So I've been changing my spark plugs and noticed that some of the plugs are coming out with the washers missing. Not sure they were ever there to begin with, but being as how most of the ones that did have washer on them, had them up towards the tip like the washer had threaded its way up. My question is, how the hell do I check to see if they are in there, how do I get them out if they are in there, and since the new plugs don't use them, is it even that big a deal? Thanks.

 

Cast iron heads or aluminum?

 

Cast Iron. Sorry, went to sleep.

 

A cast iron head seals with a tapered plug seat. Somebody used gasketed plugs for an aluminum head. Try pulling the gaskets out with a pick.

 

I'll give it a shot. I got two of them out by mistake when I was hooking up the compression tester. Hopefully it will work for the rest because I'm not even sure which cylinders the washers are stuck in anymore. Two of the washers came out of the same hole, so I probably wasnt very observant last time I removed the plugs..