As I have past the 4 year mark on my car and have only 14K I decided to change out the plugs as recommended by Porsche.
There are DIY post on the net already. and being 1/2 way through the job I d say its a 7 out of 10 difficulty.





Took a good 6 hours to get everything apart and then I was only able to hand tighten the spark plugs while I await a torque wrench I ordered to be sent.

 

Here are the old and new plugs.
all old ones looked the same.
They felt a little rough coming out.
Note, I did not remove the wheels.

 

Old ones still look ok nothing a good cleaning could not get out. What will we expect from an engine that has just run 14k.

 

Great work. I like your diamond plate ramps. Do we need to remove the manifolds?

 

Nicely done! I just don't have the patience or the time anymore.

 

Thanks for posting this. I am getting started to do the same job.

I dont understand why you rate this job as so difficult. What specifically makes this difficult?

Also, why did you not take off rear wheels? Takes just a few minutes and gives you needed space.

Regards,
CF

 

No, just the parts you see on the ground. I think you may be looking at the heat shields and coil packs on the ground.?. Don t know how its possible with mufflers left on by it s reported the dealer works around them. Those ramps are what trucks use for loading docks .

 

I guess how it s rated also depends on experience. I was most worried about breaking an exhaust bolt or rounding one out. That is the most time consuming part of this job. Also the spark plug heat shields are a b### to get off. I didn t want to take off any exhaust sensors which may have made it easier. So you have to just work them off like a puzzle. Working on your back doesn t make it any easier.
Wheels are not in the way. Plus if possible I rather leave the car raised on those ramps (no jacks).
I have had that section of exhaust off already so I knew it would be time consuming. I wonder how much easier it would be doing this on a lift and what secret tips Porsche techs have to make it go faster.

 

thanks, to me this is one that will test your patience.
Most of us enjoy working on our cars but I must admit I am stressed most when working on the Porsche.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I replaced all the rusted exhaust nuts already in preparation for the spark plug change. This wrench came in real handy. I also soaked the nuts multiple times before attempting to remove them.

I will be renting a lift at a diy work shop so I won't have to do this laying on my back.

The removal of the heat shields looks rather easy (in the DIY on the other forum) but I havent gotten that far yet.

 

The heat shield nuts (2 per side) come right off but the wiggling of the shield out of place is tight. If you remove the O2 sensor it may be easier.
A lift is nice.
When I started I thought I d look at doing the job without removing the mufflers (hey the dealer can do it) ,, after about two mins I started ripping the exhaust out.

 

Nice work cerbomark. I'm really loving those ramps though

 

The dealer can do this without removing the muffler??? I dont see how that could be done but anyone have an official service manual and can look up how its supposed to be done?

 

I think a lift and removing the wheels would give you a better working position to attack some of the parts removal work. Will be changing the plugs on my C4S this winter with the help of a sissor lift. Will be using a good deal of PB Blaster on the exhaust system fasteners before removing them. And will source any potentially problematic fasteners before starting the job so I can replace the on the re-install .

 

I've done it on a lift without pulling the mufflers or wheels. There isn't much room to work with, and you need a good assortment of tools, but I remember it taking an hour or less per side.