Hi guys. My 2013 f150 5.0 is at almost 105000 miles and i want to change thr plugs before it starts getting really cold outside. Anything i should keep in mind or tips. What do you recommend for plugs and the gap?
Thank you in advance Jamie

 

This video will answer all your questions.

Spark Plug- Motorcraft SP548 (supersedes SP519)
Spark Plug Gap- .051"
Spark Plug Torque- 127 inch lbs

 

Try to get the gap lower. The range starts lower. I set mine just below .050 and it runs great.

 

I used Bosch Automotive Double Iridium spark plugs and love them!

Also:

1. Watch some Youtube videos on getting those red coil clamps/clips off without breaking them. There's a trick to making it really easy and you'll need that if you're doing this in the cold. Those clips are very fragile and break easy.
2. Ensure you have the right length ratchet extensions, spark plug gap checker and dielectric grease before starting.
3. Ensure you have some stress reducing beverages on-hand while doing this project. Took me about an 1.5 hours to change out all 8 but I was taking my time and enjoying those beverages. LOL

 

I just did mine last week (just got my truck in May). Previous owners broke a few of the black outer clips, and all but 3 of the red plastic clips were missing. I broke two of the black clips myself (man they were fragile). The harnesses still go in, and the engine seems to be running just fine still. No engine light or codes. I would assume if even one of the harnesses wasn't connected firmly enough and wasn't making power I might get a check engine light, but I don't know. Does seem like my mpg dropped about 1/2 to 1 mpg since doing the plug swap.*

Wonder if I should get 8 all new plug harness connectors? I wonder if the outer portion of the connector is replacable? (If the black outer piece connected to the harness comes off and I can put new ones on easily I'd like to do that).

*Edit - Hard to say for sure as this was only after two half fill ups. Weather got very cold and windy and that certainly affected mpgs. Also did more city driving this past week than I usually do.

 

Give your truck some time to relearn the fuel/air/spark ratios. I'd give it a another week or so and then see how you feel. You can order those clips from A1 auto, Amazon or the stealer, but those don't come off once plugged in unless something in the motor bay tugs on the wires.
If you can find the new clamps/clips at a decent price I'd go ahead and grab them. I have one broke but I'm not worried about it.

 

If you live in an area that has winter and uses road salt, be careful when removing the coil pack retaining bolts. Two of mine were completely rusted out where they pass through the coil pack and they basically crumbled away when I went to remove them, leaving the rest of the bolt stuck in the valve cover.

 

I did perform the idle relearn procedure (its in the owner's manual on page 395 I think). But I will keep driving it and see if it relearns any more.

I found these on ebay, $28 each.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Ignition-Co...cAAOSwFpVcpOdo

At that point, it might be cheaper to see if they sell the complete harness and just put a whole new one in. My truck has 176k miles on it and like I said, I just got it in May. In a way I'm glad I found some broken clips, that means someone was in there changing spark plugs.

I just wasn't sure if engine vibrations could work the harness loose at the connection to the coil, since it is no longer "snapped" in. Hopefully they stay snug and have a solid connection, and that the electrical leads are touching correctly.

Thank you for your reply.


Edit - Amazon had just the clips for $14.99 !
https://smile.amazon.com/Connector-3...3662650&sr=8-2

Edit Again- I wonder if the black part of this clip can come off and I can just pop a new black clip on, without cutting/crimping the wires? Oh, but it looks like the amazon ones don't have the red retaining clip.


This might be better for $19.99?
https://smile.amazon.com/Premium-Con...3662650&sr=8-3

 

Sounds like you need to block off your engine compartment from spray.

 

You'd be correct. Need to make some DIY extensions to the fender wells. To be honest the worst of the rust is in the engine bay, as the rest of the truck gets sprayed at Krown every year, but the light mist they do in the engine bay doesn't stick around for long.