Okay I just got me an 07 HD and been reading up a lot. This whole spark plug thing is my biggest concern so far. No where in my searches have I seen anyone come up with a plan to attack this problem before it turns into one. I'm sure its there but havent found a thread on it. Anyway, anyone have any ideas? All I can think of is to change them out early before they corrode and cause a problem. Different types of plugs are also an option too i guess. WHat has everyone else done?

thanks

 

Some have taken them out at 25,000 to 30,000, put nickel anti-seize on the shank and put them back in. Others like me went on to higher mileage and then tackled it. I let my dealer do mine at 65,500 with no problems. My dealer has had very few break and I know one they did with 133,000 miles. Just run a gas with a good detergent and take it to a dealer that knows what they are doing. I am going to 100,000 on this set.

 

You other question. Champion makes a one piece plug that solves the problem, but some swear by them, some swear at them. There have been some that had problems with them. Personally, I am sticking to the Motorcrafts. Once you change them with the anti-seize on the shank, the issue should be moot.

 

Thanks Blue... sounds like a plan. So you put antiseize on the shank right below the electrode but stop above/prior to the threads?

 

Correct - on the shank between the electrode and the threads/seat. Don't get any on the electrode itself. I believe the TSB has a picture.

 

sorry....whats TSB???

 

It means Technical Service Bulletin. Its the white papers put out by Ford to give info on problems and how to fix them.

 

Early-mid '07 build may have the revised cylinder heads and conventional style spark plugs. What's the build date of the engine?

 

yup, if your coil boots are brown you will have the new style heads and plugs which are more like a regular plug. if the coil boots are black you will have the old style.

 

your guess on the boots are as good as mine. When I say I'm a noob I mean Im a NOOB! My car is still sitting at the dock waiting to be shipped to me. Havent even seen it yet. But looking at the Carfax it says it was manufactured in May of 07. I had high hopes cause I remember it being first sold in 2008.

 

I just tackled my plugs at just a shade over 100k. The first two came out no problem, then 6 broke! We had the TSB in hand, and followed all their instructions, but no such luck. My buddy got the puller tool from his buddy at the local dealership, and we were able to get 5 out, but you know how Murphy works. On the last plug to extract, the miracle tool tip snapped at the threads, leaving it in the head. We're goin on 4 days trying to get the last plug out. We're in the process of trying to drill out the broken tip, which is like drilling through a drill bit! I can't believe not one "engineer" at Ford looked at this and said, "hey, this is a dumbass design!". We've tried some extra-high-strength adhesive on a threaded rod, as well as every other shade-tree trick we could muster up in his garage...hind sight's 20/20...shoulda taken to the dealership and paid the $600! Good luck, but i'd let the pros do it.