Another Spark Plug Change Complete
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 47
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From: Central Ohio
Another Spark Plug Change Complete
Following the excellent advise found here on this forum, I completed the spark plug change on my 2000 F-350 V-10. It took me a little over two hours, of which 30 mintes was sepnt on the passenger side rear plug.
A few notes of interest...I found the factory plugs to be over torqued, if anything. I know that Fredvon had surmised previously that he could see a potential for under-torquing at the factory, but in my truck, it was the opposite. In fact, two of the plugs were super tight.
This truck has 36,000 miles and has lived an easy life so far. Although I have never sprayed the inside of the engine compartment with a hose, the drivers side second and third plug were very rusty, particularly the third. I'm wondering where that moisture came from????
Anyway, the truck is running just as good as before, if not a little better. Becuase the plugs were in such good shape, I may let these go longer, with the exception of the two rusty plugs. I plan on checking those out after another 10,000 miles or so, just to see if they are rusting.
Thanks to all for the great advise.
A few notes of interest...I found the factory plugs to be over torqued, if anything. I know that Fredvon had surmised previously that he could see a potential for under-torquing at the factory, but in my truck, it was the opposite. In fact, two of the plugs were super tight.
This truck has 36,000 miles and has lived an easy life so far. Although I have never sprayed the inside of the engine compartment with a hose, the drivers side second and third plug were very rusty, particularly the third. I'm wondering where that moisture came from????
Anyway, the truck is running just as good as before, if not a little better. Becuase the plugs were in such good shape, I may let these go longer, with the exception of the two rusty plugs. I plan on checking those out after another 10,000 miles or so, just to see if they are rusting.
Thanks to all for the great advise.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Great!
What spark plug number was in there, and what did you use to replace it?
Just wondering if they had use non-zinc-plated plugs at the factory.
The "over torqued" plugs were probably just starting to corrode.
As to the moisture, that's one big pocket of air in that spark plug hole. As it heats up, the air is pushed out by expansion past the boot seal. Then, as it cools down, it sucks air back in. It WILL bring moisture in with it. Nature of the beast, I'm afraid.
With the anti-sieze, and generous amounts of dialectric grease around the seal area, I think you'd be good to go
What spark plug number was in there, and what did you use to replace it?
Just wondering if they had use non-zinc-plated plugs at the factory.
The "over torqued" plugs were probably just starting to corrode.
As to the moisture, that's one big pocket of air in that spark plug hole. As it heats up, the air is pushed out by expansion past the boot seal. Then, as it cools down, it sucks air back in. It WILL bring moisture in with it. Nature of the beast, I'm afraid.
With the anti-sieze, and generous amounts of dialectric grease around the seal area, I think you'd be good to go
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
Good for you, Mark...tweren't no big deal, now was it? 
Like Art said, the "tight" plugs may have started going through the chemical processes and were just "sticking" instead of being over-tightened.
And if you got tha cad-plated plugs you got the right ones. Even though the extra threads won't be doing anything, the plating certainly will.
Like Art said, the "tight" plugs may have started going through the chemical processes and were just "sticking" instead of being over-tightened.
And if you got tha cad-plated plugs you got the right ones. Even though the extra threads won't be doing anything, the plating certainly will.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 239
Likes: 9
From: moreno valley calif
yea, me too, the rear passenger plug was the hardest. None of my plugs were rusted but i was suprised "relieved?" at how much effort it took to remove the plugs. my plugs were the black steel ones also... with a very short threaded section. My 2000 had 80,000 miles. I think they were the original plugs
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
That rear passenger side plug is a "leap of faith". Can't see the hole, but didn't really give me a problem. I used an inspection mirror (with builtin light) to look at all the holes, so that #5 plug wasn't that much of a problem.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 615
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From: Pennsylvania
Hey ART,it's almost acting like a humidifire inside the sparkplug boots-cool,hot cool,moisture starts.
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FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by crazyrwe
Hey ART,it's almost acting like a humidifire inside the sparkplug boots-cool,hot cool,moisture starts.
Drive for a while, the plug gets hot enough, and WHAM the water boils and shorts out the COP.
Wait a while, cools off, water condenses, drips down to the bottom, and runs good again.
Sold my '96 t-bird to my sister, one of her employees hosed down the motor.
It was funny, actually.
Anyway, I use dialectric grease now, and it seems to keep the water out.
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