Man, I used to use Shell and BP only but now my company gave me a company gas card that uses Chevron.


Is Chevron worth a crap? I figured it's better than the no names but I don't think it's as good as Shell or BP.

 

I use shell 91 octane I was getting 14 mpg switched to chevron 91 octane and got 12 I dont know if it was a bad batch or what. I would stay away.

 

Just changed mine myself this past weekend and no broken plugs!! Truck has 71,000 miles on it to boot! Was a little scared at first after reading about all the broken plug issues on the forum, plus I talked to a ford mechanic at a dealership who said even though the plugs are rated for 100,000 miles, that I should change them now because the carbon build up causes them to stick. Then he tells me that alot of the 150s that come in for plug changes usually end up with 3 out of 8 plugs getting broken (on average) and then it becomes costly! So that made me hesitant to change them, but I had to and I sure as hell wasn't going to let a dealership or shop do it. I've always changed my own plugs. Well, took my time and I DIDN'T USE AN AIR RATCHET! I'd be willing to bet that's what's going on at the dealerships.(Idiots) Anyway use a little anti seize on the new plugs when installing and you shouldn't have any problems next plug change. Just be careful, take your time and don't use air tools. Oh yeah, you'll have to use an extension, so keep both your hands on the ratchet itself with one on the head of the ratchet keeping it straight up and down as your trying to break the plug loose!! Hope this helps.

 

unless your truck is experiencing problems, why change the plugs? These things are good for 100K supposedly.

glad y'all had no problems changing 'em

 

As I stated before, carbon build up over 100,000 miles will make the plugs stick and there will be hell to pay (and lots of money ) when it comes time to change them! Not to mention the wear on the plugs. The gap on the plugs I took out had grown quite a bit. 100,000 miles my ars!

 

Well after a few days of driving with the new plugs it was well worth the money. The truck idles much smoother now even at the ridiculous 525-550 idle speed they have. The throttle response is much better also. I think they run better on the colder plug.

 

And this statement is based on what data? Unless you've pulled plugs on at least a dozen different trucks at each of 20K, 25K, 30K, 35K, 40K . . . . up to 100K miles (204 different trucks if I did the math right) then your statement is probably based on one truck that you have no idea when and if they carbon up. All you would know is if you had a problem or not, at your mileage, with your driving conditions, fuel choice, driving habits, etc. Even if you are a Ford mechanic you probably haven't pulled enough plugs to make a blanket statement like that.

I'm not trying to slam you, but it's become a pet peeve of mine when people make definitive statements based on insufficient data. It will generally mislead the folks on here that are not mechanically inclined, and may cause them to "fix" something that isn't broken.

 

Watch the video in my sig and you'll understand completely.

 

Pet peeves aside, if you read my post (bonehead) you'll notice I got this information from a FORD mechanic at a FORD dealership, so, no this is not a blanket statement based on one truck. According to the guy I spoke with ALOT of 150s come in for plug changes with around 100,000 to 120,000 miles on them (and that's because the damn plugs are rated for 100,000 miles!) and that the carbon build up is so bad on them, that ON AVERAGE 3 OF 8 PLUGS END UP BROKEN! Now when I pulled my plugs, it wasn't exactly easy because each and everyone felt like it was going to snap. They did not want to come out easy!! And as I said before, alot of wear on the plugs after 70,000 so IMHO I wouldn't wait for 100,000 miles to change my plugs. I wouldn't call that fixing something that isn't broken, I would call that MAINTENANCE! As for the data my statement is based on, there you go. I figure a ford dealership sees alot of f150s ('04 and up) with around 100,000 on them that come in for plug changes, not just 1 truck. So I don't think my statement is based on insufficient data. I'm just trying to pass on some useful information. I know your weren't trying to slam me, but you did. You know, it's kinda funny that my pet peeve is people with pet peeves. Pet peeves aside

 

If they pulled the plugs at 100K+, then those Ford mechanics don't know when they were carboned up. Those trucks could have had the problem since 10K miles, or since 50K miles, and the mechanic has no clue when they got bad enough to be a problem. It could be that once that crevice fills up it is permanent, which could happen in 10K miles. It could be that it builds up when the engine is cold and burns away after a prolonged hard run. So it could be that the plugs were fine at 95K and carboned up in the last 5K because it was winter, and they started the truck and drove straight to the dealer for a service. No one knows how those trucks were driven every day before work started, or what fuel was used. It sounds like your plugs were almost a problem at 70K miles, and I'd suspect that as someone that knows about the plug breakage, you were super-careful to make sure you took it slow, used plenty of penetrant, gave it plenty of soak time, etc. Dealers are sitting there with a truck taking up a service bay, and an owner wanting his truck back, and they don't have the luxury of waiting.

