I'm going to replace my spark plugs this sat. and was looking for some tips and suggestions to make it a little less stressful. What are some good plugs to use? I've got 134,000 miles on my 97 lariat 4x4 (5.4) and is still bone stock. I'm also considering a fipk. This site has been a very valuable tool so far and saved me allot of time and headaches in the past.

Thanks, Scott

 

* Allow for lots of time. Took me 4.5 hours to do mine.
* Get a shop vac and attach a 1/2 inch hose to the end. Use this to suck out any dirt that made it's way into the plug hole before you remove the actual plug.
* Have different size extensions available. I used a combination of 6" and 3" ones.
* Get one of those spark plug sockets that has a built in universal on it. Get another universal to attach between the extensions.
* If your sockets don't hold tightly together, put some duct tape around it before you dive in. Will save tons of time trying to retreive 'lost' extensions.
* You'll have to disconnect the wire harness from the fuel injectors to get to the coils. There is a release tab on it. Each coil has a 8mm hex screw on it. This is the hardest thing to remove. Be careful not to drop it. Do one at a time.
* Do one of the easy ones first, to see how it all works. Then dive in on the back ones. It's better to get the hard ones out of the way first, at least it was for me.
* Did I say to allow for pleanty of time........ Beer helps too.
* I removed all the covers and the power steering resovoir bracket that attaches to the manifold.
* The rest is just using pleany of imagination. Try to find any access point you can. Even something you think won't work, just might be the easiest way to reach it.

What plugs to use? Well, I'm using the Bosch + 4's. I just like them for the fact that they don't need to be gapped. The old Motorcrafts were way over spec on the gaps when I pulled them at 62k miles. The plugs themselves were ok, but I didn't feel like putting old plugs back in. The + 4's are nothing to brag about. Don't expect anything more then just the fact you replaced worn out plugs with them. Some don't like 'em, some do. Same price as the Motorcrafts, but if you didn't want to go with the + 4's, I'd go with the MC's.

Good luck and have fun!!

 

Scott,

The coils are held in place by a 7mm bolt. I used a ¼ drive socket with a ½ inch extension and a U joint to remove the bolts. Disconnect the electrical connector, remove bolt and pull up on the voil. A magnetic tip tool was used to lift out the bolts after a socket head fell in the valley and is lost to the gotya gremlins. A 5/8 inch spark plug socket with the rubber insert to hold the plug is needed. A 3/8 inch drive socket with a 6 inch and a 3 inch extension and a U joint was used to remove the plugs. When doing the #5 plug you might find that the Power Steering Reservoir bracket is in the way. The #7 coil bolt is hindered by the fuel regulator on the 4.6 but I can not confirm this on the 5.4. If you remove the fuel rail you will not need the ½ U joint. If you do remove the fuel rails remember to coat the Injector O rings with some motor oil. The plugs should be coated with anti-seize and don't forget the dielectric compound for the plug boots. taking my time and having to hunt for dropped socket it took me about an hour to do the job. Oh, one last thing check the gap on the new plugs.
Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

All good advice on removing the plugs. As a dealer tech I won't n recommend putting any plug but Motocraft back in your truck. Why? Its not that I have a spiff with Motocraft or anything but I can't even begin to tell you how many sets of non motocraft and especially bosch plugs I have had to replace because they cause driveability concerns. I am sure alot of people will disagree about bosch plugs but I get a least a set of bosch plugs a month in which the truck doesn't run right. Just my 2 cents take it or leave it.

 

Very helpful input Mitch,JMC and mxracer

I didn't even think about the duct tape on the u joints and extensions. I lost an IAC gasket down there in one of those bottomless pits a couple of weeks ago and caused me another trip to the dealership. My truck is still runnin strong and this is just a little preventitive maint. thing.
I'm thinking about making my own FIPK too this Sunday.I made a dual 4 inch one for my old 80 (350) chevy with the edelbrock pro flo fuel injection system and it kicked ***.

Many thanks guys

Scott

 

Take your time and have plenty of beer in the fridge.

 

you may not have coil over but standard wires,i,d think about getting a set you may have one pull apart on you. also on the pass. side you,ll want to pull the power terminal out of the way so you can access the #3and#4 plugs,two screws and a nut and its out of your way, plus swab a little extra grease on the out side of those two boots where the rings are to seal off the water that wants to drip from the a/c line. beer and bandaids all thats left.

 

Ahhhh, the advantage of a carburatered engine! In less then 5mins i can have my plugs removed, new ones gapped to spec. in needed, and re-installed. Well I do have the advantage of a smaller bolt on filter housing.

Good luck to ya!

 

Im am planning on changing my plugs here in the next week or so. I had this visual from the last plugs I changed about 7 years ago.
Ya'll have done a good job of scaring the hell out of me...LOL.
I had planned about an hour for the job...maybe not.

Rocks

 

rock we can get together and i,ll show you how to knock it out fast, of course the beer and snacks will be on you;e-mail burk12209@cs.com