New plugs

[duhtroll]

I just got quoted $225 for a set of new plugs installed.

Holy crap.

Gotta go look up the part # for those colder plugs (180 stat) and order them myself.

I hate our car dealership.

-A

[Blackened300a]

I spent $100 for Denso plugs and $15 for the 180 stat from Reinhart and put them in myself. Even with the shipping costs it was $75 cheaper then the dealer using OEM parts

[Mard]

Just bought a set of factory recommended Motorcraft platinums from my local dealership for $35.00. Installation's a piece of cake on these motors.

[FordNut]

Just bought a set of factory recommended Motorcraft platinums from my local dealership for $35.00. Installation's a piece of cake on these motors.
That's right, plug installation is a breeze. Cold engine, torque to ~10 ft-lb., light dab of anti-seize optional.

[jstevens]

I thought these were 100K plugs in these engines?

[MMM2003]

I just got quoted $225 for a set of new plugs installed.

Holy crap.

Gotta go look up the part # for those colder plugs (180 stat) and order them myself.

I hate our car dealership.

-A

Just installed a new set of Denso's today. Surprisingly, the old set still looked good after 60k miles. It was very simple. I ordered a set of IT-22 from Dennis.

Good luckl!

Peter aka MMM2003

[CRUZTAKER]

The cooler MOTORCRAFT plug is the AWSFA12C.

The easiest aquisition of this particular plug is through the L/M dealer.
The best price, if you do not know someone that will give you the lowest price, can be found from our RAY, 'The Dealer' (http://www.mercurymarauder.net/forums/member.php?u=1210).

[ctrcbob]

Whats with these Ford/L-M Dealer Service Departments. The Ford Dealer that I use, "normally" does not overcharge me for service (see end of post) however one day I was talking with the new Service Manager and asking why he was out for a few days the week before. He told me he had to go to an "orientation meetine" (or something like that) for Service Managers. It was so Service Departments can "Maximize their profits". (I like to say, to screw the customer). I've had them do work for me and the charge was reasonable, but once, they changed out a fuel filter (on my 98 Continental) and they ***** me on the charge. I let them know that I thought they way overcharged me and from then on, I would have neighborhood shops do work on the car. I now get the full price in advance and if I don't like it, I get an indepndent shop to do the work. I let them know right up front, and I've had them drop the price "because I'm such a good customer".

[RF Overlord]

I thought these were 100K plugs in these engines?If you believe the same marketing hyperbole that claims we have "lifetime" transmission fluid and rear-end lube...

Even if the plugs *might* last that long, it's prudent to pull them and check their condition every 30,000 miles or so. It will tell you a lot about the condition of the motor as well.

[TripleTransAm]

I thought these were 100K plugs in these engines?

They could be, under the right circumstances (proper burns within specs, moderate abuse, etc.). Whether the MM's calibrations will permit this is another story. However, you can't expect them to maintain 100% operational performance until that point.

My WS6 is bone stock with the exception of a slight exhaust tweak down at the far end and when I replaced my original plugs at 45000 miles, they still had the little platinum pucks on them and the only indication of any benefit to changing them was a bump in fuel mileage, which is odd considering I hadn't really seen any decrease to begin with.

On the other hand, many of my f-body club members who messed with their mixtures through MAF porting and other such 'free' mods saw there platinum pucks disappear within 20000 miles. So it's all relative.

But one thing for sure: I pulled my plugs at 20000 miles to check on them, and things were really starting to seize up. This is characteristic of aluminum heads, and it pays to loosen and retighten every 20000 miles or so to make sure your original plugs don't become part of the heads!

In the case of my WS6, I was told my original plugs were good for 100k kilometers, not miles. Is the MM's plug life really claimed to be 100k miles??

['03BlkMM]

I bought the Motorcraft AGSF22FM1 which is one heat range colder than stock and came on a lot of the Supercharged 03-04 Cobra's from the factory. I didn't see any need to go more than one heat range colder than stock on a car without nitrous or a supercharger installed. Anyway you can get the plugs in whatever heat range you want at a decent price at www.rockauto.com (http://www.rockauto.com).

[duhtroll]

The plugs are slightly overpriced there - it's the freakin' 2.2 hours of labor they charge . . .

They keep telling me "the manual" states that plug replacement on this engine says 2.2 hours.

Can someone show me where to find a copy of this manual (even if I have to buy it) so I can tell them they are full of sh|t?

If the manual DOES say 2.2 hours for a 0.5 hour job, why ever go to a dealer?

Thanks for all replies.

-A

[TripleTransAm]

They keep telling me "the manual" states that plug replacement on this engine says 2.2 hours.

They are EXTREMELY well stocked with manure.

I usually budget extra time when doing something on a particular engine for the first time ever, to factor in the "getting to know you" time (you know, dinner, dancing, how the heck does one disconnect this particular part, etc.). Even then, I did all 8 plugs including very meticulous gap checking in 1/2 hour back in early 2004. I know this because I somehow managed to start tearing apart my MM's engine not an hour before my wife and I were supposed to meet some friends visiting from out of town. That includes yanking that donkey dong intake path, etc. Oh, and this also includes some careful looking at those two driver's side rear cylinders, because... well, you know why.

1/2 an hour for a 4.6l newbie (the motor, not me... I displace more than 4.6l after this holiday season).

2 hours is what you'd expect a newbie to change spark plugs on an LS1 Firebird, including medical attention to the scrapes and bruises on one's arms and hands.

I guess they're trying to recoup all the shortchanging that goes on with other warranty-related jobs due to the parent company's belt-tightening (this happens in most other manufacturers as well).

[Mard]

I work at a sloths pace and at times feel IQ challenged when working on cars, but it took me just over 2 hours to replace the plugs the install the Granatelli plug connectors the other day.

I would think a trained mechanic could cut my time in half. Not sure how your dealership can come up with 2.2 hours.

[Marauderjack]

TWO hours for engine cool dowm and TWO TENTHS to actually change them!!!!

Marauderjack

[Blackened300a]

TWO hours for engine cool dowm and TWO TENTHS to actually change them!!!!

This may be true, They know its a easy swap and they added the "cool down" time to make another hour service charge.