02-10-2011, 01:22 PM
P5se Camelback Wrote:Get one of those foam-cushioned spark plug sockets and you shouldn't have any more trouble with breaking the porcelain tops off the spark plugs. And that's not just a Champion problem ... any of them will break if the socket wrench hits them "funny" while removing them (or attempting to remove them.) The cushioned spark plug socket is usually the end of broken plugs. Plus the cushioned socket holds the plug, making it easier to start the threads in the hole, reducing the potential for "cross-threading."
Don't forget to coat the threads on the plugs with Nev-R-Seize, especially when installing them in aluminum heads.
Also, I would not worry about a vehicle "nickel and diming" you just because of high mileage. As long as the body and chassis is sound (not rusted out), once you get over 100,000 miles most of the value is gone. Just keep driving it and maintaining it until something major fails. If something fails that is going to cost you way too much to fix, trade it off or just send it to the junk yard and buy another vehicle. It might well go another 100,000 miles with no more cost of operation than it had for the first 100,000.