My son brought his 2012 Ford Edge Limited Edition SUV with the 3.5 V6 over to change oil in my shop since I have a hydraulic lift. After the oil change he asked if we could also change the cabin air filter and sparkplugs.....sure no problem as that should only take about 30 minutes and we have 2 hrs before the Cowboys-Lions game. Things have changed with these sideways V-6s and V-8s. To change the rear three spark plugs requires removal of the over-engine two piece shroud, complete air cleaner system, intake plenum, over flow tubing, throttle plate, mass air sensor, numerous sensors, uncouple three ECM harnesses, sensor harnesses, etc. Don't know what the dealerships charge to change the plugs but I suspect it entails a couple of hours of labor at over $100 an hour. While we had the throttle plate off we cleaned the carbon along with the manifold. If you don't have or know how to use a hose pliers, then you are in trouble. I've had to change spark plugs in several Cadillac NorthStar engines I've owned and that is a trick also. Many of these NorthStars never get the #8 plug changed at the dealership as it is a bugger. We got it all back together without any leftover parts and she just purrs so things worked out ok.
- Thread starter jturbo10
- Start date
Yes, the Ford Windstar mini van is much the same. no access from the bottom, snake your arm and ratchet down from the top. All laid out across the motor. A struggle to even get the plug wires off. Doing it all by "FEEL". Its bad. I hate it. But as you say, very expensive to hire it done. If anyone has tips they would like to share, I could sure use some. I'm sure I'll need to do another sideways v-6 in the future. That's why I enjoy working on old tractors, most were designed with the farmer-mechanic in mind. gobble
On the Windstar, you take the wiper cowl off, not just the top cover but the bottom tray that holds the wiper motor. Its easy to get these off, takes about 10mins and it opens the whole engine compartment. This step also makes doing the plenum gaskets easy too, or anything else back toward the firewall like brake booster or heater hoses.
rusty6
Well-known Member
- Location
- East central Sask.
Even the spark plugs in the 4.3 V6 in my old Blazer look pretty awkward to get at. I've never tried removing them and at 163,000 km the
original plugs still seem to be working fine. Luckily. Now the spark plugs in my 52 Mercury I could change with my eyes shut. The old
flathead engines were so simple.
original plugs still seem to be working fine. Luckily. Now the spark plugs in my 52 Mercury I could change with my eyes shut. The old
flathead engines were so simple.
Put new plugs in my wife's '69 Camaro over the weekend. Between 8 plugs, making all 8 wires up, and putting on new wire looms to keep things in place, it took me about 5 hours. The plugs were easy and would have taken maybe 30-45 minutes, even with the headers in the way of a couple of them, but making up the wires to the right lengths, and routing them, was a royal PITA.
gtractorfan
Well-known Member
Yes and there is a certain brand I won't mention with plugs that tend to twist off. Guys that designed these things should have to work on them.
MarkB_MI
Well-known Member
- Location
- Motown USA
There are few, if any, vehicles more difficult to change the plugs than the mid-seventies Chevy Monza. It was necessary to either loosen the motor mounts and jack up the engine, or drill a hole in the fender well to change all the plugs on the Monza. And let's remember this was back before 100K spark plugs.
Bruce from Can.
Well-known Member
- Location
- Woodville, Ontario, Canada
Easy way to change the plugs is , turn this vehicle in on a new one . Think that is
why the car companies build them like they do.
why the car companies build them like they do.
Rex Simpkins
Member
That sounds like a pita, I replace my 2003 ranger w/3.0 v-6 the other day pretty easy maybe 1/2 hour. But on some of these engines you can not even see the plugs or wires. I traded off my 2008 Super Crew F150 because of
the spark plug issue-- kids are grown now so I got a 2015 F250 with 6.2 gas, have not heard any nightmare stories about that motor. We have one at work in a F350 and she's got about 170K on the clock never been touched.
the spark plug issue-- kids are grown now so I got a 2015 F250 with 6.2 gas, have not heard any nightmare stories about that motor. We have one at work in a F350 and she's got about 170K on the clock never been touched.
Had a '78 4 cyl. 4 speed. Same was true if I recall, to change the fuel pump, I can remember jacking up the engine to make room to get it out. Still was not all that complicated, but there certainly is no direct access just the same. Valve cover gasket replacement on an '04 Ranger with the 2.3 - 4 cylinder sure took some time. None of these modern vehicles are fun to work on compared to the past.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
Good part is the Cowboys won!
Tony in SD
Well-known Member
They tipped the engine for me in my 73' Plymouth Duster. It has a slant 6. Very easy to change plugs.
jimg.allentown
Well-known Member
I have to butt in here.....
There is NO SUCH THING as a tune-up. Look it up.
TUNING an engine involves more than changing spark plugs and filters. A REAL tune up involves adjusting parameters of the engine for peak performance. Adjusting the dwell for the best spark. Adjusting timing for the best performance without preignition or detonation. Adjusting choke for the best cold mixture. Adjusting the carburetor for smooth idle and proper idle speed.
