[ReidMcT]

3 1/2 hours. Ridiculous for someone apparently trained. I am going to send a note to the service manager to ask if this is typical.

Ridiculous indeed. I'd think even the flat rate book wouldn't be more than 2 1/2 hours.

Edit: This really rankles me. Unless there was an aftermarket mod blocking access, wouldn't it realistically take a little more than an hour in a normally equipped commercial shop? Maybe add 15 minutes for paperwork, and 15 minutes slack. Two hours, tops?

Even doing it for the first time, working with a floor jack, and taking time to figure out which combination of extensions and u-joints to use for each plug, it still shouldn't be more than 2 hours if nothing goes wrong.

I've only done 4-cylinder 718 plugs; and it looks like a 6-cylinder would not be more difficult; but more time with two more coils/boots to pull (and dust) and two more plugs to R&R.

Would love to hear from someone who's done the plugs on a 6.

I'd guess the service manager you speak to will just say, 'we go by the book.' I think it's an unfortunate reality that many shops are motivated to charge the flat rate time without necessarily spending that much time performing all of the work upon which the flat rate is predicated.

 

[ReidMcT]

Have you personally tried the $17 socket with success? If not seems like a hasty conclusion to draw that the Amazon socket works.

Measurements are thicker than Rennlist measurements suggest will fit. So far the only people who successfully completed the job in that thread bought the $100 Porsche socket.

Oh! I think I thoroughly misread #30. I thought they were saying they had a 6-cylinder. Sorry. No, I don't have a 4.0, and wasn't intending to say I do. Again, sorry for misreading and misleading.🙇‍♂️

 

[ReidMcT]

FWIW I went to an Indy shop near me and was quoted $500 for a plug swap on my GTS 4.0. 2hrs of labor.

I've DIYd all the services on my 718 so far and all (including plugs) on my 981 GTS so I never really let shops touch my car but this seems like a good exception. I hated doing the plugs on the 981 and it took several hours of fidgeting with extensions and wobble sockets.

Given its $100+shipping for the Porsche socket + $100+shipping for the plugs I'd be $200 in for just for the parts to do it myself.

Paying 2hrs of labor at $150/hr seems a very fair trade at the moment.

Don't kid yourself.

Amazon sells the right wobble socket for $17. And Porsche plugs are $108 at Suncoast.
[Edited to remove unreliable info]

Spark Plug Set

Check out the deal on Spark Plug Set at Suncoast Porsche Parts & Accessories

www.suncoastparts.com

Sounds like the shop charged $200 for 6 plugs, plus $300 labor? I'd say that's not bad for an indy shop. But it's also much more than DIY.

 

[ReidMcT]

I bought the socket and wobble extension (free shipping) for $98.50 - so I'm ready for the 4 year service for the spark plugs when the time comes around (2 years, months left to go)

the socket isn't magnetic, but has a steel spring insert to grip the plug

Haus of Tools was the place I used (prior threads on forum had the links)

You overpaid by about $80. The link @RobertM provides is what's needed - a 14mm thin-wall wobble socket.

 

[ReidMcT]

So it’s confirmed that this socket works for the GTS 4.0?

I guess that depends on your standards for confirmation. See post #30 below.

EDIT: NO, it is far from confirmed at this writing. Closer to being confirmed NOT to work for the 4.0 L engine.