My 2021 7.3 gas 450 was misfiring cylinder 2. 16k miles so still under warranty, but after being unable to get a reasonable appointment with the dealership I decided to just buy a spark plug wire from them and try swapping it out. I saw a number of videos and comments online about these wires failing. Apparently heat from the exhaust manifold fries them? And voila! Problem fixed.

Kind of ****ty that ford hasn't worked out this problem and issued a part recall. I had to pay them $50 for a part that I know is inherently faulty.

Aslo everyone I talked to suggested that it was because I am hualing my camper on it. I'm only using about 1/2 of the almost 4.5 ton payload capacity on this DWR long chassis F450. I have no idea why anyone would buy this truck if they weren't hualing heavy weight. I asked them, if this truck wasn't built to hual a 4,000 lb camper what Ford truck should I have bought? Maybe the silverado? Or a Ram? It's not like I'm towing a a15,000lb 5th wheel camper. I'm not putting 1/2 the load on this engine that it should be designed for given this trucks towing capacity.

But apart from bitching about ford's engineering and customer service choices, I am wondering if anyone has replaced their spark wires with after market ones that don't regularly fail.

I'm seeing a few online, https://www.ultrarvproducts.com/SPWEX73L-UltraPower-Ford-73L-Godzilla-Extreme-Magnum-Spark-Plug-Wires?language=en&currency=USD

Or for much cheaper : https://www.amazon.com/Massive-XERAMIK-Compatible-Performance-Resistance/dp/B09ZS2ZD2X

Anyone tried either of these?

 

My 21 hasn't had an issue "yet" with plug wires. I did change the plugs 15k or so miles ago and looked the wires over and they appeared to be in good shape. Probably at the next plug change I swap all the wires out and keep as spares incase or if one starts to act up sooner just change them all out then.

 

For what its worth my faulty wire did not show any visual signs of damage, but it was definitely faulty. Hualed the camper over the continental divide yesterday and drove it pretty fast to test the new part out. No problems.

I definitely recomend all 7.3 owners carry at least one spare spark wire so they don't get stranded like I almost did. Luckily I was able to limp home the other night, but definitely not a fun drive up i70. I'm operating on the assumption that these wires could go at any moment.

 

You are right and it probably wouldn't hurt to have a spare seeing sometimes I'm in remote areas. I'm sure as Mr. Murphy is a sneaky sob it would happen on a weekend furthest place away from civilization.

 

IIRC, there is a severe duty replacement available...don't know the part number.

 

Picture is from another thread on here.

 

What oil do you use? OCI’s? Is it burning oil? Is it low or high on the dipstick?

Probably has nothing to do with it, but just curious.

 

Interesting. Are you sure the wires were bad? Or maybe one or two were loose and then when you installed the new wires you made the connections correct?

 

WR-6163 or LC3Z-12286-A was a pickup version I guess they don't get these anymore? Wires have LB at the end of the part number on the wire.

WR-6164 or LC3Z-12286-B Wires being installed from the factory currently. There's been at least 1 update to them. Wires have MB at the end of the part number printed on wires.

WR-6167 or LC3Z-12286-C are the F53/some C&C and have a JB at the end of the part number printed on the wires.

There is also a D version I cant find info about.

Original design

Revised truck wires

F53 updated wires

Difference between B(WR-6164) wires on the bottom and C(WR-6167) wires on the top.

 

I dont remember exactly what I put in it, full synthetic (hopefully its not crystallizing and damaging my lifters!) Haven't noticed any oil burning and I'm almost due to change it.

 

Pretty sure. I checked the connection before replacing it. Took it off and put it back on to no effect.

 

Looks like I got the "D" version my the dealer here. Part number LC3Z*12286*D good to know it has been updated, I guess I didn't compare the two that closely when I swapped them.

 

The wires that fail apparently fail internally and the TSB says Ford should change all 8 at the same time. There have been at least 2 revisions of the truck wires and at least 2 revisions to the motorhome/RV wires.

 

Rockauto.com lists WR-6170 for the 2022 pickup. I'm assuming this is the "D" version you purchased. It says they are capatible with the "A" and "B" versions previously installed on the trucks. They are just under $20/each.

 

Motorcraft says the expected life of the OEM wires is 10years/150k miles