70f100, thanks for the informative reply, a lot of us are approaching the now or never time with these plugs, I'd love to take it to my dealer spend a few hundred and be done with it, but I have tried 3 local dealerships to work on other issues and I don't have any confidence in any of them to do a good job with this, you work for Ford, maybe you can recommend a quality dealership in central/south NJ

 

Maybe i'm a little weird, but i've always thot that there were better brands of plugs than champions out there. also has anyone ever ran those new "pulse plugs"?

 

Sure...champions wouldn't be my first choice in plugs IF there were other 1 piece options.....the problem is that the only companies that make a plug that fixes the issue is champion and brisk...and the brisk plug is a 25,000 mile plug only, while the champion is a platinum 100K mile plug......I have to say i can't tell the difference in my truck...and its been 20K miles....

 

I see. thanks for the info.

 

I priced the Champion plugs at NAPA today and they are $33.99CAD plus tax (14%) each and they would have to be ordered. Think I'll go with something else!

 

Rockauto.com they're a sponser and should be bout 18? a piece...which you'll finds not that far off for plugs on our trucks..

 

actually..... 14.22 a piece at rockauto.com


I've ordered tons of parts from them and always had great service and really quick shipping

 

Don't know anyone in NJ. I work at a dealer in Raleigh, NC. Have you tried contacting the service manager at any of those dealers you had a problem with?

 

It doesn't have to be a Ford dealer to get a good job done. Check your area for quality independent shops to change the plugs for you if you don't want to tackle it. They'll do just as good of work and probably be a lot cheaper. A plug change isn't warranty work so any competant shop can do it without jeopardizing your warranty coverage.

 

I think I could do it myself, but was just wondering if any special tools are needed. any help is appreciated.

 

nagles,

Where in Jersey are you at? I'm in northern jersey and there are a few good dealers around me.. Not sure how far you want to drive. I'm About 20 miles north of flemington NJ and there is a good dealer in Flemington car and truck country.com or smith motors I used to work for flemington and its a good dealer...

mark

 

Wow, Just went through this on my '04 at 115K and the posts are elsewhere in the forum. I got the extractor tool for about $60 on the net including shipping. Two plugs broke on me (tool worked fantastic), one rounded, and one of the new ones fouled out at 150 miles. Original post (this thread) at 50K he should have some carbon built up on the lower sleeve and expect a tough time if he chooses to do it himself but he was also talking about the having a service do it. The bottom line is that plug replacement is a few hundred bucks and does not cover head removal and repair if necessary. Standard warranty does not cover it. A service contract may have a clause to absolve coverage for this issue. For those reading this, do more research as there are several threads posted in this forum that offer some good advice and some advice that may be shortsighted. Those of us that have gone through this have our stories unique to each of us.

 

I ordered champion spark plug #7989 from rockauto.com and am planning to install them in the near future. should i coat the threads and everything except the ground strap with nickel antisieze? Also do I need to set/check gap on the new plugs?

Any special tools needed?

Thanks

 

No antisieze needed on the champions....and it never hurts to check the gap, however i believe they came preset at .045....

 

Basically I do the general maintenance on it... I use Motorcraft or Castrol Sythetic Blend 5w20 Oil (which ever is on sale) and I use a PureOne Puralator Oil Filter. I also have a K&N Air filter which I clean every oil change. I change out the ATF with Mercon V about every 30K miles and have only changed the filter twice. I have had to replace the tires about once a year, have had the shocks changed twice, the A-arms changed once, the 4-wheel Dive Hus changed once and have went through 4 Front Calipers (due to the Phanlolic Pistons failing), change out the Antifreeze about once every other year with Motorcraft Extended Life (gold) and have had to replace the Stabilizer Links (went to Napa and got greasables). I still hav ehte original U-joints on the drive shaft but may change those out this summer.
I also doctor up the oil with a couple of things which aid in performance tremendously. 1 of the additives is called MotorKote and it is great. It can be found at some auto parts stores, Flying J truck stops and online at www.motorkote.com it is much stronger than Problend, Slick50 or any of the other similar additives. Read the testimonies and see for your self, I used it in my 1986 Mazda B2000 P/U and had over 345K miles on it before trading it in. I also put a can of V8 Engine Restore in it along with Synthetic Lucas Oil stabilizer. When using the MotorKote, place 2oz. of it per quart of oil. Also place about 2 oz. into your power steering fluid, place 2 oz. into your trans fluid, 2 oz into the diffs and 2oz into the transfer case (if you have 4-wheel drive). Another good use is add it to bearing grease or your grease in the grease gun (can be a bit messy but well worth it, mix well). It is compatible with wet sunk clutches (so t can be used on motorcycles), 2-cycle engine and bar oil applications. I use it in my lawn mowers, chain saws, boat (including outdrive), $200K farm tractors, hydroalics and many more applications to list. I have been using it for years and swear by it. If your power steering whines, add it and drive about 20 miles, it will quiet down and you will be driving with one finger. Take a look at the Motorkote - vs- your product and see for yourself, it is all true.

I also add Turbo 108 (about a 4oz bottle worth, take a bottle of Lucase or Durablend Fuel Injector cleaner and fill it with Turbo 108 and add it per tank full of fuel) and add a bottle of good injector cleaner about every 4 fill ups or more. Other than that not really much else.... I plan on trying to keep it till it hits 300K miles.