Gas Smell In Cabin After Plug Change
#1
Gas Smell In Cabin After Plug Change
Hey all, new Fit owner here and thus, first post on the forum...
Upon purchasing my manual '07 Sport (89,000 miles), I performed the following within the first 1,000 miles:
My first 4 fill ups averaged 32.7 MPG. That's mainly highway driving and up and down the hills at the foot of the Blue Ridge.
I replaced the plugs with the OEM NGK Laser Iridiums. A buddy who owned a Fit cautioned me about the softness of the aluminum head and not to over torque the plugs as he had stripped one of his. I have to admit that of all the cars' plugs I've changed, the Fit was the most uncertain. There's no "yep, that's tight" feeling to it. I didn't have a torque wrench handy, but 14 ft/lbs is not a lot.
That said, I started smelling gas in the cabin while sitting at idle. I pulled the plugs and sure enough, two cylinders were "loose" and there was soot on the boots. The plugs were also a bit sooty (see attachments).
I reinstalled them, tightened them down more (still without torque wrench), and drove a tank's worth like that (32.8MPG, so no change). I still smell gas, but not as much. The car isn't idling roughly or driving poorly. I'm going to pull them again today and check, clean, and reinstall.
Question: Could having the plug(s) loose foul them in any way? Should I replace those two plugs that were loose?
Upon purchasing my manual '07 Sport (89,000 miles), I performed the following within the first 1,000 miles:
- Oil Change
- Air Filter
- Cabin Air Filter
- Spark Plugs
My first 4 fill ups averaged 32.7 MPG. That's mainly highway driving and up and down the hills at the foot of the Blue Ridge.
I replaced the plugs with the OEM NGK Laser Iridiums. A buddy who owned a Fit cautioned me about the softness of the aluminum head and not to over torque the plugs as he had stripped one of his. I have to admit that of all the cars' plugs I've changed, the Fit was the most uncertain. There's no "yep, that's tight" feeling to it. I didn't have a torque wrench handy, but 14 ft/lbs is not a lot.
That said, I started smelling gas in the cabin while sitting at idle. I pulled the plugs and sure enough, two cylinders were "loose" and there was soot on the boots. The plugs were also a bit sooty (see attachments).
I reinstalled them, tightened them down more (still without torque wrench), and drove a tank's worth like that (32.8MPG, so no change). I still smell gas, but not as much. The car isn't idling roughly or driving poorly. I'm going to pull them again today and check, clean, and reinstall.
Question: Could having the plug(s) loose foul them in any way? Should I replace those two plugs that were loose?
#2
I agree that 14 LB/FT is too little and I think others here will agree. E3's website shows 18-22 LB/FT for 14mm plugs in an aluminum head and NGKs website shows 18-21.6 LB/FT for their plugs in an aluminum head. My Haynes Fit Manual shows 20 LB/FT. My Nissan Frontier with similarly sized plugs in an aluminum head requires 18 LB/FT.
Given the grief that loose spark plugs have brought to Fit owners, I suggest 20 LB/FT and using a torque wrench to be assured that all is correct.
Given the grief that loose spark plugs have brought to Fit owners, I suggest 20 LB/FT and using a torque wrench to be assured that all is correct.
Last edited by Alco RS-1; 03-22-2017 at 04:34 PM.
#3
I agree that 14 LB/FT is too little and I think others here will agree. E3's website shows 18-22 LB/FT for 14mm plugs in an aluminum head and NGKs website shows 18-21.6 LB/FT for their plugs in an aluminum head. My Haynes Fit Manual shows 20 LB/FT. My Nissan Frontier with similarly sized plugs in an aluminum head requires 18 LB/FT.
Given the grief that loose spark plugs have brought to Fit owners, I suggest 20 LB/FT and using a torque wrench to be assured that all is correct.
Given the grief that loose spark plugs have brought to Fit owners, I suggest 20 LB/FT and using a torque wrench to be assured that all is correct.
#4
Using mirror or camera INSPECT the plug gasket seat on the head!! clean it if dirty. (I used 5/8"OD rubber hose soaked in alcohol. when using new plug spin it in by hand (No ratchet) using 3/8" ID hose 7 inch long, then tighten the plug with 8 inch long ratchet; you will have to feel the sealing washer crushing. This washer is harder than on other plugs on different cars
#5
Using mirror or camera INSPECT the plug gasket seat on the head!! clean it if dirty. (I used 5/8"OD rubber hose soaked in alcohol. when using new plug spin it in by hand (No ratchet) using 3/8" ID hose 7 inch long, then tighten the plug with 8 inch long ratchet; you will have to feel the sealing washer crushing. This washer is harder than on other plugs on different cars
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spike42
Fit DIY: Repair & Maintenance
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09-25-2018 12:29 AM