All of these things have been replaced by electronics that are pre-programmed. User or technician alike has no adjustments available.
According to Webster, tuning is the adjustment of engine parameters for peak performance.
A garage that continues to advertise tune up is ripping off the consumer in my opinion.
There is NO SUCH THING as a tune-up. Look it up.
TUNING an engine involves more than changing spark plugs and filters. A REAL tune up involves adjusting parameters of the engine for peak performance. Adjusting the dwell for the best spark. Adjusting timing for the best performance without preignition or detonation. Adjusting choke for the best cold mixture. Adjusting the carburetor for smooth idle and proper idle speed.
All of these things have been replaced by electronics that are pre-programmed. User or technician alike has no adjustments available.
According to Webster, tuning is the adjustment of engine parameters for peak performance.
A garage that continues to advertise tune up is ripping off the consumer in my opinion.
Galen Houk
Member
One of my Chrysler minivans you replaced the three rear plugs from underneath. Wasn't easy but very doable. Wife's 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee has a V-8. I tried changing plugs but gave up and took it to the garage. No space at all and covers over the plugs that I couldn't get off because the studs were longer than the space to get them off. Many of the gas tractors, you had to remove something to get to a plug but much easier of course. Engineers have to make many compromises to fit it all in the space the designers give them.
Billy Shafer
Well-known Member
My uncle had one of those. To a kid he sure did talk funny.
Texasmark1
Well-known Member
How'd that turn out? We went to bed in the 4th quarter with 5 minutes remaining. Figured it was a walk in the park from there on. It was a well played game for both teams as I saw it. What I found interesting was the interconnections between the players and coaches in what they had been doing in their careers and how they interacted.....example the Lion QB was from Texas.....here this guy was, a native Texan, on Texan turf, Playing "America's (Texas) Team" and trying to "whoopum". I liked his passes, especially that sneaky side arm he snuck in.
Cowboys are long overdue for another Superbowl win. Just maybe we'll go and just maybe we'll bring home the cup.
Cowboys are long overdue for another Superbowl win. Just maybe we'll go and just maybe we'll bring home the cup.
Gotta disagree with you. Fuel air mixture on a new engine is constantly adjusted by the computer as is timing and dwell.
Just gotta consider that once the plugs are in and filters replaced and that key is turned the constant adjustment process that monitors and adjust the system for peak performance kicks in. That little mechanic in a box, mounted somewhere on the vehicle takes over.
Rick
Rick
dr sportster
Well-known Member
Never really had problems changing plugs on a Northstar. You are laying on the engine ,but I never noticed a hard to get at number 8 plug.
Depends on the vehicle. Chrysler products that use the 3.7 and 4.7 engine use copper plugs and they need to changed every 30K miles. Most engines that use platinum plugs are good for 100K but I wouldn't leave them in that long. Most engines now have aluminum heads - replacing plugs at 100k means the plugs are most likely galled in place and you stand a good chance of removing the aluminum threads while turning out the steel plug. Also worn plug make the coils work harder and the individual coil on plug wires are very expensive.
I just removed the plugs on my son's "new" 1996 Ford F150 with a 5.0 engine. Thankfully those heads are steel because the iridium plugs were original - a full 20 years old with 130K miles on them and they looked it. The gap was massive and the plugs all looked burnt.
I just removed the plugs on my son's "new" 1996 Ford F150 with a 5.0 engine. Thankfully those heads are steel because the iridium plugs were original - a full 20 years old with 130K miles on them and they looked it. The gap was massive and the plugs all looked burnt.
A few years back I changed the plugs and wires on my 96 northstar. I don't remember a problem changing the plugs. What I do remember that all I needed to change was the wires as the plugs looked all good. I changed two plugs and wires in the 99 Silverado at 120,000 miles and at 230,000 miles I have yet to get around to changing the other six. the wires were the problem with that at the time. Needs the rest of the wires changed as it misses for a coupla miles when it is wet outside and then runs fine until it is wet out again. The body is rusted so bad I just use it to take mini horses in the back seat area to the vet.
Lions lost. I went to bed too about the same time you did. The first half was good but your boys walk all over the Lions the second half. I hate to admit it but it looks like the Cowboys could take it all this year. That rookie quarter back they have is doing a good job.
used red MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Coon Rapids, MN
JML I would call those "imitation" Duster and Challenger. The real ones had a 340 six pack or
440. They worked for you obviously and most likely cost less for gas and community suppport
fees requested by the black and white squad. Lol!
440. They worked for you obviously and most likely cost less for gas and community suppport
fees requested by the black and white squad. Lol!
T in NE
Well-known Member
- Location
- Cambridge, Nebraska
Is Clifford's still around?
They had stuff to make them little 225s think they were a lot bigger.
They had stuff to make them little 225s think they were a lot bigger.
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