I just recently brought in my 2013 Ford F150 XLT 5.0 for its 60,000-mile checkup and an oil change. The service writer advised me that I needed the spark plugs changed as per Ford's maintenance schedule. I okayed the work. When I went to pick up my truck, I decided to check the manual that was in my truck. It showed that the spark plugs needed to be changed at 100,000 miles. When I questioned him, he told me that he used the severe service chart. I told him that this truck had only 60,000 miles and is not driven in any severe driving conditions. I was not happy. How can a service writer make this decision without consulting me first? What do ya'll think about this?

 

Well, for one, the tech could've done due diligence and checked a spark plug to two to check the electrode condition. If it looked worn, he would've mentioned it.

Severe driving conditions depends on what they see under the hood.

From wrenching on a lot of vehicles in my lifetime, I can tell when something is idled a lot or put under hard use by first glace of coolant colors, smells inside the engine bay, belt wear, oil coloring, oil consumption, etc. Especially if it doesn't match up to the mileage on lower mileage vehicles. It's like Blue's Clues.

More than likely the tech pulled a plug or two, and did a physical check and seen that you needed a plug change.

Nothing wrong in what they did to the truck itself -- however they should've contacted you before doing the work it if you didn't specifically ask to have it done. When I repair other peoples cars, if I see a broken this or that, or hey it needs new plugs, I do what they ask FIRST and then I mention it to them. They can either decline or have me do it. Without this getting into a long dissertation, I once did this thinking I was being nice, and guess who ate the cost for the parts? ME!

Now I know it hurts in the wallet because it was done at the dealer and 95% of the charge was labor to change spark plugs. On the brighter side, your truck should be good to go for a while.

 

I'll also add that some folks are particular about their vehicle maintenance.

Give you another example, a friend who a mechanic that works at a shop had an issue with a guys car with water pumps. Had DOA that leaked literally 2 days after installing it. So the guy came back to the shop and had the DOA water pump with a new one. So because my friend and the shop owner felt bad, they thought they were doing him a favor by giving him a free oil change. To put it in simple terms: The police showed up and wrote up a police report so the guy could go to court to sue the heck out of them. The guy won big time mainly for "mental distress" over the situation.

The guy who owns the car selectively worked on it. He did a lot of the maintenance work himself and preferred things like oil changes be done by himself. After all, the car is the guy's property and it deserves respect.

 

I've yet to get 100k out of the spark plugs in mine. 60k is very reasonable for plug replacement.

I bet you do qualify for "severe service". Long article but worth a read:

https://www.noln.net/articles/2387-e...severe-driving