YankeeTR5
New Member
I just successfully removed all 8 plugs with none breaking and thought I'd share a tip that I think makes this possible. Sidenote I own several classic cars so am comfortable doing my own work....although I was pretty uncomfortable taking on this job!!
My 06 Expedition has 108K miles and I'm the original owner. I started experiencing a slight miss around 90K and by 105K miles it was bucking pretty regularly at 45 mph under load. So here's what I did and why I think it will solve the problem of breaking plugs:
First, I added a can of Sea Foam fuel system cleaner to a half a tank of gas and went on a long drive. Not sure if this is significant, but since I did it I thought I mention it.
Second, when I got ready to pull the plugs, I warmed up the engine.
Third - and here's what I think made it all possible. I pulled the air filter and SPRAYED 1/2 can of Sea Foam spray into the air intake. I weighted the gas pedal so it was running at 2500 rpm. The engine bogged down a bit, so I had to let it recover and then spray more. I sprayed it directly into the intake and sprayed it side to side so it would get into each of the intake runners. I then shut the engine off.
I'm not a big endorser of products, but I had used Sea Foam spray to de-carbon a 92 BMW M5 engine about 10 years ago, so I was comfortable that it wouldn't affect the catalytic converter nor ruin the rings etc (an M5 rebuild is about $12k....) so I thought it might work here.
All my plugs came out wet. The first 4 (drivers side) had very little, if any, residual carbon, but none built up. The second 4 plugs had far more carbon build up but I had let the motor cool down (took a break to run an errand for the wife for over an hour in 45 degree weather). The carbon was still pliable, but it had transitioned from a wet liquid to more a very pliable clay. So warm engine is highly recommended, if not essential.
So, my takeaways: Sea Foam sprayed into a warm engine penetrates up the length of the plug and loosens (at worst) or dissolves (at best) any carbon built up on the plugs. It seems to work really well on carbon. I used a 3/8 inch breaker bar (when space allowed) and steady pressure and all the plugs came out like any other plug I've removed.
Maybe other products will work...probably will. I know on the M5 forums Sea Foam is specified, so I'll stick with that.
Good luck to all who take on this job themselves and I hope this helps. I checked with two dealers and was quoted over $750 at each place (one at least put a "cap" on the job at 750....whatever). I did have to unbolt and move the ecu on the passenger side firewall to get access to the two rear plugs, but other then that I did not remove anything other then the COP's to get access to the plugs. Car runs great now - way better performance, a bit better mileage too. Total time about 4 hours, but I think I could do it in 2 if I had to do again.
Cheers....Dan
My 06 Expedition has 108K miles and I'm the original owner. I started experiencing a slight miss around 90K and by 105K miles it was bucking pretty regularly at 45 mph under load. So here's what I did and why I think it will solve the problem of breaking plugs:
First, I added a can of Sea Foam fuel system cleaner to a half a tank of gas and went on a long drive. Not sure if this is significant, but since I did it I thought I mention it.
Second, when I got ready to pull the plugs, I warmed up the engine.
Third - and here's what I think made it all possible. I pulled the air filter and SPRAYED 1/2 can of Sea Foam spray into the air intake. I weighted the gas pedal so it was running at 2500 rpm. The engine bogged down a bit, so I had to let it recover and then spray more. I sprayed it directly into the intake and sprayed it side to side so it would get into each of the intake runners. I then shut the engine off.
I'm not a big endorser of products, but I had used Sea Foam spray to de-carbon a 92 BMW M5 engine about 10 years ago, so I was comfortable that it wouldn't affect the catalytic converter nor ruin the rings etc (an M5 rebuild is about $12k....) so I thought it might work here.
All my plugs came out wet. The first 4 (drivers side) had very little, if any, residual carbon, but none built up. The second 4 plugs had far more carbon build up but I had let the motor cool down (took a break to run an errand for the wife for over an hour in 45 degree weather). The carbon was still pliable, but it had transitioned from a wet liquid to more a very pliable clay. So warm engine is highly recommended, if not essential.
So, my takeaways: Sea Foam sprayed into a warm engine penetrates up the length of the plug and loosens (at worst) or dissolves (at best) any carbon built up on the plugs. It seems to work really well on carbon. I used a 3/8 inch breaker bar (when space allowed) and steady pressure and all the plugs came out like any other plug I've removed.
Maybe other products will work...probably will. I know on the M5 forums Sea Foam is specified, so I'll stick with that.
Good luck to all who take on this job themselves and I hope this helps. I checked with two dealers and was quoted over $750 at each place (one at least put a "cap" on the job at 750....whatever). I did have to unbolt and move the ecu on the passenger side firewall to get access to the two rear plugs, but other then that I did not remove anything other then the COP's to get access to the plugs. Car runs great now - way better performance, a bit better mileage too. Total time about 4 hours, but I think I could do it in 2 if I had to do again.
Cheers....Dan
