2003 Sd spark plug question
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Joined: Feb 2011
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If you are worried about doing it you can see if these guys are in your area anytime soon and have Dave or Rick do the swap. They guarantee their work too. Blownoutsparkplug.com Ford Spark Plug Thread Repair
Post Fiend
Joined: Aug 2010
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From: Manchester, CT
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 161
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From: ohio
you should look at the door jamb of your truck and see when the build date was. Half way through the 2003 model year they added more threads in the head for the spark plug. I torq'd mine to 24 ft. lbs. (reading numerous threads on this forum stated anywhere from 14 clear up to 28 ft. lbs. and I believe that the blownoutsparkplug guys are the ones that torque the plugs @ 28 ft. lbs.) The first time I changed them on my truck it took me about 2 or 3 hours being very careful and inspecting things. the second time took me less than an hour.
What you need to do is go to autozone and get their motorcraft plugs b/c they're like 1/3 of the price that the ford dealer wants for them. Then you will want a universal joint and several extensions along with a real 5/8ths spark plug socket (has rubber boot in it to "hold onto" the spark plug). Then you will need either a 1/4 inch drive set with a universal and a 7mm socker or a 7 mm wrench to get the cop's off. After the cop's are off you need to use your air compressor and a blow gun and try and blow out any debris that has settled in around your spark plugs. You may need to use a screw driver to break some of it up (I did). Then when you go to put the spark plug in, put a little bit of the silver colored anti-seize on the threads (remember, I said a little....more is not better) and make sure that you torque the plugs. Use dielectric grease on the boots, install cop's. And then you get to move onto the next.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEBMER IS TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN BEFORE YOU CHANGE THE PLUGS. THE CHANCE OF STRIPPING OUT THE THREADS WHILE REMOVING THE PLUG IS MUCH HIGHER DUE TO THE ALUMINUM HEAD/METAL SPARK PLUGS.
hope this helped a little bit.
What you need to do is go to autozone and get their motorcraft plugs b/c they're like 1/3 of the price that the ford dealer wants for them. Then you will want a universal joint and several extensions along with a real 5/8ths spark plug socket (has rubber boot in it to "hold onto" the spark plug). Then you will need either a 1/4 inch drive set with a universal and a 7mm socker or a 7 mm wrench to get the cop's off. After the cop's are off you need to use your air compressor and a blow gun and try and blow out any debris that has settled in around your spark plugs. You may need to use a screw driver to break some of it up (I did). Then when you go to put the spark plug in, put a little bit of the silver colored anti-seize on the threads (remember, I said a little....more is not better) and make sure that you torque the plugs. Use dielectric grease on the boots, install cop's. And then you get to move onto the next.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEBMER IS TO LET THE ENGINE COOL DOWN BEFORE YOU CHANGE THE PLUGS. THE CHANCE OF STRIPPING OUT THE THREADS WHILE REMOVING THE PLUG IS MUCH HIGHER DUE TO THE ALUMINUM HEAD/METAL SPARK PLUGS.
hope this helped a little bit.
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Fordenthu
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Dec 11, 2014 03:44 PM
