Changed spark plugs 5.4 3V @ 52k miles - pics
 

I don't spend a lot of time on the site - usually on SVTPerformance, but I do lurk, so I wanted to share this and maybe help others. I am a planner and this site and others helped me get the right tools together to do this.

Fast foward to the end 8/8 came out - all intact without issue. Here is what I did, YMMV.

Stone cold motor - it sat for 36 hours before attempting. I had a brand new Lisle tool at the ready.

Did the passenger side first, since it looked to be the harder of the two sides to reach the back two plugs.

I pulled all the coil packs and used PB Blaster in each hole(I know every one here says Kroil, but PB Blaster has not failed me yet). To get the oil in the holes without making a mess, I used a 2 foot section of fuel line to direct the oil into each plug hole.

Here is where it got interesting. I was going to back each plug out an 1/8-1/4 turn to let the oil do its job. I used a 24" torque wrench (on purpose) to break the first one open and I just kept wrenching - and the plug kept coming. I used the torque wrench, as my mind kept saying don't puss it with just a socket wrench. I used a magnetized extender to get the plugs the rest of the way out of the hole. I replaced the plugs with 1pc double platinum Champions (Rock Auto). I found an air socket wrench helpful in getting the back two out of the passenger side after the initial break free.

The PB Blaster only sat in the holes for 10-15 minutes and the plugs kept coming. I blew compressed air into each cylinder to get excesss PB Blaster out of the combustion chamber. The oil makes the carbon and varnish on teh plugs turn into a gooey mess, but it frees them. I will also say that at startup, the PB Blaster will mosquito fog your neighborhood for about 20-30 seconds. For the record, I used no Techron or Seafoam, etc. in an attempt to decarbonize in advance.

She runs like a champ - lets see if I like these Champion plugs (interwebz give them mixed reviews, but I put 150 mile on it since changing and no concerns so far)

Anybody want to buy an unused Lisle tool cheap?:p

Here are the pics:
Passenger side plugs
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0077.jpg
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0076.jpg
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0075.jpg

New plugs
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0074.jpg

Driver's side w/ torque wrench
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0061.jpg
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0064.jpg
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0065.jpg

PB Blaster in hole
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0069.jpg

Daily driver and Corvette-owner "embarasser" (wife's car is the Expy}>)
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0068.jpg

Driver's side plugs
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0071.jpg
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0072.jpg
http://i707.photobucket.com/albums/w...s/DSC_0073.jpg

Thanks to everyone on this forum for their ideas and contributions.
:-jammin

Wow, those plugs look like crap?

How/what do you run in the expy for fuel/oil etc?

oil has only ever been Mobil 1 5w20.

Gas is either Hess or Shell. Honestly, the PB Blastet makes the plugs look worse as it causes the carbon to goo up and spread out. I was expecting much worse. Taking my time, it only took me 2 hours to do everything.

Did you use anti-seize on the new plugs? I recently did mine but I used Motorcraft plugs because I heard Champion has issues with mis-firing after a awhile.

Let us know after you put on a couple of thousand miles how the plugs are running. I would like to replace mine with a single-piece plug and forget about them for 100k.

Thanks for the post!

BTW: My plugs looked the same and they only had 36K. I also used PB blaster and let them sit for 10-15 before yanking them

Absolutely used anti seize on the new plugs. If I have any issue, I can always go back to Motorcraft since the dry factory ones are out now. Will keep people posted on how the Champions work.

I wonder if using Seafoam in the gas prior to spark plug remove would have reduced or eliminated the carbon on the spark plug?

In need to tools to change spark plugs cheap
 

D-Rock, I see you are in FL. I am in Palm Bay (32907) and in need of all pieces needed to change the spark plugs before proceeding. Are you serious about selling your Lisle tool? I have an 08 Expe with 50000 miles and didn't realize when trading in the 00 Expe (w/ 125000 miles) that I was getting a bigger POS as far as spark plug problems with the 08 expe.
Thanks.
G Wells

hesitates when going from a stop
 

It hesitates when starting from a stop. Similiar problem with my 00 expe 4.6L and I believe that changing the spark plugs fixed that issue. Thought it would be a simple matter until I couldn't get my standard spark plug sockets I've been using for 20+ years to fit. I guess it is luck that it didn't after searching on it in the forums. I will have all tools needed to replace/repair in support of the spark plug change before starting. We just bought the 08 expe a few months ago to replace the 00 expe with 125000 and a thrown spark plug. Didn't realize that we where getting into another mess with the 08. I checked the head and it is dated 10/26/07. What luck!!! another few days and the revision was implemented.

Hey D-Rock,
How are the Champions working so far?

Thanks for the great write-up and photos... great looking daily driver too!

My Navigator is closing in on 50,000, so this is very timely for me and I'm sure many others too.

Cheers,
Greg