Spark Plugs

[Bain64]

Hey Gents. I'm debating whether I should change the plugs on my 2003 5.4 'plug spitter'. The service history is unknown, so I pulled the #1 plug nearest the oil fill spout. The truck has 210k miles, power performance seems good, and she starts without hesitation.

Change the plugs? Or if it aint broke don't fix it? Guess on how many miles since since this one has been changed if ever?

 

[Hamfisted]

Brush it off and check the gap. Usually I just see the gap open up with high mileage on the plugs. If you don't know when they were last replaced it wouldn't hurt anything to throw in a new set of plugs. At least you'd know their history.


-Mike

 

[1955moose]

Oh I disagree. Those plugs don't look that bad. If it's running ok, leave them be. Your year supposedly has more threads than the earlier Romeo motors, but why Rock the boat. I'd put that one back in tighten it down to around 18-20 ft lbs and worry about other things. Their definitely not the originals, or they'd be disenngrated by now.

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[Bain64]

Brush it off and check the gap. Usually I just see the gap open up with high mileage on the plugs. If you don't know when they were last replaced it wouldn't hurt anything to throw in a new set of plugs. At least you'd know their history.


-Mike

The plug gap on this one is .055, I’m guessing it was undergapped to start because the tip has worn away some and should have enlarged the gap a bit.

 

[Bain64]

Your comments resembled my internal debate, it's running great why mess with it but at the same time I don't know how old they are and plugs are cheap so just change it... Still not sure on what I want to do, ha.

 

[BRIANGEE]

At that many miles it's time for plugs - especially if they're original. The plugs really aren't all that bad with some universal joints and varying sizes of extensions both 3/8" and 1/4".

For #4 just remove the battery and computer and it's a piece of cake. It's a nice little saturday project and then you can sit back and enjoy a cold one knowing your good for another 100K. Well, forgot it's a Ford... so you'll be good for another week or so until something else pops up.

 

[Bain64]

Ok, 2 votes to change plugs now and 1 vote to wait. I guess I'll just have to see what the next couple weekends bring me.

 

[1955moose]

Remember the letters Ford translate to Fix or repair daily, and my fave, found on the road dead! The tow hooks up front are for your buddy to hook a strap from his Toyota/Nissan to your overweight girl, and bug you over beers the next week!

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[johnboneske]

I would leave them alone too. The electrode looks good, as long as the gap isn't about .080, leave them. If you do replace them Uridium plugs, much better for very little more money.

 

[johnboneske]

Ford also stands for Fing owners really dumb.

 

[1955moose]

Who's fing? Thougth he owned the dry cleaners up the street from me!

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[JExpedition07]

First on race day, For off road duty

 

[JExpedition07]

Dodge- dripping oil dripping grease everywhere

Chevrolet- Can Hear Every Valve Rap On Long Extended Trips

GMC- Got mechanic coming

 

[1955moose]

Too bad this is a clean family show, got a dusie for Pontiac! Be nice now.

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[sscharlie]

For piece of mind I'd change them out. How knows, last person may have just changed out the first 2 or 3 plugs on each side.

 

[Plati]

So you can pull one plug, look at it ... And you know the health of all 8?

 

[Trainmaster]

I just changed mine on the 2008 with 85,000 miles. The front plugs were fine with a gap that was just out of tolerance. The two rear plugs were trashed with the electrode just about gone. The truck was running fine, but I can feel the difference with the new plugs.

I could have gone further with them, but I'd have to change them anyway and with my luck they'd start missing on the coldest day of the winter.

It was a pleasant job on a summer morning.

 

[1955moose]

That's what happens when you change 6, and leave the rear 2 in for 150-200 thousand miles. Had a friend at Midas near me that fired his tech, when he found out that's what he did. Dirty guy!

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[JExpedition07]

That's what happens when you change 6, and leave the rear 2 in for 150-200 thousand miles. Had a friend at Midas near me that fired his tech, when he found out that's what he did. Dirty guy!

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When I replaced mine at 160,000 miles I found that the back two plugs were original and only the front 6 were changed.....not even hard to get to on my 07’. I just had to use a swivel. People are lazy man, even when you are paying for the job to be done.

 

[1955moose]

I just said that! Must have been late in posting.

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