# Rust fell in while changing spark plugs **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [September 19, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768 "2008-09-19T19:44:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sirdonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@sirdonut](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sirdonut)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 7:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/1 "2008-09-19T19:44:20Z")
My exhaust manifold is pretty rusty. While changing my spark plugs, I think I might have knocked a little bit of rust into the spark plug hole. (Yeah I know, I should have cleaned the area first…lesson learned. Is there anything I can do before I crank the engine? Should I be freaked out? ---
**Author:** ![sirdonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@sirdonut](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sirdonut)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 7:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/2 "2008-09-19T19:46:27Z")
Oh, it was really fine rust too…and maybe like…1/2 a teaspoon at most? Hopefully it wasn’t much… I don’t know, I can’t tell post facto. ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/3 "2008-09-19T21:15:02Z")
I know what I would do. You could disassemble the engine or…You don’t say if you have a car or if you have a carb, multi-port fuel injection, TBI, or what. I would try to disable gas and spark and with the plugs out, crank the engine for a second and blow the rust out the spark plug holes. Be advised that flying rust can injure you and your eyes and an accidental spark can ignite the fuel-air mix blowing out the rust and make a little flame-thrower. BE CAREFUL! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/4 "2008-09-19T21:36:38Z")
How about you duct tape a hose small enough to fit in the spark plug hole to a vacuum hose, and try to vacuum it out? ---
**Author:** ![markmast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4af34b/32.png) [@markmast](https://community.cartalk.com/u/markmast)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/5 "2008-09-19T21:40:52Z")
I would try putting a small compressed air line in the spark plug hole to blow the rust back out. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/6 "2008-09-19T21:43:01Z")
I seriously doubt it will do any harm what-so-ever. If you’re really worried about it get shop vac and suck it out. I dropped a nut down there once and the vacuum sucked it right out. ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/7 "2008-09-19T21:43:52Z")
I wouldn’t blow it out, an intake valve might be open. ---
**Author:** ![JoeMario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3bc359/32.png) [@JoeMario](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JoeMario)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/8 "2008-09-19T21:44:58Z")
Back in the days of carburetors, I’ve seen lots of junk fall into the manifold openings when the carbs were removed. This includes rust, metal filings, and even a couple of small ball bearings. The mechanics chose to simply put it back together and start the cars. I never heard of any problems from those accidental instances (but that doesn’t mean I support the concept). ---
**Author:** ![sirdonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@sirdonut](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sirdonut)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/9 "2008-09-19T23:16:45Z")
I started it and ran it and it seems to be fine… ---
**Author:** ![sirdonut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ba9def/32.png) [@sirdonut](https://community.cartalk.com/u/sirdonut)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2008, 11:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/10 "2008-09-19T23:17:18Z")
Oh, and it is a carbeurator btw…1979 2.3 ford engine. ---
**Author:** ![meaneyedcatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meaneyedcatz/32/692_2.png) [@meaneyedcatz](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meaneyedcatz)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/11 "2008-09-20T02:51:14Z")
Long story short…don’t worry about it. Not enough fell in to mess with. ---
**Author:** ![lenjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f475e1/32.png) [@lenjack](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lenjack)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 6:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/12 "2008-09-20T06:42:51Z")
Find something else to worry about! ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2008, 11:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rust-fell-in-while-changing-spark-plugs/19768/13 "2008-09-20T11:54:11Z")
Come on now… Some of us get a little edgy when people aren’t concerned enough about their cars. It’s better to err on the side of caution. However, I was a little on edge when the questioner didn’t tell us: make, model, year, engine, trans, miles, etc. (Even though in this instance it probably wouldn’t matter). I pictured it as a Zamboni or an Allis Chalmers.