Little Service trip advise
 

I'm thinking about paying the dealer to do my plugs the first time for me on my new to me '02 V10 with 60k, if they give the thumbs up all is well with the threads, I can take it from there on future changes (also for warrantee purposes, ya, I know..but this is the one thing worrrying me) , also to flush my tranny fluid as I understand it requires a heating tool to do it properly.

Are the standard MC plugs they'll likely use good for 50k (as i thought i read on another thread)? or are there different versions I need to specify to use?

thanks in advance for any advice

According to the "Service Manual" for your 2002 (http://www.motorcraftservice.com/pub.../02nmgmg3e.pdf) V10 the spark plugs don't have to be done until 100k miles. If you feel you have to have them changed then yes on MC plugs are perfect. Your transmission fluid is due though.

You need to update your "About Me" or create a signature:

About gfl
2 Letter State/Province ID
Country USA
Make Ford
Model F-250
Year 1994
Current Mileage 100,000 - 124,999
Miles per year Rather not say

The plugs are easy to do but if you feel better having the dealer do it, so be it. If the plugs are original they should be changed regardless of miles. I change plugs every 50k and Fords recommended change interval at 100k is pushing it. A lot of people (myself included) have seen misfires or non optimal performance on plugs with well less than 100k miles on them.

The Motorcraft SP479 is what I use (I like the nickel plating) in the 2V V10s and I change them at 50k miles as I said before. Rock Auto sells them for under $3 each. No BS I have gotten prices from Ford dealers on SP479 plugs at $8 each. Last 10 I bought from Rock Auto were under $33 with shipping.

The 5R110 requires the heated flush machine the 4R100 in your truck does not.

thanks guys, this would be the first time I've paid someone to change plugs in my life.. but reading there's only 3 threads in the hole kinda has me worried along with the "spark plug popping" "how do I fix stripped spark plug hole" threads.

Doing the plugs in hopes of getting a little more umph pulling hills with my camper, maybe mpg too, that and its kind of a ritual with a new to me rig.

Glad you told me about the tranny fluid, saved me a little embarrassment.

I notice this one has a drain plug on the pan. If they are just going to drain it and refill, I may as well do that myself, I'll have to check.

If your gonna do the the trans fluid yourself, it's easy.

Remove drain plug. Take pan off, change gasket and filter. Replace pan with new gasket and refill to spec. Done.

How many quarts of fluid would you want to have handy? I'm assuming the converter would still be holding a bunch.

I can't remember for the 4r100. Check your owners manual or someone will chime in. I'd say 6 or 7

I'd say it's more like 19-20 qts.

Not quite.

Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles

14 quarts, BTW.

Article says 4R100 holds almost 18 qts. Need 20 qts. for a complete flush...unless I read it incorrectly?

I think Monsta was referring more to the simple directions vs the more detailed instructions. Not the amount of fluid. :-X22

Half done. That changes about half the fluid, what about the other half that's still in there? I call this doing half of the job and calling it good.

If you are doing half the job, have 8 quarts on hand. The whole job will take at least 18.

That's about right for doing half the job, just draining the pan.

That's what you need to do a complete flush with these directions:
Changing ATF Fluid in a E4OD and 4R100 transmission .: Articles

That's about right for a 4R70W, but this is a 4R100. It's bigger.

You read it correctly. You will need 20 quarts to do a complete flush.

thanks again for taking the time to school me. first rig with this configuration, so I'm learning as I go here.

Thanks guys, i didnt know if the OP would be doing a full flush or just changing the pan fluid

Sorry if I'm beating a dead horse here, my 02 does have the minimal threads in the spark plug hole? I'm finding mention of that fixed in 01, but other posts say 03.