Ford Spark Plug Problems?

j-d wrote:

CloudDriver wrote:
I plan to take some pictures and write up my experiences in getting this done.

@Drew: NOW I know when I'll change the plugs in our 2002 chassis year E450 V10. AFTER CloudDriver posts his Step-by-Step process!

NOBODY does things more carefully and NOBODY documents a project better.

Thinking I'll just play the thread like a PowerPoint and if I'm close enough, the plugs and coils might just change themselves. Probably have to take the dog house out first, though.

@CD: Your coach is a 2003, and so is ours. Ours is 2002 chassis year. Which is yours?

The shop I talked to said a key factor is being sure the new plugs are started true in the threads. I'm not worried about you, but the shop heard of others putting the plug in the socket and extension then driving it with an Air Tool! They told me spraying a penetrant won't help because the seated plug won't admit it to the threads. I want to be sure the cavity the plug sits at the bottom of, is CLEAN before I loosen. Even if I have to make a long nose adapter for my blow gun.

I've heard of breaking the plug loose then applying Blaster or the like then letting it soak. But I don't see any need if the plug spins out once loose.

Sounds like you're working on a cold engine. Please let me know if you think HOT would be any benefit. I'd really rather not do that,and it's starting to sound like it'd be cold anyhow, by the time I took enough off to get at very many of the plugs.

Ours is on the 2003 chassis.

I bought a 3 gallon air compressor to the blow loose dirt off the top of the heads before removing the one coil I took off. I also blew out the spark plug hole with a 4" or so adapter before trying to loosen the plug. The space is so tight between the top of the engine and the cab that anything longer isn't going to fit. I did use some PB Blaster, but agree that there is no way for it to get past the seated plug. I didn't use any more PB Blaster after breaking the plug loose, as it unscrewed easily after the first 1/2 turn or so. The engine was cold and I wouldn't want to be reaching into in that confined space with a hot engine anyway. The Ford maintenance interval for changing the spark plugs is 100,000 miles, which I now believe to be too long, as I have a gap of almost 80 thousandths on the one plug removed so far vs. the spec of 54. I bought 10 new plugs at the local for dealer today and the gap is obviously much less on the new. These are the one piece plugs - no worry about breaking off the bottom part.

I Have a number of tools for this job on order from Amazon including a 20-200 pound inch torque wrench, a 5/8 magnetic swivel spark plug socket and a new gap gauge. These are supposed to arrive next Wednesday, so things are on hold for now. In the interim I'm looking for a less expensive source for the coils than the dealer price.

Take your doghouse off and take a look. Lots of impressive looking engine in there.