. So i decided that some things are worth paying for, and had my mechanic squeeze his hands back there and change them. Also got a new distributor and pick-up coil. Runs like a dream

The engine runs ok, but after those stories, I Guess I'll pull the front plugs plugs now.
I'll use the penetrating oil as advised, but does that mean I can't run the engine till I wash it off- is that stuff a potential fire hazard?
Any advantage to removing the old plugs on a warm engine as opposed to stone cold one?
Should I put anything on the new plug threads before reinstalling?
After all those questions, should I even be fooling with car repairs?

How can you learn anything if you never ask questions?

Use compressed air and a small screwdriver to loosen and blow way any debris packed around the plugs, and spray some solvent in there to loosen and remove oil deposits. Once clean just remove and replace the plugs. You can put a little nickel or copper based antisieze around the upper threads to help make future removal easier, but use it very sparingly as a little goes a long way. Don't coat the entire threads, just the last two or three right up against the seat. Don't forget to use the dielectric or silocone grease in the spark plug boot, this keeps water out and makes it easier to pull the boot down the road as well.

The solvent will evaporate soon, what little is left won't burn.

JazzMan

quote Originally posted by TaurusThug: i think that its due to a "growing foot"

LOL. I'll admit that this could be a strong possibility. As far as the ignition coil and pick up go, I've seen lots of opinions on the coil brands at the Fiero Store:

E-tron
MSD Blaster
Accel

Is is possible that my antique coil is caving in now that the plug/plug-wire connection has improved? Or are coils either alive or dead?