Spark Plugs
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Central Ohio
Sometimes I wonder about engineers. I know it all has to fit together and all but could you give us a little more room to work in there??? I am dreading this ordeal and refuse to pay to have it done.....almost 130k on the original plugs now but it's still running fine *crossing fingers*
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Toasty FLORIDA
these suckers aren't as much fun to mess with as they used to, please do ask you dad how did he manage to replace the plugs with out removing the fuel rails, that way you be able to help outher poor souls on how to do it!!!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 272
Likes: 1
Power Injection Cleaning
Get the dealer to do a power fuel injector flush. It's remarkable how much gunk accumulates in the fuel injection system, no matter what grade or brand of fuel you are using, and just adding injector cleaner to the gas tank is not enough. You should get a noticeable improvement in performance at your mileage. That's my experience anyway. I won't wait another 100,000 miles to get mine done again.
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria, Ohio
After going thru 2 sets of Bosch platinum plugs and then finally a set of Motorcrafts I got pretty good at changing them in my '98 4.6. It took 6 hours the first time. Now I can do it in an hour. I use 2 swivels and a lot of extensions. I do not take the fuel rail off. The 4.6 uses plug wires and 2 coils mounted on the front of the heads.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 7,970
Likes: 595
From: Greater Austin, Texas
You don't have to pull the fuel rails. 2 extensions with a u-joint in between is the hot ticket. I did mine in about 2.5 hours the first time. I put in NGK Iridium plugs because, at the time, Motorcraft did not have a plated plug (they do now). The NGK's have about 43K miles on them and the truck runs excellent. I will probably do the NGK's again.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 151
Likes: 0
From: LAS VEGAS USA
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Brett Foote
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa
Changed my plugs for the first time in about 4 hours last night. Truck runs better than ever now.
Over 326875 miles on it and I didn't know when the plugs were last changed. I waited way too long because of the posts indicating how difficult this is to do.
Really, it wasn't that hard. I removed the fuel rails and would encourage first time DIYs to do it this way. You may not have to, but it really does open things up and doesn't take that much more time.
A word to the wise... check the COPS before replacing them. My #3 COP was toast. I'm now CEL free.
Over 326875 miles on it and I didn't know when the plugs were last changed. I waited way too long because of the posts indicating how difficult this is to do.
Really, it wasn't that hard. I removed the fuel rails and would encourage first time DIYs to do it this way. You may not have to, but it really does open things up and doesn't take that much more time.
A word to the wise... check the COPS before replacing them. My #3 COP was toast. I'm now CEL free.
Sick 'n Tired
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 47
From: League City, TX
Be very careful when removing the fuel rail. The injectors will pop out and the cap (i think it's called a pintle) on the end of them is brittle and will break if you look at it the wrong way. Nobody sells the caps as a direct replacement (ford says the injector must be replaced for $116/each), but I found some that will work. Moreover, a few weeks after I replaced mine on my '01 the bolt holding down the fuel rail on the passenger side backed out and the fuel rail backed off one of the injectors. I figured this out after I started my car and was strapping my 2 yo daughter into her car seat and noticed a strong fuel smell followed by gas pouring out of the engine. That resulted in one of those "Oh God, what have I done!" moments. Follow the torque guidelines.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Ottawa
Changed plugs- removed rails with no problems.
Be very careful when removing the fuel rail. The injectors will pop out and the cap (i think it's called a pintle) on the end of them is brittle and will break if you look at it the wrong way.
I have a '97 4x4 with a 5.4. I didn't have any issues with the injectors remaining seated when the fuel rails were removed. The only issue I had was some of the injector o-rings remained in the fuel rail. I had to fish them out and place them on the appropriate injectors before being able to re-install the fuel rails properly. Sounds like that may have been your problem.
What year truck were you working on? I haven't seen anything about injectors popping out, etc. in this forum.
Last edited by hallam; Sep 12, 2006 at 03:17 PM.
Sick 'n Tired
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,969
Likes: 47
From: League City, TX
If anyone else runs into this pintle cap issue you can replace the caps with Borg Warner PN 27-4081 at your local auto shop. It's an injector seal kit that includes new o-rings and the caps. $3 for each kit. I actually ran for a few weeks without the caps and didn't notice any problems, but I figured better safe than sorry. Doesn't matter much, that cars on the dealers used lot now and has been since April!<!-- / message --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
From: Toasty FLORIDA
Hey guys you do NOT have to remove your fuel rails, is you use a plug socket with a 4" extention and a swivel you can get to the plugs no problem, and as far as it goes it should not take you more then 5 hrs if it does you are not having enough beers. be sure to fallow the torque specs or you might get yourself in big trouble!!!
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