changed my spark plugs today (V6)
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 12
From: Ford, WA
changed my spark plugs today (V6)
after 126+K i figured, ehh... time to change the orig. spark plugs.. i had been putting it off because it looked like a PITA..engine has had a slight miss every now and then and MPG has been pretty bad lately..
after looking under the hood and thinking "oh hell no".. i studied the tech article on here and i was surprised at how easy it actually was to get the intake plenum off.. took maybe 45 min to remove it.. and about 20 min to re-install it..put in 6 fresh new autolite double platinums..the escape runs like a champ now. the old plugs were pretty bad.. not really dirty, but the gap was huge..i'm not letting it go that long ever again..
if anyone is putting off a tune up because of the work involved getting the plenum off, stop. it's easier than you think.
after looking under the hood and thinking "oh hell no".. i studied the tech article on here and i was surprised at how easy it actually was to get the intake plenum off.. took maybe 45 min to remove it.. and about 20 min to re-install it..put in 6 fresh new autolite double platinums..the escape runs like a champ now. the old plugs were pretty bad.. not really dirty, but the gap was huge..i'm not letting it go that long ever again..
if anyone is putting off a tune up because of the work involved getting the plenum off, stop. it's easier than you think.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
scndsin, don't put it off too long, as you may end up damaging the COP or the computer. If the gap is large enough, and you get the right circumstance, they may be damaged by, I think, back EMF. I have seen pictures on another site of both the coil top getting cracked and parts blown off and the driver transistor exploded on the computer circuit board. Whether or not an excessive gap did it, I cannot guarantee, but when the juice is cut off to the individual coil, the field collapses and generates a hi-voltage lo-amperage pulse of electricity. It will find its way to ground, and if the easiest way is through the coil body or the ECM transistor, it will still go there.
tom
tom
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
mebe2k, I think there are diodes in the circuit, but have seen the pictures. I think there may have been failures that left the diodes shorted, and that doesn't do a lot of good.
There are too many COP failures reported on the web to ignore the fact that they are a potential weak point in the 3.0l v6. My personal feeling, not based on any fact, is that the 100k mileage life on the plugs is NOT a good service interval. I think the plugs get 'seated' into the threads on the head, and don't want to let go after that much time. By 100k no one expects the mfg to do anything, and it 'runs ok', so why not recommend that mileage for plug life? Only those that expect a vehicle to last longer, or those that don't trade when the ashtray gets full... ha/ha/ha/... will be affected.
So, I should be out in the garage changing the plugs.. but I'm not. I will be, and have several K before I reach 100...
tom
There are too many COP failures reported on the web to ignore the fact that they are a potential weak point in the 3.0l v6. My personal feeling, not based on any fact, is that the 100k mileage life on the plugs is NOT a good service interval. I think the plugs get 'seated' into the threads on the head, and don't want to let go after that much time. By 100k no one expects the mfg to do anything, and it 'runs ok', so why not recommend that mileage for plug life? Only those that expect a vehicle to last longer, or those that don't trade when the ashtray gets full... ha/ha/ha/... will be affected.
So, I should be out in the garage changing the plugs.. but I'm not. I will be, and have several K before I reach 100...
tom
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 12
From: Ford, WA
The plugs did come out fairly easy.. but they did put up a small fight on the first turn.. i agree.. if you leave them in too long they will probably weld themselves in.also the COP boots will fuse to the spark plugs and you will have to destroy them to get them off..i had one on cyl #5 that was a pain too pull off...
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,534
Likes: 2
From: Warren, MI
I believe they suggest using a bit of dielectric grease on the inside of the boots which may help the next time you change your plugs or need to remove the COP.
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