The Chevrolet company suggests that all year models of the Corvette be checked every 30,000 to 45,000 miles for spark plug damage and wear. High performance spark plugs are designed to work efficiently for up to 100,000 miles, but if the engine begins to misfire or sound sluggish, replace the spark plugs to return the engine to optimal performance.
Allow the engine to cool before attempting to change spark plugs. Aluminum engines crack if a spark plug is removed while the engine is still warm.
Locate the spark plug wires on the sides of the engine. Depending on the engine size of the Chevy Corvette, there may be six or eight spark plug wires. There is one spark plug wire per cylinder head.
Grab the end (or boot) of a spark plug wire to loosen it. The boot is the cover that fits on top of the spark plug. Turn it slightly to release the lock. Pull backward to remove the spark plug wire from the spark plug. Do not remove more than one spark plug wire at a time. If a spark plug wire is placed on the wrong plug, it damages the engine.
Put the socket extender and socket wrench together, locking the pieces into place. Slide the socket over the spark plug and turn the wrench to loosen the spark plug. Once the threads are released from the spark plug well, gently use the socket wrench to pull the spark plug out of the well.
Clean the spark plug wire boot and spark plug well with the spray air or wire brush. Spray air into each piece or gently rub the well and boot.
Apply a couple of drops of engine oil or spray silicone to the threads for engines that are 20 years old or older. For newer engines, apply a thin coat of anti-seize compound to the threads of the spark plug.
Insert the new spark plug into the spark plug well and tighten it by hand. Use the socket to turn the spark plug 1/4 turn to the right. Test the tension of the spark plug with the tester tool. The package the spark plug came in will tell the specified tension the spark plug needs to work.
Replace the spark plug wire and turn it 180-degrees to the right and then 180-degrees to the left to lock the wire in place. Gently tug the wire by the boot to check if the locking mechanism is securely in place.
Repeat Steps 2 through 8 to replace the remaining spark plugs.
