replacing COPS
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Junior Member
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replacing COPS
I am not a wrench so this is a challenge for me. I replaced a few of them (COPS) about a year ago and now the 2001 4.6 is misfiring again. I just read about the dielectric grease that (I should have used)
I ordered a new set of cops from Global. They should be here any day now. My question is, EXACTLY what do I need to do to properly install these? I mean do I fill the COP boot up with dielectric grease or just smear it on the walls? I really don't know and I really don't want to do this again soon. Any guidance on this simple procedure would be greatly appreciated. I am ok with removing the fuel rails and all that other stuff, I just don't get this grease thing....
Thanks guys,
Mike
I ordered a new set of cops from Global. They should be here any day now. My question is, EXACTLY what do I need to do to properly install these? I mean do I fill the COP boot up with dielectric grease or just smear it on the walls? I really don't know and I really don't want to do this again soon. Any guidance on this simple procedure would be greatly appreciated. I am ok with removing the fuel rails and all that other stuff, I just don't get this grease thing....
Thanks guys,
Mike
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 5,522
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From: Utah
Maybe it would be worth it for you to pay the dealer a couple hundred buck to install them for you. You should do the plugs (motorcraft ngk or denso) to. Theres lots of how tos on this board use the search feature.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 835
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From: Central New York
Good advice from Jethat and Camaro.
If you intend on doing the work yourself, I would replace all of the plugs and COP's at the same time. I'm not sure why you replaced some of the COP's unless you had a CEL tell you that you had misfires on certain cylinders.
My experience with these engines has taught me, you need to do all cylinders at the same time as general maitenance, unless you have a CEL come on and a scantool tells you that a certain cylinder('s) has a misfire.
Back to your original question. Dielectric grease is a must. I squirt a a "gob" of grease in one end of the boot and then use a long zip-tie to spread it around on the inside wall of the boot. You want a med. to thin film of grease on the entire inside wall. Make sure when your putting the coil and spring back into the boot that you don't fill up the end of the spring with grease. Like Jethat said, the grease is non-conductive. If you do have an excess amount of grease in the spring end when your done, wipe it out with a Qtip swab to make sure you will have good contact between the spring and sparkplug connection. I didn't use MotorCraft plugs the 1st time I did mine and a few 1000 miles later I was yanknig those plugs out and put MC's in. That was before I joined this forum and the NAPA guy sold me autolites. He is under the impression that they work well and he has a business to run so he didn't know any better. I found out the hard way and had to make the change. I have not had a problem since.
It's not that bad of a job, it just takes alot of time and patience your 1st go around with the work. You may want to use the search function on this site and read up on a few threads about this subject. This is one of the most discussed topics on this site.
Lastly, unless you put new plugs in there in the last cpl thousand miles, yank the plugs and put MC's in there. Make sure you check the GAP, and if needed, GAP them properly. If you didn't in the past or don't use the MC'S,
your throwing your money away and doing alot of work for nothing, IMO.
TJK
Good luck with it.
If you intend on doing the work yourself, I would replace all of the plugs and COP's at the same time. I'm not sure why you replaced some of the COP's unless you had a CEL tell you that you had misfires on certain cylinders.
My experience with these engines has taught me, you need to do all cylinders at the same time as general maitenance, unless you have a CEL come on and a scantool tells you that a certain cylinder('s) has a misfire.
Back to your original question. Dielectric grease is a must. I squirt a a "gob" of grease in one end of the boot and then use a long zip-tie to spread it around on the inside wall of the boot. You want a med. to thin film of grease on the entire inside wall. Make sure when your putting the coil and spring back into the boot that you don't fill up the end of the spring with grease. Like Jethat said, the grease is non-conductive. If you do have an excess amount of grease in the spring end when your done, wipe it out with a Qtip swab to make sure you will have good contact between the spring and sparkplug connection. I didn't use MotorCraft plugs the 1st time I did mine and a few 1000 miles later I was yanknig those plugs out and put MC's in. That was before I joined this forum and the NAPA guy sold me autolites. He is under the impression that they work well and he has a business to run so he didn't know any better. I found out the hard way and had to make the change. I have not had a problem since.
It's not that bad of a job, it just takes alot of time and patience your 1st go around with the work. You may want to use the search function on this site and read up on a few threads about this subject. This is one of the most discussed topics on this site.
Lastly, unless you put new plugs in there in the last cpl thousand miles, yank the plugs and put MC's in there. Make sure you check the GAP, and if needed, GAP them properly. If you didn't in the past or don't use the MC'S,
your throwing your money away and doing alot of work for nothing, IMO.
TJK
Good luck with it.
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Junior Member
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Thanks guys. I had done a search and couldn't find a clear answer to that grease question. I did have a misfire a year ago and replaced #4 as I read here it is the most likely to fail. (I think that is #4) Closest to the passenger. It did correct the misfire. I didn't replace all the cops last time nor did I use the dielectric grease. I have MC platinum plugs in hand.I have a friend here that is a pretty good wrench. I have helped him with construction issus so maybe he will return the favor. I am not one to take on big mechanical projects. Give me lumber and angles anyday. Thank you very much for your advice.
Mike
Mike
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 2
From: Central New York
[QUOTE=smith6729;3729401]Thanks guys. I had done a search and couldn't find a clear answer to that grease question. The answer your looking for to applying the "Dielectric Silicone Compound" (grease) is in the above reply. It works everytime for me.
I buy mine from my local NAPA and it is sold in a white tube with bold red lettering with "Dielectric Silicone Compound" written on it. The manufacturer is AGS.
Hopefully your mechanic buddy will return the favor and do the work for you.
I have a few favor's owed from doing mech. work for others. I never expect anything in return because I like helping others out but it's nice when they offer.
Tell you what, I will be happy to do the work for you if you come up here to CNY and put the 6x6 treated post's and 2x10 headers in for me. I'm building a new garage.
I buy mine from my local NAPA and it is sold in a white tube with bold red lettering with "Dielectric Silicone Compound" written on it. The manufacturer is AGS.
Hopefully your mechanic buddy will return the favor and do the work for you.
I have a few favor's owed from doing mech. work for others. I never expect anything in return because I like helping others out but it's nice when they offer.
Tell you what, I will be happy to do the work for you if you come up here to CNY and put the 6x6 treated post's and 2x10 headers in for me. I'm building a new garage.