Decided to change the plugs on the SD yesterday. I called the Stealership and they wanted 17.29 each!!!!! The parts guy gave me his explanation on why they were so expensive. New High Thread design, special copper core for the 3 valve engine, blah, blah, blah. He made the mistake of telling me that the Motorcraft and Autolite plugs were made by the same manufacturer and are the only two plugs designed for the 3 valve triton. I called NAPA and got them in stock for 9.29 each, the Autolite part numer is HT2.
I followed many of the helpful posts on this site in regards to plug replacement on the V-10. Anti-seeze, dielectric grease, a blow gun and vacuum are a must for this job as well as a 12" length of 1/4" tubing for removing and reinserting the plugs into the head. I also learned that none of my spark plug sockets work as the new size is 9/16 instead of 5/8.
I found it helpful to disconnect the large electric plugs on the passenger side of the firewall,underneath the cowl panel to access plugs #4 and 5.

All in all it took about 4 hrs, but it's one of those jobs that will take half of the time next time.

 

How many miles could you possibly have on your 2006? Why the plug change?

I did my 2000 F250 at 90,000 miles. My 2000 X has around 108,000 and I haven't done them yet. My dad just did his 5.4L F150 the other day, had 157,000 miles on the factory plugs.

 

I have 57k on the truck. The reason I replaced them early is because of all the trouble Ford is having with the 3 valve head/spark plug not coming out. If people are having problems with plugs breaking off inside the head at 100k, I figured my chances of a clean removal are greatly increased by changing them now.Ford has even made a tool for removing whats left of a broken plug from a 3 valve V-10. There is also a TSB on this issue as well although I dont know the number. I have never been one to use the Ford timetable for schedule maint anyway. I think filters, oil, plugs etc are cheap insurance for keeping the BSEG where it belongs

 

I wasn't aware they were having problems getting plugs out. I thought the problem was keeping them in. LOL.

I agree about doing things early.

 

I guess they spent so much time trying to keep them in a few years back that now they cant get them out.

 

On the 3V plugs there is a long ground collar that extends after the threads. This collar galls against the aluminum head and breaks off in the head. There is a TSB, Videos for proper removal and even a tool from Ford to remove the broken part of the plug. Bad plug design IMO.

 

One hell of an argument in favor of changing early in my book! 50,000 here I come.....

 

Only slightly off topic here....
Anyone tried the PULSTAR Pulse Spark Plug????
All sorts of claims of Torgue, Power and etc....but wow do they have a hefty price tag.
Curious if anyone has bit the bullet and tried these plugs.

Gary
Stanley, IDAHO

 

Only slightly off topic here....
Anyone tried the PULSTAR Pulse Spark Plugs????
All sorts of claims of Torgue, Power and etc....but wow do they have a hefty price tag.
Curious if anyone has bit the bullet and tried these plugs.

Gary
Stanley, IDAHO

 

First thought would be "BS". I don't think there is a plug made that will increase torque or hp or MPG over stock as from the factory plugs. People spend thousands of dollars for small hp/torque improvements and they don't come from plugs. Granted if you have a clunker that was due tuneup 40 thousand mile ago, you could conceivably see an increase - back up towards what it was when new. But you could have accomplished the same thing by using OEM plugs. JMHO, as always....

 

NAPA price is now $13.xx, Autozone $12.99. Looks like they caught on to the price wagon and are getting closer to the Ford price. Can't find anyone near me that stocks them.

Some sites are $10 or so, I may order them.

Funny thing, Dieselgalaxy.com has them for $10.63. Put 1 in your cart and the shipping is $152! and that is not a typo! Make the QTY 2 and your shipping jumps to $304! OMG. I really hope they don't get any business from anyone....

 

I wonder if the reason for the $152 FOR QTY 1 is that since these plugs are only made for the V-10, when you order 1 you are getting a box of 10. Try Rockauto.com, their price wasnt bad either.

 

Pulstar is a lie! They claim something like 10 million watt spark, that has more power then several sticks of dynamites, or enough power to power a house for a month or more. They claim that much energy being released in a fraction of a second. If that were true, it would blow your engine and your whole truck, and probably every one else within a fairly good distance the moment the computer fired the spark plugs. I had e-mailed them about this, and guess what? Got no reply.

 

What is the TQ for the 3V plugs? Changing mine this weekend..


Thanks,
Kevin, 05 250 SD, XLT Sport V10, 4x2, 4.10, CC, Torqueshift towing the #63 CMC Mustang

 

I believe it's 14 ft lbs.

Watch out for debris falling into the head when the plug is removed. I had several small pebbles that would have fallen in had I not blown them out first with the blow gun.