Changed my spark plugs-2012 Ecoboost
04-08-2014, 08:36 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Changed my spark plugs-2012 Ecoboost
Just finished replacing my spark plugs on my 2012 Ecoboost. Very easy to do, took about 40 minutes.
The gaps were all at 040" when I pulled them and they were the sp-534 plugs. Majority of them had quite of bit of carbon build up.
The new plugs were still sp-534, but out of the box they were all gapped at 030".
I took it for a quick test drive, it seems better. Only time will tell if I get improved fuel mileage. I got fed up with the minor engine shake when accelerating at highway speeds going up an incline.
Only thing I did notice is my tachometer needle seems to be jumping up and down quite a bit when it idles--this is with the engine completely warm. Eventually it settles down, but i`m wondering if the computer/engine is just getting adjusted to the new spark plugs---suggestions?
Another thing I'm still thinking of doing is removing the bottom peel and stick deflector on my intercooler. Dealer installed it when they did TSB 13-08-1 and did the PCM update. If I remove it, do I need the dealer to flash the PCM with a new or higher calibration...thanks!
The gaps were all at 040" when I pulled them and they were the sp-534 plugs. Majority of them had quite of bit of carbon build up.
The new plugs were still sp-534, but out of the box they were all gapped at 030".
I took it for a quick test drive, it seems better. Only time will tell if I get improved fuel mileage. I got fed up with the minor engine shake when accelerating at highway speeds going up an incline.
Only thing I did notice is my tachometer needle seems to be jumping up and down quite a bit when it idles--this is with the engine completely warm. Eventually it settles down, but i`m wondering if the computer/engine is just getting adjusted to the new spark plugs---suggestions?
Another thing I'm still thinking of doing is removing the bottom peel and stick deflector on my intercooler. Dealer installed it when they did TSB 13-08-1 and did the PCM update. If I remove it, do I need the dealer to flash the PCM with a new or higher calibration...thanks!
04-08-2014, 10:44 PM
#4
Mine has slight fluctuation at idle also. It's slight, but I can see the needle move, and feel it in my seat. It pisses me off. Doesn't seem to do it with a load on it, only in park or neutral. Plugs are gapped correctly. Maybe I'll pull the boots and reseat them.
04-09-2014, 08:11 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
So I disconnected the battery and did a PCM reset. The idle smoothed out quite a bit. I am actually noticing better fuel economy already and I've been laying into the gas pedal a lot today--definitely feels like it has more get up and go to it without major delays. Will update after I get a few hundred kilometers on the truck......
04-10-2014, 10:52 AM
#6
I pulled a couple of plugs yesterday and found them around .040" as well in my 2012. I re-gapped them since I needed to get on the road to go camping, but I'll probably be swapping mine out as well.
To date, I've never had any issues, aside from a very slight roughness when pulling my trailer up hills. I only noticed that the first time I took my camper for the first time this year last month, and my truck just turned over 30,000 miles last week.
To date, I've never had any issues, aside from a very slight roughness when pulling my trailer up hills. I only noticed that the first time I took my camper for the first time this year last month, and my truck just turned over 30,000 miles last week.
04-10-2014, 11:03 AM
#7
Boost :)
I pulled a couple of plugs yesterday and found them around .040" as well in my 2012. I re-gapped them since I needed to get on the road to go camping, but I'll probably be swapping mine out as well.
To date, I've never had any issues, aside from a very slight roughness when pulling my trailer up hills. I only noticed that the first time I took my camper for the first time this year last month, and my truck just turned over 30,000 miles last week.
To date, I've never had any issues, aside from a very slight roughness when pulling my trailer up hills. I only noticed that the first time I took my camper for the first time this year last month, and my truck just turned over 30,000 miles last week.
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04-10-2014, 02:35 PM
#9
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Also, when you change the plugs, I recommend resetting the pcm as suggested previously in this thread. I unplugged the negative battery terminal, wait about 10 min. Reconnect. Then before your start the truck, turn the key to the ON postion first--make sure nothing is running, ie radio, air, etc.. Wait about 10 or seconds-you will hear the electronic throttle body cycle back and forth. Once you don't hear it anymore, then start the truck, allow it to idle for 10 minutes. Then drive it easily to allow the transmission to relearn and you should be good to go. My idle is much smoother now......
A lot of the above I learned from this thread, other posts on the forum, and especially FordTechMakuloco on Youtube. Thanks!
Last edited by johnt2_2002; 04-10-2014 at 02:43 PM.
The following 2 users liked this post by johnt2_2002:
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04-12-2014, 02:50 PM
#10
Changed my plugs today. It's a 2012 built in June of 2012. I was disappointed to find it had SP-534 in it that were gapped around .035. The new one's are at .030. I also changed the air filter while I was in there. The truck has 23800 miles on it. I disconnected the battery and it does seem to idle better. Time will tell if my mileage changes for the better.
Jeff
Jeff