All new plugs and wires installed yesterday. Not too bad of a job, but you're working blind on a few of the plugs. Manual calls for working on a non-heat or cold soaked engine or you risked damage to the engine, but just moving the truck into place got it warm enough that I felt safe enough to do the plugs. Went in through the passenger's side wheel well, and from the top on the driver's side. Old plugs look pretty normal.

 

You took the wheel well liner out to do the plug change on the passenger side?

Both sides can easily be done from above. Just the 2 passenger side rears are done by feel which was still easily done.

I just used a bungee to hold the hoses over while doing those 2 back ones.

 

I did, but it only took an extra 10 min to get the liner out, plus I could see what I was doing there... didn't really have anything to do with those hoses. That and much easier on my back and neck with 8 herniated discs. The driver's side seemed to go quicker, but since I don't have Shaquille O'Neal arms, was much more "uncomfortable."

In another 50k, I'd probably do it the same way again. Idles way better now. Super smooth.

P.S. Still need to check the TB.

 

Looking like I’ll be doing plugs soon.

Leaving a job site yesterday, ramp to highway up the hill. Hammer down, 5.8k shifts get about 75mph and then check engine blinking. Held eight gear at about 2.7k climbing the grade and the light dropped out.

Haven’t checked the code yet, thinking a 300-? for the cylinder misfire. I’ll check the code today and continue to apply 5.8k beatings until it latches.

Too cold for outside work, cleaning the messy shop is on today’s agenda.

 

How many miles on the truck?

 

The 7.3 redlines at 5700 rpm. I can't say I've ever just put the pedal to the floor and had a redline shift on an on ramp. But based on your description of your droving style, I'm not surprised you had a check engine light.

 

I've got 6000 redline.

 

Smidge over 60k on truck. Runs great, a slight misfire that cleared on its own. Hooked up the scanner yesterday and my hunch was confirmed.

I run the truck hard and to redline multiple times a day. One thing I found during my latest job commute is to lock out 9th & 10th on the super grades. It prevents the jump to 7th and allows me to maintain my steady cruise of 84mph at a pleasant 2.7k. My truck is a company vehicle and it’s abused for sure. Mates thinking if I make it to 100k the 7.3 is bulletproof.

I have bunches of experience with misfires, ran a tuned 3.5 eco for 260k. Running a full bar of boost it would eat plugs every 60k. I’ll need to check the plug wires during the swap, just in case.

Busy week and today need to fix my buddy’s 04 250, he says the front pad fell out, we’ll see. Trying to prevent him paying a tow bill by installing some super cheap pads, hopefully the caliper is okay.

The trusty 7.3 can wait until next week for plugs.

 

Your Tach shows the redline at 6,000 rpm but multiple sources online including Brian Wolfe state that Ford has a programmed hard limit of 5700rpm which requires aftermarket to exceed.

 

Over 60,000 on a hard working truck going through multiple cycles a day yea I would change the plugs.

 

I change plugs every 40k miles

 

Yep, I’m there.

Didn’t mean to cause any confusion on the RPM limiter. When hammer down and merging it only gets a glance. Looks like 5.8k, wherever the factory program shifts at 100% MAP or WTFO.

No complaints here, this truck has been awesome. Even with the worn plugs on the way home from the pad swap my buddy couldn’t believe it when I went hammer down on an exit and hit the highway at 90mph. He glances at the speedo and says this thing moves, I give him the nod and say 4-4-D.

Yes I’m biased and I love my Ford trucks.

 

I regularly hit the rev limiter with my 6.8 F350. I ran 14.91 seconds @ 94.52 mph in the 1/4 mile but forgot to place it in tow mode. Haven't done plugs yet.

 

94mph in 1/4 is snappy for a 3/4 ton stock truck. .