My Take On V8 Spark Plug Change

[August_explorer]

nice write up! just need pics!

 

[Joe Dirt]

Go for it!

 

[Axial32]

Actually my SOHC V6 was super easy maybe took 10 mins. at the max... I have a BL and it was amazingly easy... you could see and get to every plug... it also came in handy to drop my transmission also...

 

[cniggeler]

Thru the wheel well - yeah!

Hi,

I found the easiest way to change spark plugs on my 2000 Explorer V8 was to go through the wheel wells, as mentioned here and on other posts. It took me 2.5 hours setup to "Miller Time". As a calibration point, I don't mind putting in the time but can't do jobs with a high degree of difficulty. I would say on a scale of 1 to 10 (10=hardest) this had a degree of difficulty of one

The second side went MUCH faster than the first (once I knew what I was doing). Also, the passenger side is quite a bit easier than the driver's side, so pick easy or harder first, whichever makes the job go better for you.

Neither side is really that challenging. I priced having shops do it, and two quoted me three hours of labor! For a shop I say it would have been an hour, tops. The hardest part for me was using the ^&%* jack that came with the Explorer; would have been much faster/easier with a floor jack. Since I saved $210 in labor, maybe Santa will put one under the tree

I needed a 3" extension, a 6" extension, and for one plug on the driver's side, a ratchet with an adjustable-angle head. The plugs required a 5/8" socket. I applied the goos for anti-seize and the wire boots. I used Champion Iridium plugs and the thing hummed along nicely on the test drive (then again, it always seems to after a maintenance repair!).

I did NOT replace the wires. I did not like the way those things snake around the engine compartment, and 4 or 5 had metal jackets, so you'd have to deal with those too. From observation, I would say the degree of difficulty replacing the wires is around five. I'm not touching them and don't think they needed replacing even at 100k miles...

 

[celly]

The hardest part for me was using the ^&%* jack that came with the Explorer; would have been much faster/easier with a floor jack.

FWIW, I don't take the wheels off and still find it to be a "1" on the difficulty scale.

 

[RaistliN]

uhhh I wish it was as easy as most of you guys on here to change the plugs on my '00 V8 ... Of 2 plugs I tried, broke 2 in the head - they seem rusted in place. When the first one broke in there, I almost fainted about the taught of pulling the head for, you know, a head job, but got lucky with the easy out method. When the same thing happened to the 2nd plug, I said to myself, god if I can easy out this one too, this'll be the last, the shop can do the rest.

Well, I got lucky with the second one, the shop will do the other 6 for me tomorrow, the hell with that. lol

 

[cniggeler]

Ow! Even with a difficulty of "one" there's always a chance for extremes. Looking at it now, did you see anything that would have hinted that would happen (general condition of the engine compartment / engine itself, boots/wires corroded, etc.)?

 

[SoNic67]

That EXACT thing happen to me. Rusted as heck, broke first one, easy-out. Broke the second, easy out. Got stupid and ****y, broke the third out, broke the easy out TOO.

Pulled the heads (shop), replaced all, put back the heads. Now I have low oil pressure at idle with the regular Motorcraft (or Mobile One Synth) 5W20 oil. Pulled the oil pan (shop), replaced oil pump - nothing. That was a 1000$ spark plug change.

This is because the OEM plugs have shorter thread and rust will form between iron heads and plug body. No more stupid Motorcraft plugs for me - Autolite XP104.

 

[RaistliN]

Other than the plugs being what it seems like rusted to the head, everything else would've been a "1" on the difficulty scale, as mentionned by others, no need to even pop the hood! My wires are in great shape, same for the manifolds, heat shields (yes they cut as hell, and used work gloves after the first couple cuts) but my block & head does seems like it is rusted a bit, something you would expect from this year & mileage.

My 2 cents on it is, if you force so much and she doesn't get loose, leave it to the shop unless you wanna play with an easy out and go through what sonic67 went through =)

 

[celly]

We don't have the rust issues out here in Alberta than you do in New Brunswick, apparently.

 

[SoNic67]

Maybe less salt on the roads in winter?

 

[Fifty150]

would have been much faster/easier with a floor jack. Since I saved $210 in labor, maybe Santa will put one under the tree

Funny thing about tools is that all it takes is one do-it-yourself job, and the tool usually pays for itself. Especially "special purpose" tools that only do 1 thing. For example, the fuel filter quick disconnect tool or fan clutch removal tool. Even my basic socket set is worth it's weight in gold every time I use it. Every job that I do at home, that a shop wants 2 - 4 hours of labor for, has saved me more than the cost of the tool set.

 

[smcgee1979]

Funny thing about tools is that all it takes is one do-it-yourself job, and the tool usually pays for itself. Especially "special purpose" tools that only do 1 thing. For example, the fuel filter quick disconnect tool or fan clutch removal tool. Even my basic socket set is worth it's weight in gold every time I use it. Every job that I do at home, that a shop wants 2 - 4 hours of labor for, has saved me more than the cost of the tool set.

I agree. I have a hell of a lot of tools now, thanks to all the diy automotive work I've done. I figure I'm not gonna pay someone to do something that I can learn to do on my own. I bet over the last 10 years, I've saved over $5k in automotive repairs. I just installed the motor in my 97 x AWD and the engine locks up in my 03 chevy venture. Guess the venture will wait till spring since I do everything on the street. I need to build myself a garage.