I never said it was required, however, using A-S IS the Service Manual procedure, with a torque value of 13 ft-lbs.

That is correct. If you use the NGK torque specs (which are for dry threads) and you also use A-S, you could break a plug. If you use NGK torque specs, then don't use A-S. If you use A-S, then use the SM specs.

Which is why I asked if he used A-S and what torque specs were used....

 

Just checked all 6 cyls and sure enough, #5 needed tightened up.

85K mile, '07 TLS, original plugs based on maintenance record.

Thanks for the heads up!

 

Im amazed and somewhat perplexed at why the #5 s.plug would come loose. Like did they not tighten it properly at the factory ? Or do all the vibrations in the engine resonate on that plug? So weird! I might have to check mine now.

 

Yes. They torque all other plugs from factory and intentionally skip cylinder #5.

 

Haha!

 

I dunno it might be something with the manufacturing process or did they change the torqueing spec? The older TL CL motors are not known for blowing out their plugs. When I changed mine, they are all extremely tight and it took a fair amount of effort to get them out. I have never head of a J30 doing it either....

 

I think it may have something to do with the single port exhaust design causing a problem? Seems the Odysseys and MDXs have the problem pretty bad as well. I've heard of it in the 03 - 07 Accord J30s, but it isn't quite as common as the 32 from what I've seen. (just my own research and anecdotal evidence)

 

I'm going to check mine tomorrow.

 

and this boys and girls is why you don't use shit petro or low grade octane..

 

My daughter-law used my 08 TLS to travel to up state N.Y. for a hockey tournament about 4-5 years ago. Plug blew out in N.Y., had it towed to Auburn, Ma. (AAA),first 125 miles free. Dealer had to replace a cylinder heard, over $4K
in repairs. I had 68K on the car, Acura covered it. I now have 106K mi and just replaced all the spark plugs at 105 K mi. Bill C.

 

Are you saying that it's detonation induced? I thought of that as well, but then I'd think it would be a random cylinder and not typically #5 which it seems to be the most common.

My theory of the single exhaust port off the head could cause excessive heat causing #5 to loosen. Doesn't heat loosen plugs?

Then again, if that were the case, you'd think they'd be split evenly among #2 and #5, given a random sampling of occurrences.

 

Ugh, well I guess my TL-S is parked for 2 reasons: (1) the impending snow tomorrow and (2) impending doom of a spark plug shooting out.


Guess I'll be checking plugs before its driven again. Thanks for the heads up. Still learning about these cars!


Chris


2008 KBP TL-S 6MT 61k

 

I'm thinks maybe I should have stuck with my 1996 accord ...lol

 

Don't remember the torque we used sry just remember we looked it up and followed it. IIRC was somewhere in the ~13-16 lb ft range.

 

I went ahead and just replaced my plugs at 65k. I figured if I was going to do all the work to check to see if any were loose, I would just go ahead and replace. Good news was that none were loose and the old plugs could have lasted another 40k miles.

 

Low octane fuels effects only #5. I thought everyone knew that. Shesh..

 

By any chance.does your car have a rough cold idle?

 

Damn... my car started having a ticking noise and I figured it was just because it's almost time for a Timing Belt / Valve Adjustment (just under 100K).. Now I'm going to go home and check all my spark plugs. Thanks for bringing this thread back, I almost forgot about the Cylinder #5 issue on these engines.. (yes, even after my old car had it too.. )

 

My 99 Accord V6 had the exact same issue so I can state with actual experience that it affects the J30s as well.

 

^one car is not a lot.....I had a 98 accord V6 and no issues. currently a 02 CL-S and no issues and both cars are over 100K miles

 

Nope, idles perfectly before and after the plug change.

 

It seems 03-07 v6 accords have similar problems as our TL.

Those accords were 3.0 whereas our TLs are 3.2 & 3.5.

So it seems that this problem can. "possibly" occur to any j30, j32, j35.

pilots and odysseys also have the same issue which are j35.

Someone mentioned mdx so maybe even the j37?

 

I checked the 3 by the radiator 4-6 I assume and all 3 were tight.

 

I did heard couple case happened in a J30A1 before but never too much to caught my attention, originally I though owner might use improper torque instead of a prosible design flaw.

 

I have a 07 Accord V6, #5 plug got loose (didn't blow out) at around 85k miles. I only noticed because I wanted to put in Denso Iridium Power plugs. By then the plug and boot had dirt/dust all over. I was glad I found it. As a good rule of thumb, #5 should be re-torqued once a year. Changing plugs at 105k miles as recommended by Honda/Acura should be INVALIDATED, even though they are Denso Iridium long-life plugs.

 

Even when cold? Cold idle. I thought everyone had a cold rough idle.

 

-13F cold start and the idle is spot on. Needle doesn't move one bit.

 

What does a needle have to do with a cold rough idle? Haha

 

different head design..... the original J30A1/2 do not have the exhaust header cast into the head.... J30A3 does and while I have heard of it on occasion, I have not seen it like it is on the TL...

 

I had a 98 Accord V6 with J30A1, no plug got loose over 200k miles. I had the Comptech headers as well, yes, there were no pre-cats. I also noticed that the engine on that car ran cooler due to the lack of pre-cats building up heat by the heads.

 

He may be referring to the tach needle.... just a wild guess though..

 

And a proper one too. I really wonder what other needle I could be referring to.

 

Maybe he thought you were a heroin addict or something...

 

needle dick

 

I read through this thread near the end of 2014. I made a note to have my trusted mechanic check lb/feet torque on all spark plugs. It took some time to get to it, however, today we found:

# 4 and # 5 at 4 lb/ft torque. Remainder good at ~ 18 lb/ft.
Thank you AcuraZine and fellow 2007-2008 TL-S (3.5 auto) owners for posting up on this issue.

Think the 2007-2008 3.5 L V-6 engine sub-assembly came into Honda Marysville OHIO assembly this way and all (spark plugs) are mis-torqued?

 

How did he measure 4 ft/lbs?

 

Digital torque wrench device that digitally measures resistance. (witnessed)

Please know that I am no expert or DIY subject matter genius.
Just an Acura fan HTH providing TL-S feedback.