Wow!! Why do people scare members on here about changing the spark plugs??? When I read my first thread I was a bit discouraged in even doing the job and honestly when I finally manned up and did it (replacing COPS as well), it wasn't as bad as people made it out to be.

It wouldn't be a bad job except for the #4 and #8 plugs being somewhat hidden and all the clutter in the way. The scarey thing is what the heck do you do if one of Ford/Autolite's "better Idea" two piece spark plugs comes apart in the head, or just as bad if you over torque the plug and ruin the threads in the head and it's loose or blows out as you are driving.
There are more than a few things that can cause disaster if the job is not done right.

No I'm not talking about potential problems, I'm referring to the labor to do the job. I remember reading somewhere and someone recommended removing the front wheels and lowering the truck on jackstands...wtf.

That person must either be vertically challenged or never heard of step stools.

 

I used my blackberry a lot when i was helping out on the forums. the BB are slow. so if the poster had a detailed profile of his truck on each post it helped me out a lot. I did not have to go searching for info in his profile or on the thread......my 2 cents.

 

whatever they sell at Autozone to replace OEM. Motorcraft i think
Just to hijack this post, did you know that the automatic transmission in a 1999 Expedition uses 17 quarts of fluid? that is like a swimming pool full. My honda oddyesey only uses 3!

 

Nobody is trying to scare anybody. Not everyone that comes here is mechanically inclined or has a full set of tools. Changing the plugs on an Expedition is harder than a lot of other vehicles. Then there's the risk of broken spark plugs. The difficulties are laid out so no one is caught off guard trying to handle something beyond their experience level.

 

As I recall, the reason for that was to lower the front end enough so as to not have to lay across the engine to change the plugs.

 

Autolites and Motorcraft are the same, to the best of my knowlege. Good choice.

That's why Hondas don't last long. Just kidding, of course.
You have to remember the weight of your truck and it's towing capacity.

 

I have tried to put a list together in my profile but for some reason I cant seem to do it. So here is my info

1998 Expedition EB with 91,000 miles. Mostly stock except for a 3 inch Magnaflo exhaust, airbox mod with a K&N, hids in my headlights and fogs, tinted windows and cross drilled and slotted rotors with ceramic pads and braided lines.

1988 Mustang LX with a built 331, trans and a 31 spline rear. A mid to high 10 sec car that I have owned and been building since 1990.

1987 Buick GN with a rebuilt stock motor and some nice little bolt ons that make for a fun street/strip car

2007 Suzuki Hayabusa GSXR1300 with a 2 Brothers exhaust, K&N, Power Commander, TRE and synthetic fluids for when I "feel the need"

I hope this helps

 

Lay across the engine? hmmm...don't see how that would be needed at all...like the previous member said that person has be to vertically challenged.

 

if you copy and paste that info to your SIGNATURE it should work. If it does not fit you might have to eliminate some info. you might want to eliminate the suzuki? and yamaha

 

I didnt have a "edit signature" before. I seem to have one now though. Maybe I didnt have enough posts?

 

I am a rookie mechanic, after reading all the post on Spark plugs, and with the help of a buddy of mine. (with lots of experience ) I was able to change the plugs ( boots and springs) in 3 and 1/2 hours. My buddy did #4, 7 and 8. He was shock at how difficult access was, but just attacked it.

If you have very little experience turning wrench's, I would be careful. If you have some skill, it was just a pain.