Like I said, there is nowhere near enough data to support your statement.

For the record, I wasn't taking issue with whether there was wear on the electrode, although as long as the coil pack has enough energy to fire across the gap, the wear doesn't really matter. It is not like a worn bearing - it is an electrical gap. A smaller gap isn't necessarily better. A larger gap actually fires through more air/fuel mix with a higher energy, so it may be better, as long as the gap isn't too big to fire across. I'm pretty sure Ford tested at least a couple of engines before they delivered the trucks, and they determined that the gap growth was not detrimental to engine performance.

If there is no engine miss and no performance issue, you wasted your money and took a risk of breakage changing plugs at 70K. Glad it worked out for you -

- The Bonehead

 

Not sure what your whole point is? I was simply passing along some info given to me by a ford certified mech. This thread is about spark plug breakage. Ok, if it's not a carbon thing, then my appoligies to you. I was just stating what I was told and not as fact. FACT IS PLUGS ARE BREAKING IN THESE TRUCKS for whatever the reason may be. Carbon build up could be one of the reasons. As far as the rest of your post goes, truck WAS running a little rough. Worn plugs do contribute to that. Since having changed my plugs, the truck is running smoother and better so no it was not a waste of my money or my time for that matter. And no, I did not use any penatrating spray or let the plugs soak. I just took my time. So what are you going to do as far as risking breakage, never change your plugs?

 

For everyones' information, set of 8 motorcraft sparkplugs:$49.95 at rockauto.com.

 

Remember, this was a good sparkplug story.

Mitch150:

1 - Like I said, I'm glad your sparkplug change worked out for you. If it cured a roughness, which I don't recall you mentioning before, then it must have done some good. That does not mean the average person needs to change their plugs at 70K, though. That just means you needed to, with your truck, under your driving conditions, with your fuel history.

2 - From your post #35 in this thread: "As I stated before, carbon build up over 100,000 miles will make the plugs stick and there will be hell to pay (and lots of money) when it comes time to change them!"

That certainly comes across to me as if you were presenting a fact, not an opinion. And what you stated was purely opinion.

The whole point I was trying to make was very simple, and I thought obvious: The only thing that is really known on the plug issue is that sometimes they break, and they break less when you follow the Ford removal instructions. Other than that, no one really knows if it's better to do it sooner or later, or what makes the condition worse or better beforehand. To claim a magical mileage that will work or to claim that the factory recommended mileage will mislead folks that don't know any better.

 

Have you ever washed your engine off? I mean, have you ever sprayed water on the engine at all to clean it? Just curious. I'm wondering if that's mainly how the rust forms on the sleeves - the part that is supposed to be causing all the problem once it gets rust on it. I've cleaned under the hood a few times on mine, but so far haven't changed the plugs. I talked to the dealer on the phone once to ask if they cover the labor if they break the plugs off, but they didn't have an answer - the service rep seemed unsure and hadn't known of any problems with the plugs. Personally, I think if the dealer breaks them Ford should pay since it's their bad design. Maybe they should have put the anti-seize on the sleeve at the factory? I'm at 61,000 miles right now on my 2004 Lariat. I guess I'll ask a few dealers what the scoop is (what they charge to change and what happens if they break them), then decide if I want to do this on my own. If I do it myself, I'll probably be a little more generous with the WD-40 and definitely follow the instructions very well. Blowing out the dirt and extra lube before removing the plugs is going to be an important step.

 

Lariatf150 yes I wash my engine all the time. Usually do it last after washing the truck and just soap it down and rinse with the hose on low. I then take my air compressor and blow off the water around the plugs and the top of the engine. Remember, the part of the plug that is rusting is inside the head and sealed from any outside moisture so washing the engine does not affect them.