:? Hmmm, I find it rather easy to to get the boots off. I've had my share of busted knuckecles so I tend to wear gloves often when working on my vehicles, but I just grip the boot with my hand and pull it right off. Sometimes getting my arm in at the right angle to get to the back ones is a little tricky, that'* why I 'd much rather change the plugs and wires on my Jeeps 4.0 inline :P

Yeah, you put your finger on it for me. My plugs (my wife'* actually) may have been in the full 75K. And the boots are sticking very tightly to the porcelain.

(by the way Boosty, when you and Highlander did that posted manifold job, did you notice your plug electrodes were extremely corroded down to a very small diameter and the outer electrode had alot of inner build-up?. Because, I found a lot of coolant on the top of my LIM as well. More in a later thread.)

At the time of the lower intake on Highlanders car, the plugs hadn't been in very long. IIRC they were only wet..not corroded/fouled.

I'm not sure what causes it either. When I first replaced my wires and plugs around 50k miles, which I would not consider out of line (right after I bought the car) the wires were on like they were glued. It took me a couple of hours to do the back plugs, and once they were out, they had this yellowish/orange substance on the porcelin where the boots used to be. With the mileage that was on the car, I assume this is something from the factory install. What? I don't know but it held those boots like super-glue.

I've used silicone dielectic grease on the boots, as well as the contacts, for many years. This not only makes installation and removal easier, it also helps prevent moisture buildup within the boot. The last 3 sets I've purchased (AC-Delco and Belden) have had the grease already on the boots, so I didn't have to.

Dick, I was going to say that the last set of wires I put on had some sort of lube on the boots, but you beat me to it. I also had trouble the first time I replaced the wires on mine and it was well before 75K.

Yeah Bill, the long interval is being the original wires from the factory. If I could get my size (L) hand in between the exaust manifold ports, I could get them off easy.

The hardest part about changing the plugs and wires is getting boots off. And yes, I will use silicone grease on the replacement set.

The reason I didn't want to tear up the boots is because I just wanted to pull one off to take a peek at the plug to see what the factory put in there.

Just a plug..no goop to make it easy to pull off.

Mac..please remind me what year/model do you have ...

Yeah MAC, I'll be the first in this thread to request that you put your year and trim level into your signature. If you don't know how, just click on "Profile" above and scroll down until you see the spot for typing in signature information.

It will help you by reminding us what we are dealing with each time, without having to ask.

Thanks

I'm always reluctant to mention the year/model because it is not a Pontiac and people around here frown on "other GM 3800 powered products". So no I'm not telling, and you guys can't make me.

hmm, this is odd, i never really have much trouble with mine, i just twist, and then they pop off with a 'PLOP'.


i just replaced mine like about a couple months ago...but then again maybe there is a very long period most of you are waiting? like the full 30k plug change interval? well then maybe hah. thats alot of miles.

is there any kind of grease you can put inside the boots to make it not bond to the porcelain?