I know this is a huge topic but I figured I would ask anyways. How many people here have replaced their own plugs. I have hears all the horror stories about plugs breaking on these trucks but I can't being myself to pay 500 dollars for a simple TuneUp. Has anyone here replaced their own plugs? I want to see how often they actually break. I have 78k and plan to do my plugs in the next 2 weeks but am afraid of them breaking. Any input is appreciated. Thanks.

 

Unless you no some one that has the tool to get the broken plugs out.. save your self the headache my plug change cost me 200$ in labor and 160$ for plugs... I had them changed at 80k miles and 3 broke... Total tune up cost.. fuel filter etc. ....600$. But I had my truck back in 1 day...


I went with champion plat. "one peice" plugs. 20$ a peice....Many other people will say stick with motorcraft

 

I changed them myself after reading all the horrible news about them Breaking and such but I honestly had no problem. I bought the champions for no reason just they had them in stock at the time. All I did was got my garage space opened up, took off my computer and bracket and then removed all the COP's then I un bolted all the plugs just a half turn and in each hole I filled it, up to the height of the bolt, with PB cleaner. Let them sit over night the next day I went back at it and un bolted further then sprayed out the PB cleaner with some help from my air compressor. After that they all came out very easy. None broke. I put in the champions with some nickel coated antisieze and it was a done deal.

Just gotta be patient when un tightening, and don't be afraid when you feel your putting a lot of force on the socket to turn it.

 

I did my own plugs, had about $120 into the plugs and the stuff needed for the swap, including the lisle broken plug tool (didnt need it) Here is my writeup on it. https://www.f150forum.com/f72/how-sp...-3v-v8-116291/

 

just take your time, and get a lisle tool just in case. I used aero krol and all 8 came out screaming, but didnt break.

 

As the previous guy said spray pb blaster at least twice, 2 days in advance. Rent the tool, some come with a thin walled socket. Set aside a whole day and you should be okay.

 

I'm new here, I've been reading alot about these sparkplugs. Does anyone know, are they in all 5.4l or just certian years?

 

04-07 5.4l 3v engines only.

 

Just had mine done plugs cost me 65 dollars online from oreillys and labor cost me 147 at the local garage. The plugs were motorcraft sp515.

 

I just did mine myself and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I bought the lisle tool on amazon.com for $59 shipped and the plugs at Advance Auto for just over $60 for the original Motorcraft (new design) I think they were SP515 and simply removed the battery, the funny grey box with three large connectors and used an impact gun on low to remove them. I didn't break a single plug and I have 123K miles and those were the original plugs. Spray a bunch of PB blaster in them the night before and they'll come right out. If they don't the lisle tool will get them out. Read the entire thread and know that you're MIGHT break and MIGHT not. Mine didn't.

Plus it made a WORLD of difference and runs like a new truck now.

Oldrice-