08/01/2026
Under promise and over deliver always. However, we are very excited about the success with this repair!
Our client had their band touring van towed in due to a mechanical breakdown, they were driving and heard a noise, followed by loud gun fire like sounds, and a flashing check engine light. We took the vehicle in to service and found the bad news out, cylinder 5 spark plug had worked itself out of the cylinder head, and took much of the threads with it, there was no reinstallation without intense repair.
We present options to our client, either the cylinder head was going to come off and reseal the engine (12 years old and some mileage had this not carrying the best warranty for the guest), or replace the engine with a new long block. After pricing both avenues our guest decided that an engine replacement would be the best route for long term hold. At that point we presented one other option, that being, installing a time sert into the head while still installed on the vehicle. We have performed this service many times with success but it obviously carries risk, with our customer already agreeing to an engine replacement if needed, they were welcoming the opportunity of a successful repair and acceptant that if it failed they were right back to an engine replacement any how.
Our process is tried and true, we first utilize a back tap system to clean the threads out of the majority of current debris, and the tap has a hat that collects chips and brings them outward. Next we utilize a specialized reaming tap to take the spark plug hole up to a larger size, this size is specific to the time sert that will be installed, which has the internal threads that match a spark plug. We grease the tap to give a binder so that went tapping the head the chips want to stick to the tap rather than fall in. We use a specialize hand made vacuum tubing tip to go down in the cylinder and extract any particles that may have fallen by unnoticed. One more added measure is utilizing multiple fill and purges of the chamber with transmission fluid, which helps any left over debris float up and flow out of the hole. A good cleaning with parts cleaner and a copious amount of red loctite on the sert, it is installed, and left 24 hours to cure.
End results, restored threads into a cylinder head, no internal damage done to the engine, and our guest back on the road savings thousands upon thousands of dollars.
Looking for a provider that has your best interest in repair work out first.. call RCS Automotive (330) 328-7464.
