Ok, finished the last four plugs during my son's nap today. Gaps were 0.084, 0.084, 0.074, and 0.085. Bigpigdaddy - I followed a variation on your suggestion and used the house vacuum (just about gave my wife a heart attack when she saw me pull out the vacuum. I guess she thought I might actually start cleaning the house ) with one of the old plug boots and a length of clear tube I use for bleeding brakes. Bond it all together with - wait for it - duct tape, and voila, little pebbles were history.

The rest of it went pretty straight forward. Haven't taken the truck for a drive yet so no celebrating yet, but that will happen this afternoon.

One question: should I disconnect the battery for a while so that the computer can relearn or is that even necessary when the plugs are changed? Thanks.

 

There really isn't any need to unplug the battery. The truck will "relearn" just fine without doing so. You may want to hint to the wife you want an air compressor for your Bday, Xmas and etc. They are very useful and you don't get the stink eye from highjacking the wifes vacuum.

 

You're right there. I've had the compressor on my list for awhile.

Drove the truck and ran the same as always. I'm looking forward to seeing what kind of mileage comes with the next tankful.

For the record, I gapped the plugs to .052-0.054 and torqued them to 145 inch pounds and did not use anti-seize.

 

Man, I just had my plugs changed today and after I got the truck back, I noticed the plug holes were still full of dirt and debris (former ranch truck). Then I inspected the old plugs and the threads were full of dirt and debris as well. I just hope none of that junk made it into the motor. As the saying goes.... "If you want it done right, do it yourself".

 

I hear you. I was using a chopstick in the plug hole to break up the built up dirt and then blowing it out. Didn't get all of it but the stuff that was left was so caked on that I was sure it wouldn't fall in when I pulled the plug.

The only cylinders I'm not sure about are the back two passengers. I looked in there the best I could with one of my wife's hand held makeup mirrors (cue strange wife looks again) but I couldn't see much. All I can hope for is that the dirt had as hard a time getting into those holes as I did.

 

Thought I'd update this thread as I just ran through enough fuel to calculate fuel economy numbers.

409.1 km and 89.45 liters to fill. Calculated works out to 21.865 liters/100km or 10.76mpg.

I would say this is a .5 - 1 mpg improvement. This is a mix of city and freeway (probably 50/50) but where I live, there is no such thing as flat. West Vancouver where I do most of my driving is built on the side of mountains bordering the ocean and you are only ever driving uphill or downhill, often at grades exceeding 10%.

It's only one tank but I'm hoping it means the plug change has helped.

 

Well, I now have 97,xxx miles on my 2008 and know I will have to get the plugs changed soon. Darn engine is running mighty fine and I am reluctant to do this, but I also don't want a burnt piston from an over-gaped plug either. There is a Mexican auto service outfit next to where I am working and I am thinking if I threaten them with deportation, they will change my plugs the way I want them. My wife speaks Spanish, so I am going to have her tell them the deal. Should I buy the Motorcraft plugs from Ford at $28 each?

Pap

 

BC thanks for your update-----always nice to know the results of something like this!

Even though the owner's manual suggests plugs can go 100K miles or its best to change them at 50K---I've rarely seen any plug able to last for 100K miles without a loss of performance or gas mileage. My bigger concern would be plug removal would incur so much of what we hear here almost daily. Hope whoever does this is well versed in working with Ford's modular motors especially spark plug procedures and potentail issues.

If you can't or don't trust any one mechanic might be best to simply avoid them altogehter. If these "mexicans" are legal immigrants your threats could aggravate them and your finished work suffer as a result. Of course they could just refuse the work too which would end their potential for dealing with a cranky, dissatisfied customer who is suspicous of them from the beginning.

As is stated so very often in these forums about spark plugs the best solution seems to be doing it oneself because only then do we really really know what was done. If that's out of the question then the hardest work is finding a suitable, reliable, honest and trustworthy mechanic who is well versed in whatever repair you need. Asking questions before leaving your vehicle with them instead of arguing after its done is the better course here.

If you have the Ford spec'd Motor Craft part number Google search for the lowest price. Rock Auto is mentioned quite often here so that would be a good place to start. I myself get fair enough pricing from several local Ford dealers which makes it convenient for me.

 

I bought mine from Pep Boys for under $5 each. Walmart has Autolites for a little over $2 a piece. I didn't shop around back then, but now I know...

 

Just did a 200km run over the flattest highway you're going to find in southwest BC (highway #1 Vancouver to Chilliwack and back). Drove out empty and doing 105 kmph (65 mph) on cruise, and came back same speeds loaded to the roof of the canopy with a full load of 2 year old maple firewood. Filled up just before I drove onto the highway and filled up right after I got off at the same gas station. Mileage was 12.54 mpg, 18.76 liters per 100km. Unfortunately I don't really know if that's better than before or not, but doesn't seem that bad given that half of the trip she was loaded down with a fair bit of weight.

I'm contemplating picking up another load of the same wood later in the month, and I'll try and get the MAF cleaned before that run to compare notes.