Good evening everyone. It's about time for me to replace the spark plugs in my Ranger for the first time ever, and I was wondering how easy or difficult it is to do. My Ranger is a 2007 with the 4.0L V6 SOHC. Thanks for help.

 

We'll include you in our prayers...

 

Those that have done a spark plug change on the SHOC 4.0L, say its easier to take the time remove the front wheels & splash shield & access the plugs through the wheel well, thus avoiding all the in the way upper under hood plumbing.

The specified fine wire iridium enhanced center electrode, with platinum pad side wire design Motorcraft plugs & Motorcraft plug wires are recommended, as they are of good quality, the right heat range & built to take the Double work load our "waste spark" ignition system puts on them.

Consider using a Wire gauge to check/set/ slowly ease up on the spark gap, to the Low side of spec. As the fine wire center electrode & platinum pad can be damaged if we try to pull the gauge through too tight a gap, go slow & ease up on the desired gap.
As the spark gap is always getting larger with time, being set to the Low side, it'll stay in spec longer & being smaller will yield a hotter spark kernel that'll help get us going faster on cold soak winter starts.

I also use a small dab of Permatex high temp nickel anti-sieze on the plug threads & torque them in to the Low side of spec, to allow for the anti-sieze lube effect.
Then butter on a light coat of high quality Permatex/Loctite, DowCorning, or GE silicone di-electric grease onto the clean plug external ceramic & inside the plug wire boots on both ends, to help prevent flash over on those wet/dewy morning starts or rainy day drive cycles. It'll also help prevent the plug boot baking onto the plug, so make removal easier next time.
If you also replace the plug wires, make sure to route them exactly as the factory had them, using all the wire looms & stand offs.
A bunch of plug changing thoughts for consideration, let us know how it goes.

 

I have a confession to make. I had bought a set of MC plug wires a while back and last week decided to knock them out on my 2009. I hadn't worked on anything like that in a long time. I raised the hood and figured "do the difficult side first". Shheeit...! Can't even hardly get my hand in there, ya gots to be a contortionist. And those ... clips. Jeeze Louise. Yes, I'm officially worthless now.

PawPaw, I think what I'll do, is try again during tire rotation and go through the side as suggested.

 

OK, when you get back at it, let us know how going at changing the spark plugs through the wheel well goes for you.

 

Not plugs, just the wires. Yeah will do.