stripped spark plug????

[Big Slick]

I have a 2000 Tundra with 140,000 miles on it. When I changed the plugs last weekend, one of the plugs wasn't tight when I went to remove it. When I installed the new plug, I could give it a full turn after it was finger tight. It is stripped but is snug.

At this point, I don't think the plug will blow out because I think it's snug enough to hold in there. (the old plug was not tight for some time because there was carbon on the plug boot and the rubber gasket under the coil was degraded.)

I understand the real fix is a helicoil but my question is this:

Is there anything I can do to tighten that plug without doing the helicoil? What I need is a high temp loc tite or teflon tape or something like that.

Is there such a thing? The loctite that I saw at the auto parts store goes to 400 degrees F. Would that work? how hot do the spark plug threads get?

Any help would be appreciated...

[tacomaman06]

i think your gonna be better off in the long run going ahead and doing the helicoil. trust me, the spark plug threads get very hot, and im really not sure that any kind of loctite, and i know teflon tape wont work, is gonna work and be a good fix for ya. your probably much safer with the helicoil.

[Tones]

Perhaps you could dab a little JBWeld on the shoulder of the plug. You probably would have to remove the gasket. I don't know how long it would last under those temperatures either. If it did last, it might ruin your head.

[tempetom]

You might not want to use any sealant that is nonconductive. The plug relies on a very good ground to complete its circuit and firing.

We had an extensive discussion awhile back about someones head bolt threads stripping and it appears there's another type of insert that might be better than heli-coils. Good luck and I hope the plug doesn't shoot out.