i've just purchased my 2007 f150 ,5.4 l, fx4 .i've discovered via this site that changing my spark plugs may not be a straight forward task.i am not having any problems with my truck but because i am a preventitive maintenance freak i would like to change them.it seems to me that the biggest problem is with the carbon buildup on the spark plug shield.would it help if i ran a can of combustion chamber cleaner thru the engine to remove the carbon also would using supreme gas help clean it off??? i'm on two minds whether or not to even attempt it cause as the saying goes ,"don't fix it if it ain't broke"
thanks in advance for your input

 

some say running combustion chamber cleaner helps some say it doesent. just take your time and have the extractor tool handy incase they do break. just remember to loosen them a turn or so and then soak antisease in them before taking them all the way out.

follow the tsb from ford, loosen it a turn or so then tighten it a quarter turn or so, all the way out. if they squeal on the way out thats typically a sign they arent going to break.

 

The premium gas will not help, you need to run the octane for the tune you have and if it is the stock tune, that would be 87.

I do think using a fuel that has a good detergent such as Techron is helpful. I have no idea about the combustion chamber cleaner. I just have a fear of that type thing doing more damage than good.

There is a high rate of success now that more is known about the removal and the Lisle tool is excellent should there be breakage. The plug change is a pain, but should not be made out to be worse than it really is.

 

How many miles are on it?

Yes, premium gas WILL help for this specific purpose as it generally has more additives. So would a BG or Motorvac service.

 

there is approx. 61000 kilometers on it

 

I ran C foam in mine with about a half tank. Also started changing them while the motor was warm. Before anything I sprayed about a tea spoons worth of carb clean down each one as I got to them. Did it help.... IDK.... But I wasn't taking any chances.

The change went real well only broke one plug drivers rear which kinda sucked but still not a big deal once I got the extraction tool. Total job took me about 5 hours counting the time it took to hunt down the tool, lunch and a couple

If you do this on your own. When you get to the passenger side pull the BCM and the bracket it's mounted to off the firewall it will make getting the back two 100 times easier.

Following weekend I did my Dads truck in two hours flat without a single broken plug. He has an 08 F350 with about 65 k on it. Mine is an 06 with 70 k

 

I had the same issue with my 06, 6 months back. I had the extraction tool as well. I soaked with KB88, let it sit for an hour, and backed them up till they got tight, then repeated until they came out.