Just replaced my plugs with 78,000 km's on the truck. Not sure what the deal is, but the turbo sounds louder now. Don't feel any increase in power or anything.

 

Not sure but it seemed normal to me because I'm used to frequent plug changes on my V6 turbo Grand National.


Maybe they won't be so hard on plugs now that they finally settled on a gap. On my early build 2011 the plugs came gapped at .035 Then I think at a later date they started gapping them at .032 On my 2014 they came gapped at .030 Now the latest TSB (14-0180) calls for .028 gap.

 

The higher the combustion pressure is the harder it is for a spark to jump the gap. A couple thousand volts will easily jump over an inch at atmospheric pressure, but it takes much more than that at several hundred psi.


I don't buy any turbo engines and I have easily taken plugs to over 100K several times. I just took them to 135K in my 5.4L work truck that does not see any easy use. It sees a lot of highway and quite a few days idling all day long with the A/C on high.

 

I asked about changing my plugs early and was told it was a waste of money unless there is a drive ability problem.

 

Probably is a waste of money if you don't DIY and you have no drivability problems because it will probably runya about $200 for someone else to change them. But for a DIYer or someone that is **** about their vehicles like me I want my plugs gapped to Fords latest specs so I would remove them and re-gap them down from .035 to .028-.030 because it is a free mod. Worst case scenario... if the plugs look bad it would only cost $28 to change them yourself. But to some people a vehicle is just transportation and to others it's a hobby/passion. Those people usually mod their vehicles to look and perform better than stock. Others just drive them and do required maintenance when it's required.

 

Actually...worst case scenario would be weakening the metal on the ground strap and having it break off in your engine. That would set you back $10K.

Sure it's highly unlikely, but you brought up worst case scenario.

 

About as likely as falling off your step stool while changing plugs and cracking your head open.