Spark plugs....can I do it?

[WSS1]

Hello (and Happy Mothers Day!),

I just got two quotes to change plugs on our 01 5.4l XLT, $365 at a local shop and $425 at the dealer.

I just changed the upper control arms and lower ball joints myself as well as replaced the exh manifold gasket and studs on the right side. I have plenty of tools and experience as an equipment mechanic (20yrs ago!). I spend 99% of my time running and building CNC welding and plasma/oxy-fuel cutters now, that said, is it that hard to change them? I am not even sure what they look like. I just ordered a dvd service manual for our expy, that will help I hope.

Thing is, I can get a exhaust system or a tuner for darn near the cost of changing these plugs.

Is it worth a try?

THX, WSS1

 

[panda24619]

where do you work? so cal i see! im going to school for welding right. sorry off topic...

it is worth a try. if you have lots of extensions and lots of elbows youll be fine. just have to work around all the vacuum hoses and what not. took me a while just to do one coil. haha

also have a pen magnet. a really strong one. i dropped a lot of screws and had to recover them some how. haha

 

[timberwoof]

I don't really know what the engine bay if a '01 looks like but if it's anything close to my '06 you may want to consider taking the intake box off and computer off the firewall. Again don't know what the bay looks like. But if you have the tools and know how it's worth a shot. Just make sure the engine is cold when doing it. You don't want to strip the threads on the head.

 

[GAINMOB]

time vs $$$$....if you mess anything up its on you....they mess it up..its on them

 

[jdan]

Did all of mine. It took about 40 minutes being experienced with 5.4's.
Remove all the coils then blow the holes out with compressed air because they collect dirt.
Then get to work with extensions and swivels.

 

[tonydiv]

You will need to remove the fuel rail on the driver's side to get access to #7 and #8 cylinders. Also getting access to #4 is a *****. If you're a big guy, you may want to enlist the aid of a friend with small hands to get in there.

I say give it a shot. Worst case, you need to take it somewhere to get the ones that you can't get to.

 

[clok1966]

After readin here I must admit I was quite worried. I bouhgt a set of extensions at the local tool harbor that locked onto the sockets ofr $14 (made job 100% easier than it would have been). YOU WILL NEED air.. to blow out the holes, otherwise .. just work,, nothing out of ordinary .. I would rather do the plugs on this then my Vette again..

My suggestion, go to a local fabric store and by a 2'X2" piece of 2-3 inch foam.. lay it over top of radiator.. then you can lay in comfort on top of it to work... you may be alot tougher then me and dont need it.. I figured i got plenty of "extra" padding up front, but that foam helped alot. Im short so I used a $15 step stool from tool harbor too..

$30 in new tools (exstensions and stepladder/foam) I alos did wires, and coils ( mine is the older model with 2 coils a side) it was about $200 in the end.. but runs great and was less then 1/6th of quoted price if i took it in. first time took me about 4 hours ( way to long, but I was being very carefull as the horror stories i read on stripped plugs).

 

[jdan]

You will need to remove the fuel rail on the driver's side to get access to #7 and #8 cylinders. Also getting access to #4 is a *****. If you're a big guy, you may want to enlist the aid of a friend with small hands to get in there.

Sure about removing fuel rail?
I've never had to on any 5.4L.

 

[WSS1]

Thanks for the replies! I will give it a shot. I have plenty of ext and swivels for 3/8" drive and a good size compressor too.

I have always gone w/ OE parts but in this case, is there something that might be better for the engine or possibly increase mileage? It seems like most of it is marketing/propaganda.

WSS1

 

[tonydiv]

Sure about removing fuel rail?
I've never had to on any 5.4L.

On my truck, the fuel pressure regulator is directly above the number 7 coil pack. I couldn't get access to it (or #8) until I moved the fuel rail.

 

[khpony]

I did them on my '98 2 months ago. Took a total of 6 hours but could probably do it in 2 now that I know how. I recommend pulling the fuel rails and putting new o rings on them. Just take your time it really isn't hard.

 

[jacks3am]

Just go with some decent plugs, autolights are all you really need.

 

[flyin]

let all of the air out of the front tires. It will be 100 times easier to reach things and climb up also using a torque wrench when tightening the plugs will make you feel better if one comes out because you know you tightened them up properly.

 

[WSS1]

let all of the air out of the front tires. It will be 100 times easier to reach things and climb up also using a torque wrench when tightening the plugs will make you feel better if one comes out because you know you tightened them up properly.

I will definately use a torque wrench to tighten. I have a nice step platform for working on equipment that puts everything about (big) belly high LOL. Have some Motorcraft SP479 plugs on the way, probably tackle it this weekend. Also have a flowmaster 70 and two front 02 sensors coming!

WSS1

 

[WSS1]

Tackled it!

Got it done today! Took about three hours to do. I did pull the fuel rails and it made all the difference for me. I also cleaned the MAF and TB while it was open. The MAF was easy as it was exposed on the K&N elbow. The TB took a little spray and sit time until it was clean. I was surprised at how dirty it was behind the butterfly. My son helped and that really sped things up LOL.He loves dirt and grime, so he spent his time pulling the throttle cable to look at the ugly mess in the TB.

I also changed one 02 sensor, the forward on the driver side. I have the other forward but did not put it in yet. The one I did install had a different notch configuration on the plug. It is an OE motorcraft part but is not the same number. It has not thown a code yet, so if it works OK, then I will install the other too. I also managed to get a flowmaster 70 installed and did a "resonator remove" mod while I had the welder out. Total time was six hours.

This thing runs better than new now. Thanks for the tips and ecouragment!!!

WSS1

 

[aircargoo]

there all pretty easy 4 of them maaaybe 5...but pass side rear is the worse. make sure you dont strip it..."thats all".

 

[bojaz01]

i did it on my 99 with a 4.6....never done anything like that before, it took about 6 hrs i wasnt in any hurry and it turned out to be pretty easy.....I had more trouble taking off those darn wire clips than reaching 3 and 4 plugs and im no small guy......give it a shot, take your time

 

[GTR-34]

great pics!! i have to try it also next month!!