Spark plug question

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I regularly ran water down the carb back in the day of carbs. High revs and a trickle out of a pop bottle. Thermal shock would break loose the carbon. Never had any problems...

Not sure about higher temps tho, the heat absorbed to break the oxygen bonds would negate the effects of the added oxygen and hydrogen. In fact I doubt that those bonds could be broken in an ICE. The water turning into steam would have a cooling effect. Not sure what the cat would do tho. I doubt the chemicals in a cat would have any effect on steam.

 

[Ozwynn]

I was warned against trying to decoke and engine with this many miles so I didn’t do it. I pulled the 3 plugs from the front of the engine. They need to be replaced. The spark plug in the photo is number 6 but that is what they all look like.

moved the number 6 coil pack to number 4 and number 4 to number 6. The random #6 misfire moved to cylinder 2….. so I’m convinced it the plugs.

 

[sgtsandman]

Definitely way too much gap and there isn't much left to the electrode in the picture provided.

 

[RonD]

Our Rangers with Coil Packs use Waste Spark, which means each coil in the pack sparks 2 spark plugs in series at the same time
On a V6 there are 3 coils in the coil pack, on a 4cyl 2 coils

The series wiring means one spark plug fires center to tip(normal), the other one fires tip to center(reverse)
This means single platinum coating only protects 3 of the spark plugs, other 3 wear out like regular copper(no coating)

So either run 6 regular copper, or 6 Double platinum, never single platinum, its a waste of money

Not lost on Ford, which is why you often see 2 different spark plug numbers for the one engine
At the factory, for a V6, they would install 3 single platinum tips and 3 single platinum centers
When buying thousands of spark plugs at a time this save money
So 2 different numbers
If you buy spark plugs with a coating just make sure its a double coating, tip and center

If you want to save the money like Ford
1, 2, 3 are regular spark, coated tip
4, 5, 6 are reverse spark, coated center

On 4cyl
1, 3 are regular, 2, 4 are reverse

 

[rusty ol ranger]

oh, and when your removing it, turn it 1/4 turn lose, then turn it back 1/2 turn tight, then turn lose when it gets stiff, then turn 1/2 loose.. work it out slowly!! and yes, do it with the motor at full temp HOT

I dont know if id pull them with it at temp if it has an aluminum head

 

[Eddo Rogue]

I have the F150 with know spark plug issue, and never had an issue...funny part is I its tricky finding the right plugs, everyone carries the replacement ones that they modify the heads for.

I just it soak with penetrant lube of some sort and do it warm to the touch as @sgtsandman mentioned.

Also mind your spark plug socket size. might be a random metric or something. I've come across plugs that only accept an 18mm plug socket. I have spark plug socket drawer lol.

 

[Ozwynn]

Also mind your spark plug socket size. might be a random metric or something. I've come across plugs that only accept an 18mm plug socket. I have spark plug socket drawer lol.

There was no play in the socket on the other plugs.

 

[Roert42]

Not much left of that spark plug.

I’ve seen it where someone runs old worn out plugs so long the coils get messed up. You change the plugs, and it helps, but only so much.


Have a friend with a 3V 5.4 that has original plugs at 150k. Runs like dog shit and gets 8mpg. going to attempt to change out his coils and plugs this weekend for him. I wouldn’t be surprised if hits cats are screwed up too from letting it go so long.

 

[Ozwynn]

Spark plugs are changed. We had to use a cheater bar on the back 3. So new coils, new spark plugs. Cleared the codes, did the relearn. Runs like new again.

the rear 3 plugs were so bad I don’t think the dealership changed them at the 200,000 mile service. I think they only changed the front 3.

if you look close you can see how the ground electrode started to burn off.

 

[Roert42]

It’s always fun when you go to change the plugs on a car and the hard to get ones are different brands then the rest.