Anybody change the spark plugs yet? Is it a DIY job? I have been reading about the plugs on older Ford 5.4 engines and the issues they have.

 

I've never done it, so I don't know if it's a relatively easy DIY kinda job. I would have to look at my BIL's truck to see. I do know that the spark plugs are a totally different design from the 5.4L and do not have the same issue with the bottoms of the plugs breaking off.

With that said, if you plan on doing it yourself, do remember that you have 16 plugs to change. Eight along the top and eight along the sides.

 

It looks to me like you might have to remove the fender liners to get at all of the lower plugs.

It's possible that no one has enough milage on their trucks to worry about this yet. I think the recommended change interval of 97,500 miles could be a problem. I know there are some who will feel its OK to follow that interval because the plugs will probably last that long, but will a steel plug in an aluminum head come out easily, and without causing damage, at that mileage?

Another thing is that when plugs wear, they demand more of the coils and put more stress on them. Maybe a 50,000 mile change interval would be more reasonable. I'd rather replace some $5.00 plugs every 50,000 miles than coils at $60.00 each when they burn out prematurely.

 

top 8 are easy.. for a new type of engine .. coil on spark plug

lower 8 not so easy. but NOT HARD... spark plug wire to above coil on same cylinder.

several post on how.. remove inner liners.. extensions and swivels..

mine has 141,000 miles. (2012).
.
.
.

 

Were they rusted in?

 

NO. came right out. no rust.

 

Did mine after I bought the truck w/ 167K all came out with minimal effort. Be prepared to be knee deep in spark plugs lol..

 

I did mine at 110,000km. Didn't remove fender wells (probably stupid not to) but it took me about 2 to 2 1/2 hrs more with me swearing than actually working. Drivers side one on the bottom was the worst. Rest came out like nothing. Lots of extensions and swivels like what was said before.

 

I just did mine. Took me 4.5 hours, taking my time. I suggest you allow adequate time to approach it patiently. Even then, expect cursing, but that's better than a $450 bill.

A few suggestions:

Do the job with the engine cool to the touch. Protect your eyes and blow everything out really well. You are likely to find sand, mud, rocks, none of which you want in the engine.

I strongly suggest you crack each plug loose a tiny bit and soak some solvent into them, work them back and forth, soak some more, repeat, etc. There is a lot of thread there to break loose, and it's an aluminum head! It takes a good while for the solvent to soak down those long threads, and you run the risk of galling threads if you rush.

I took off the passenger-side fender liner, but not the driver's. You sort of have to do the driver's by feel that way, but there is more room than the other side. I suggest you prepare with a WIDE variety of extensions, a universal, and wobble extensions. You will find each lower plug takes a different set up!

I took a piece of rubber hose covered with a rag and used it to clean up the taper seats as best I could. A brass "bottle brush" and a shop vac would be the ideal ticker.

Other opinions may differ, but I would never install plugs with this much thread in an aluminum head without (sparingly) applying a good quality anti-seize.

Good luck!

PS Plugs looked darn nice for an engine with nearly 180,000 miles but I don't know how long they've been in...