Hey guys-if you've got a 3V,and have 50K+ miles on it-you really needs to get those spark plugs changed. I've been a bit concerned with mine since I got it considering how these 3V's spark plugs like to break on removal. I changed mine yesterday,and I'm glad I did. They were ALL very difficult to get out even using Kroil to soak the carbon deposits after breaking them loose. Sounded like cracking porcelain/glass all the way out-I was really uneasy about it them entire time I was working on it. The gaps were terrible too-the replacements had a .045" gap,and the plugs I pulled all had a .075-.080" gap,with a worn groove at the top of the ground strap. My truch has 57K miles on it now,and there's no way I'd ever let these plugs go past 50K miles again-the risk of plugs seizing to the head and the quick gap erosion has me planning plug changes every 30K miles or so now. I didn't have any of them break off on me,but two of them(#5 and #8) were very tight and were loose in the middle like they were about to break when I got them out.
JL

 

I've heard some horror stories about those kind of plugs...

Thanks for posting it up!

 

Thanks for the info. Since I'm really lacking in knowledge of the Ford 6.8 V10, does the 3v eat plugs faster than the 2v? On the 2v I bought a month or so ago I was pleasantly surprised to find that the plugs had just been changed after removing one and inspecting it. Anyway, I was under the impression that the plugs were supposed to be good for 100k. I assume that isn't true?

 

There's no way I'd ever run plugs for 100K miles. I've seen gap degradation that will cause poor efficiency (read economy,power) in less than 50K miles with even the best "high-mileage" whiz-bang plugs made. IMO-it's just a ploy by the manufacturers to be a selling point.
JL

 

GREAT write up! It's so important for the folks of FTE to post info like this...makes living with a V10 3v that much easier. OBTW: What is the OEM spark plug gap supposed to be on the 3v'er???

Rep points on the way!


biz

 

How long did it take to change all 10 plugs?
~Gage~

 

Stock gap spec is .045" according to every piece of literature I've seen,and mine were dead-on right out of the box.
JL

 

Took me almost 2 hours,but I spent alot of time staring at the engine while the Kroil soaked in.
JL

 

Yeah...I went and read it from the '08 F250 Owner's Manual on page 387. Here is the quote...

Guess they cannot be adjusted based on the new design of the spark plugs. Interesting none the less.


biz

 

I hate to tell them-it can be adjusted...it just isn't easy.
JL

 

Here here!

Good to hear about the 3V - not many people have even looked at them yet

 

They are adjustable, although they are not ment to be. There is a special tool available to make it easier.

I gap my Mustang plugs at .030 with no problems.


Might be a good time for Art to repost those couple of photo's I sent you a while back, if you still have them.

 

2 hours is not bad at all, someone told me that on my 2000 Expedition V8 would take at least 6hrs. I dont know if this is true but it seems kinda long.
~Gage~

 

Those are easy....just over an hour on all of the ones I've done. The worst are the Expys with rear heat/AC-the heater hoses tee off to feed the rear in the worst of places.
JL

 

54k on my 05 when I changed them and it took about 2 hours as well. The gap on mine were way out to lunch as well like Johnny mentioned. Mine came out easy but did have a rust looking material all over the extension part. Aluminum head and ss plugs, not sure what the redish colored crud was on them but wipe right off in a dry powdery way. Tips were nice and clean.

Kevin, 05 250 SD, XLT Sport V10, 4x2, 4.10, CC, Torqueshift towing the #63 CMC Mustang