Sucessful Plug Change
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
There is a youtube video a guy posted up on another forum if I could find it I'd give you the link. He shows you how to do it with an impact, removes all 8, even the back. The back isn't bad with the right tools, besides my impact is fairly small.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 4
From: On a farm.
Thanks. Very interesting. I'd still wonder whether the the plugs on this or any other engine would have come out the other way. Doubting Thomas that I am, I'd do one by alternatively doing on the regularly and another with the impact and collect more data. No matter what, the impact sure saves a lot of exercise and if the odds are equal as to breakage, why not make it as easy as possible!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
Thanks. Very interesting. I'd still wonder whether the the plugs on this or any other engine would have come out the other way. Doubting Thomas that I am, I'd do one by alternatively doing on the regularly and another with the impact and collect more data. No matter what, the impact sure saves a lot of exercise and if the odds are equal as to breakage, why not make it as easy as possible!
The guy who did my phasers told me about it, and I tried it on a buddies one day in his garage, he had 110k on his, none broke. The impact vibrates enough of the carbon off before it comes out. I am not sure of the exact science behind it, but my guess is it doesn't get time to break, or else its the vibration.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
I've had bolts as I'm sure many of us have that are real bears to get out and when you put the impact on them it's like wow that was really easy why didn't I use that before! The design of the impact which has vibration and of course impact sometimes can be the difference between day and night. I do admire your ***** for using the impact on the spark plugs. I'm sorry to say I just can't get myself to do it. If you ruin the threads on an old rusty bolt you just put in a new one. Obviously it would be a nightmare if this happens to the threads in your head. Although I haven't read of anybody doing this yet so far nothing but positive results. Good luck to those brave souls who do it, but I've got to get alot more positive input before I put my impact on a plug. Just my 2 cents of course.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 4
From: On a farm.
Not doubting your word, Chris, and I understand the potential behind it. It's just that a few people doing something and having success doesn't mean that if 100,000 people did it that 88,000 would be successful. Do a few hundred more with the same success.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
The guy in this area has done more then a hundred successfully. If you PM me I'd give you his number. Its either him or the dealership. We live in a town no bigger then 27k people, he works on diesels mainly. He was the only guy in this area reasonably besides (Indiana) that didn't want an arm an a leg for cam phasers, and in this area no one will touch a 5.4L 3V engine, not even the plugs portion of it, with the exception of the ford dealer on the strip. He does it cheap, and quick. He can usually do it with you sitting there. Guy is excellent at getting the plugs out and only uses the impact.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
Henderson, Kentucky. Right across the bridge from Evansville. Bo Jones is the guy's name. I can get you his number, hes cheap and guarantees no breaks but he has the tool should one ever break.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
You're saying Bo has done over a hundred trucks that have this problem? That would be over 800 plugs without ever breaking one! That doesn't seem possible when it's rare that somebody can get all 8 out using hand tools without breaking any. The odds on this seem pretty long to me. Maybe you should give Ford this guys number and they can put out a new TSB and recommend the impact wrench, it would make them look like geniuses. I'm sure they would send a tech out right away to put this problem to bed, it would do wonders for their reputation.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 559
Likes: 4
From: On a farm.
Well, I've expressed my doubt about this procedure even while hoping it's true. THis whole spark plug thing is a crap sandwich from Ford and Autolite and some techs are adding even more poo when they take advantage of the hysteria to make money. I would applaud anyone like Bo who will find a way to do it fairly and more cheaply. It's just hard, based on what I know, to accept that 800 plugs came out intact with this method. It's one of those times when I have to say "I reserve judgement" and hope nobody is insulted... because I intend no insult to anyone. It's kinda like asking whether I believe in aliens. Man, I just ain't seen 'em yet!
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
You're saying Bo has done over a hundred trucks that have this problem? That would be over 800 plugs without ever breaking one! That doesn't seem possible when it's rare that somebody can get all 8 out using hand tools without breaking any. The odds on this seem pretty long to me. Maybe you should give Ford this guys number and they can put out a new TSB and recommend the impact wrench, it would make them look like geniuses. I'm sure they would send a tech out right away to put this problem to bed, it would do wonders for their reputation.
Why would Ford take this guys advice? The mechanic at the dealership that told him about this does this anyway. Most dealerships have a certain way to do stuff. Ford makes a killing off this, because 9x out of 10 the plugs break. They charge you a additional half hour labor per broken plug, and make a killing...
Ford is not going to change the TSB. I am just telling you what works. Hes been changing plugs on these trucks for a bit. He did my cam phasers, lash adjusters for 850 bucks, I supplied the parts which was an 811 dollars total. Ford wanted 2600 to do all of what he did, which I had the tensioners replaced, and the VCT Solenoid sensors... He did this in two days. He works on Powerstrokes mainly for a living, but hes got a good reputation around these parts for the plug changes. Also on this forum it seems people are a bit freaked out about the whole method I am referring to, but on another F150 forum this method is not new, and several people from different states claim to use this same very method without issue.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 136
Likes: 0
My intent certainly is not to insult anyone or even question their integrity. The purpose of these forums are to share information for the better of it's users. If this method works as good as you claim and everyone is entitled of course to their opinion I am glad to hear it. The theory is sound I personally would not do it and hope that someone who is inexperienced doesn't think this is the bomb and get themselves in over their heads. For most people I still think hand tools are less risky for this particular job. I don't want anybody to take offense but like to post my opinion so others can make their own judgement.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 377
Likes: 0
From: Henderson, KY
My intent certainly is not to insult anyone or even question their integrity. The purpose of these forums are to share information for the better of it's users. If this method works as good as you claim and everyone is entitled of course to their opinion I am glad to hear it. The theory is sound I personally would not do it and hope that someone who is inexperienced doesn't think this is the bomb and get themselves in over their heads. For most people I still think hand tools are less risky for this particular job. I don't want anybody to take offense but like to post my opinion so others can make their own judgement.
This is a big job, it takes a lot of time. When I had my plugs done a cousin of mine who had the tools did them. He broke 7 out of 8 plugs, they had 133k on them. Someone who has never dealt with this before should try this, and I do know a guy who attempted changing his plugs and the ford dealership ended up with the truck, the tool was no good, they ended up removing the head to get the plug out, cost quiet a bit of money.