It appears I will be changing out the plugs on my 5.4 SD this weekend myself. Gator Ford wants 385.00 for 8 plugs and labor. I have never changed the plugs on this truck, it can't be that hard to do. or is it? Can some one steer me in the right direction and give me a walkthrough? I would think you pull the fuel rails then the coils then blamo you pull the plug? Or am I missing a step or two? Thanks in advance.

 

When I did my Crown vic with the COP's....first I did them one at a time, tried to ensure that all loose dirt was sprayed away, loosen the boot that covers the plug. You may end up destroying them so be prepared to buy new.

Then I sprayed a little WD-40 in the hole for a few minutes. Then took them out. I have heard of a few people breaking them because they are in there for such a long period of time. Guess I got lucky.

So just make sure the hole is clean before you take them out.

I also had a vacume hose handy that I could insert in the hole and grab the plug for the few that dropped in the hole when the plugs fell out of the socket..

Hope that helps some.

 

Many of us have had good and bad luck with the plug changes. Depending if you have the 3 valve motor or not may depend on your luck. Here are a couple of posts you can read that more specific to the 3 valve motor. You show a 97 F250 so if thats what your changing them in i don't think you will have a problem but can't see why Ford would charge that much for the 97.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...ml#post7526675


If you read thread #6 it lists the TSB again for the 3V motor.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...-question.html

 

Thanks guys, I will check it out.

 

Don't pull the fuel rails. Just the COPs and whatever small items you deem to be in the way. As stated above, blow each hole out with air before you remove the plug. Not a hard job at all. Might want to consider getting new plug boots and using dielectric grease on them.

 

On the boots too or just the plugs?

 

on the boots.

 

Dielectric grease on the tips of the boots where they meet the plugs, the top where they seal to the COP and around the seal area where it seals to the head. This will keep moisture out of the plug holes.

Other than that, $385 doesn't sound all that bad.

 

Dielectric grease on the tips of the boots where they meet the plugs, the top where they seal to the COP and around the seal area where it seals to the head. This will keep moisture out of the plug holes.

Other than that, $385 doesn't sound all that bad.

 

Here's my thread on the plug change. Actually, the plug change starts on page 2, but still good reading.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...gas-smell.html

 

You may have to remove a fuel rail, power steering pump reservoir bracket, and starter solenoid bracket.

Our new Ford COP’s, the Sultans of Spark(S.O.S.), have
been designed with both durability and performance in mind.
Please see them at:

http://www.performancedistributors.com/soscoils.htm

Quality was the main feature we stressed when we went to the
drawing board on these coils.
By the way, for those of you who only need to replace a defective coil,
our SOS Coils are available separately.