After much going back and forth i decided to change my plugs myself. My truck has close to 70,000 miles on it and yes..... i should have done this a long time ago. I bought a Lisle tool just in case and i am using Kroil for the penetrating fluid. My first two plugs were tight, but I take a 1/4 turn at a time and then i let them sit, till they start getting real loose. I hope my luck continues!!! I will keep everyone posted.

Oh and another thing. I am taking one plug at a time. I know this makes it a real long process, but i want to concentrate on each one and if it takes me a long time that is ok, just as long none of them break.

 

Good luck, You are IMO taking the correct approach. I just replaced all mine at 54,000 and in time they all came out just fine. I had a couple squeakers that I'm sure were close to coming apart but I just soaked them down a few times and let them sit.

 

I did mine a couple of months ago and saved about $500. You'll be proud when you're done. Good luck!

 

What are you replacing them with? I went with the Champions and it has been 11,000 miles and so far no regrets.

HYPO

 

I replaced mine yesterday on an '07 with 110k miles. I used the Champion plugs and it runs like a dream. Only broke one plug and it was, of course, the back passenger side. Still it only took 15-20 minutes with the Lisle tool to remove. What a great feeling to have this task behind me.

 

Carb cleaner is supposed to work better than Kroil.

 

THE JOB IS COMPLETE!!!!!! NO BROKEN PLUGS!!!!! I would have never dreamed i would be so proud of changing 8 plugs in my life. For some reason i believe this is one of the great accomplishments of my life!!! HA!! H!!!

Without the website, i don't believe this would have been possible. In case someone ever researches this topic i will leave the following tips that i thought was helpful:

1) Take your time doing this, it is not a speed contest. If you try to finish in record setting time, bad things can happen quickly.

2) Start off my doing one plug at a time. You will get more comfortable and more confident as you go.

3) After you remove the coil, get some compressed air and blow the holes out. After blowing the holes out shoot some Kroil in there, so when you break the plug it starts seeping in.

4)Let the plugs soak for about 20-30 minutes and take it a 1/4 turn at a time until you start feeling it get more loose. I would turn it 1/4" turn let it sit for 2-3 minutes, turn another 1/4" turn, let it sit for 2-3 minutes, etc....

5)When you feel it start getting real loose i put a piece of paper towel in the plug socket a put it over the plug to soak up the extra penetrating oil, so when i pulled the plug all the excess didn't go in the cylinder.

6)While waiting for the plug to soak, clean up the coil, prepare it with some dielectic grease and prepare the plugs with some nickel anti-seize.

7)Have the Lisle Tool handy just in case....

8)Change the oil after completing.


Thanks again

BTW, i used the Motorcraft Plugs. I went back and forth with the Champions, but i decided to go with the Motorcraft's. I am not knocking Champions, but i wasn't sure with all the mixed reviews.

 

Good Job!

 

Excellent! Glad it worked out for you!

 

good job!
whats the part number of the motorcraft plugs?

 

Thanks everyone.

Motorcraft SP507 Plugs.

 

good job!!! i think i'm going to tackle this job while i'm on vacation this year. my '04 only has 35,000 miles on it, but i feel like they will be easier to get out now.
i do have a question, (and i'm sure it's posted somewhere), what about the motorcraft replacements? are they going to be like the factory originals and break upon the next plug change? should i go with something else? what plug is the best for the 5.4 3 valve?

 

Great job !

Who could have imagined that a plug change would ever feel like you had just scaled Mount Everest?

BTW - you remembered the anti-seize on the shanks, right?



Cheers
MGD

 

If you properly apply the prescribed nickel anti-seize to the ground sleeves and use top tier gas, it will go a lot easier next time.

 

I couldn't pass this up without asking: What do you consider top tier compared to low tier.


The answer may be debatable but I'm very interested in what one thinks.