Spark plug replacement

[salps]

Looking to save some $$$ and replace plugs myself. Any tips, special tools and what plug do you recommend ?
Thanks Scott

[pdavey]

Looking to save some $$$ and replace plugs myself. Any tips, special tools and what plug do you recommend ?
Thanks Scott

It is a pretty straight forward job so you will have no trouble doing it yourself.

A couple tips:

Find a comfortable place to sit Indian style in your engine compartment and get comfy

Plan about 2.5 hours the first time

No need to replace wires unless there is a break

Go with the champion stock spark plugs as they work the best in the Hemi

You will need a sparkplug socket, two 3" extensions and a universal joint for the rear plugs

Change them two at a time

Coat the threads with a thin coat of anti-sieze and use diletric grease in the boots

When your done have a beer and enjoy the fact you didn't pay someone $200 plus to change them.


Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk 2

[salps]

Great info thanks. Any parts I need to remove to get to the plugs?
Scott

[salps]

Great info thanks. Any parts I need to remove to get to the plugs?
Scott

EDIT....

[VA_Wagon Man]

Just remember there's 16 plugs. 8 of them are under the coil packs, that's all you have to remove.

[GunniPWguy]

What is the proper gap spec?

[Throttle 8]

45 thou

[GunniPWguy]

45 thou

Thanks. I thought so. Just didn't have my manual handy to check.

[Juday]

Is it true you have to replace these every 30k?....................

[Pit Slave]

Is it true you have to replace these every 30k?....................

It is "recommended" that you change them. I had the factory plugs in untill the 55k miles, about the same time it started to feel rough at idle. The gap was about 65~70 thousands. I could've been a cheap shit and filed them down and reset the gap, but I replaced them instead.

[pdavey]

Is it true you have to replace these every 30k?....................

They are cheap enough you should. I do mine every 30-40K. Last time I changed mine @ 35K they were only off a little in gap. Changing my wife's on her 300C @45K they were off quite a bit more. So 30-40K works for me.

Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using Tapatalk 2

[Throttle 8]

I changed mine out at 45,000km (27,000 miles). The plugs looked good, but the gap had increased to 50/thousandths. Plugs are cheap, and easy to do (although time consuming.) Better safe than sorry is my motto. Also, I always tell my wife---"A clean car drives better!" just to piss her off! When she would ask how, I would tell her that if the owner took the time to clean a car well, he probably looked after routine maintenance as well; whereas if a guy didn't bother to clean anything, he probably doesn't bother with maintenance either.

[flattire]

Use stock plugs.

Changed mine at 40,000+ miles and they still looked "good" (.050).

There is a vent or something that needs to come off first...just a few bolts hold it on.

I used a socket with rubber insert and has built on universal type swivel on top.Craftsman part.

Air ratchet would make things faster...lots of turning to get them in and out.

It is NOT as difficult as it looks...even the "back" plugs.

[twistedpw]

there are a few things u can do to keep from having headaches while doing this job, always use a plug socket with a swivel or ujoint on the socket or built in.


they will keep you from getting misaligned and from breaking the top off your plug.

also for putting your plugs in, get yourself about 6" of 5/16" rubber fuel line and take 1" of one end and cut off the outer layer of rubber (the layer on the out side of the brading) and remove the brading you can see. now you have a plug in stall tool that will keep you from cross threading a plug. you put the stripped end of the fuel line over you plug and you can thread it in by hand, and if you happen to cross thread the plug it will just turn in the hose doing no damage to your head or new plug. NEVER USE A POWER TOOL TO START A PLUG you will eventually cross thread one, then your into more work than you wanted. you should be able to run the plug all the way in with the fuel hose tool and for the best results use a torque wrench to tighten plugs evenly, 7-15 ft-lbs (higher compression engines can be fussy).

[salps]

Everybody still recommend NGK's LZFR5C-11 for a stock 2005 Power wagon? Gap? Etc....
Thanks Scott

[salps]

Can't find LZFR5C-11 anywhere? Is LZTR4A-11 the replacement?
Thanks Scott

[coder]

Can't find LZFR5C-11 anywhere? Is LZTR4A-11 the replacement?
Thanks Scott

Stock champion plugs are the best IMO...

[Calvinm119]

Changed out the plugs today. Pretty easy, just time consuming. When I looked at each of them and the gap for all were .059 to .060. I also checked and saw no evidence of pre-detonation or oil. They were pretty rusty though. I don't think the previous owner ever did a tune up. oh well, I'm glad I got them out. Cheers!

[GunniPWguy]

I changed mine out at 45,000km (27,000 miles). The plugs looked good, but the gap had increased to 50/thousandths. Plugs are cheap, and easy to do (although time consuming.) Better safe than sorry is my motto. Also, I always tell my wife---"A clean car drives better!" just to piss her off! When she would ask how, I would tell her that if the owner took the time to clean a car well, he probably looked after routine maintenance as well; whereas if a guy didn't bother to clean anything, he probably doesn't bother with maintenance either.

I tell my wife a clean truck improves aerodynamics (less drag) for better gas mileage (she already knows I am nuts) I am due for a plug change as well. time to roll up the sleeves and get to it. Thanks for the useful tips.

[GunniPWguy]

Spent the better 1/2 of Saturday changing the spark plugs. Got myself into positions on that engine that I didn't know I could do! The back ones were the hardest. Thanks to you guys for the pointers and tips on what tools to use otherwise it would've made a pretty difficult task damn near impossible without the right combination of sockets and ratchet attachments. The tubing on the end of the plug to thread the new ones in trick from Rusty was the best.
Glad I did it. the old plugs were all at around 0.65 gap. They were due for a change. Not too bad considering they were probably the original plugs!

[flattire]

Yep...those sure look origional. What's the mileage on them?

Did you put stockers back in?

[bajaben48]

So a couple of things. 16 plugs? I had no idea. I just went and looked and holy crap 16 plugs!. Is that a hemi thing?
Second...I though it was a little strange that it could take a half a day but ....ya I can see why, that break master cylinder is just blocking everything.
I will keep this in mind when it comes time for the change. thanks

[flattire]

I found it to be MUCH easier than I expected. It took maybe 3 hours from time I opened hood until I closed it. Here's how.

Start with cold engine. (Mine sat overnight.)
I did have friend helping. (Two senior citizens.)
Use socket shown above. (Mine was Craftsman.)
Broke plugs loose with hand ratchet . (Removed with air ratchet.)
Start new plug in by hand with same socket , screw in with air ratchet, final torque by hand.
Rear plugs were somewhat more difficult but not as bad as it looked.

Note: If you have been lifting weights it will not be as easy. Skinny arms = easy day on this job.

[GunniPWguy]

Yep...those sure look origional. What's the mileage on them?

Did you put stockers back in?

113k on em if they are the originals. I am pretty sure they are. PO had all the reciepts from his maintenance records and plugs weren't part of em. OEM Champions went back in. The toughest part for me was getting into a comfortable position to get the strong arm on the rachet to break the old ones free. After that it was just time consuming checking gap and applying anti seize/dielectric grease, etc. to 16 of those bad boys. Oh and there was a bit of going on as well.

[fyrfytr704]

Hey Gents,

Apologies for bringing this thread back from the dead. I am about to tackle some maintenance on my truck (2008 PW w/ almost at 100k miles) and I was doing a double check on spark plug gap. My manual says 0.040" but it looks like the general consensus is 0.045" - five thousandths isn't much, but I figured I'd check into the wisdom behind it, especially with a copper plug (I'm replacing with Champion copper plugs).

Is there a story to logic behind the larger gap?