Windstang

Hi Ronnie
Did you soak first before you tried to turn out? Do you think that actually soak down the plug threads?
I've read numerous posts on removal and they seem to say back out 1/8 to 1/4 turn, soak overnight, then hopefully ease them out SLOWLY. I've read that some say to go back and forth to get them out. Why do you recommend only out, not in and out?
I've heard the tool works fairly well. Did you use the Champions? What gap did you set?

ChadStang

Welcome aboard. If you are mechanically inclined and can do the work yourself it's a great way to save a few bucks. In this case the dealership is giving you best and worst case scenarios which is pretty fair if you ask me. It takes a certain amount of time to do the job, and they have to pay people to do it as well as thousands of other costs many people don't realize. I also must admit that I find the "stealership" term unfair as I don't think all dealerships should be labelled that way because of a few bad ones.

1low03gt

Welcome aboard!!
Nice to see you do your homework before you spend money or even attempt the work yourself. Ford and there plug issues hav e left many with a sour taste so to speak.
Soak, and let them sit like mentioned, and take your time.
With the 4.6 2V, we have to worry about plug blow out. It can really screw the heads up where we need a piece called TIMESERTS to help add new threads to the hole, like a thread sleeve basically, or we need to just replace the whole head!!
Wonder if the new 5.0 has plug issues as well LOL!

Windstang

Hi Chadstang - I'll save more than a few dollars - more like a few hundred $$. I wouldn't mind taking the car to a dealer that doesn't try to get all my money at once but one's that do - I will stay away them and let others know my thoughts and judge for themselves. I also realize that they have overhead costs but I wanted a mechanic - not a doctor. So this one is a 'stealer' in my books.

LOW03GT - a sour taste? You bet - they have a design issue and somehow owners get to bend over forward to get it fixed. I guess we should be happy that they also designed a tool specifically to address the problem rather than have to remove the head. A matter of perspective!

Next project after the plugs - a Tranny dip stick so I can easily check the oil level.

Ronnie06GT

Yes soak first. Then 1/4 turn at most. The soaking penetrates down treads to help soften carbon buildup on electrode and lower tread.
I would not recommend back and forth, this is the reason many plugs break. The other reason is too much torque...be patient, they will come out ok.
I have the tool but did not have too use it...the 3 hard ones just took a long time of very patient soak and turn.
I went back with autolites(which are still a 2 piece plug) that came pregapped.
I will now change plugs or at least pull and clean every 15 to 20 k's.

I would also add that one way to reduce the amount of carbon formation in the future is to add an oil separator on the pcv line. I think the 07 is the same as the 06...drivers side.

Windstang

Hi All
I changed my plugs as you suggested (but turned back and forth with the torque wrench so I didn't over torque) and all came out without breaking. Yippee. I also added a catchcan. I'm surprized how much cruddy looking oil I get.
I also added Automatic Headlights recently and extra heated seats that dont turn off every 10 minutes.