Spark Plug Insulator Break

I was curious as what do you think would happen if part of a spark plug insulator were to break or fall into the combustion chamber while an engine is running?

 

I assume you were changing your plugs and found a broken plug? Bad things: valve damage, pistion, if it makes it into the exhuast i suppose it could hurt the cat?

 

lol no, I use to gap plugs by using the tool and would wedge it against the electrode to open it up. Now i just use brute force and push straight up on the the "piece of metal" to keep any pressure off the electrode/insulator. When I was changing plugs last night the gapping tool slipped out while I was exerting force and not only did I scrape my knuckle against the spark plug threads and tear some flesh. I also heard a crack/snapping sound. It was probably just the sound of the two metals slipping past each other and "snapping"... but hey, i'm a worry-worry and it makes me think. I inspected the insulator and it looks fine, but hey-you never know

I don't have any nearby shops plus I needed to drive the truck the next morning so I assembled it.

What would you have done?

 

Replace it.
Ceramic is brittle and you may not see the damage.

For future reference, "grip" the ground electrode at the curve of the "L"... you can open or close the gap by prying there without coming close to the insulator or having to "brute force" anything. That's why real spark plug gauges (wire, not the more modern "poker chip") have those slots in the tabs.

 

The thing was with cracking/snapping sound I don't think it was the insulator cause in no way should I have been touching it with the particular spark plug I am speaking of. Also bad news, I don't remember which plug it was....

But yet I was still VERY close to it and that why I worry...

 

If this will help buy yourself a new plug. I found a good deal, attached.
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Well with the lack of nearby shops I would have done the same. If I didn't see any broken parts or cracks I would have installed and forget about it. If it was crack or chipped I would cleaned and regapped one of the old plugs and put that in until I could get to a parts store.

glad you didn't find any broken plugs when you were changing them. that could really suck.

 

You will want to change the plugs fast. Broken ceramics will eat your cylinder walls up. It sounds terrible while it is eating them too.

 

I changed them last night. The ones I removed looked fine but I replaced them anyways.