rdsx18

So I tried getting out my plugs on my 05 GT today, has almost 42,000 miles on it and I figured I should just do it and get the anti-seize on before it's too late, I've put this off for months now lol. To my amazement, every plug came out just fine! I was so stoked when I broke the last plug loose, the most excited I've been working on my car haha. Also, I DID NOT follow the TSB. I pulled my coils off, got all the crap out with compressed air, sprayed in WD-40, and went to look for my anti-seize. I came back and cranked away, all of them were easy, I had my torque wrench set to 25 ft lbs the whole time. Just excited and wanted to share

Lifter583

I would say you are ONE LUCKY SOB!!

eddypython

yah. I've been putting it off for that reason alone. But I am contemplating on doing cams here pretty soon and I might as well go ahead and change them out as well..

the horror if one breaks...

rdsx18

Oh I know, I cringed as I cranked on every plug, but I'm glad I did it as my plugs seemed pretty dirty too. I guess it is hit or miss if they break or not, because I didn't follow Fords way to do it and it was cake, but I have heard of people following the "right" way of doing it and breaking 4 or 5 plugs.

Blacksmoke

Did you replace them with the Champion 7989 one piece plugs?
If not better make sure you put anti seize on them.
Heck when we had the 06 we STILL put some on just to make sure they came out
easier the next go round.
The one piece plugs will have the break issue solved for you though

rdsx18

I didn't bother changing them, just put anti-seize on them. I only have 43k on them and they looked ok, just dirty.

Norm Peterson

I thought steel plugs going into aluminum heads called for anti-sieze, always???

I don't think I've ever done that combination any other way, on any engine, ever.


Norm

SCCAGT

The anti-seize is for the extended portion of the plugs, where the carbon builds up, not the threads. The plugs break BELOW the threads. Although, yes, it can be used there.

kenthicken

I was expecting the worst when I read the headline!!

Congrats! I actually had the dealer do mine, so if they broke one, it is on them. Frankly, I don't see why more people don't do their plugs that way, considering the disaster awaiting them if one of those plugs breaks. It goes against my grain to have a dealer do plugs, but in this case, the $200 is worth it to avoid the teardown.

Norm Peterson

I think it's because the type of person who buys a Mustang AND joins an internet forum or two dedicated to Mustangs is much more inclined to do his own work than, say, the average Camry or Aveo owner.

There certainly is resistance to paying close to $100/hour for a dealership technician to turn a wrench 8 times to get the old plugs out and 8 more times to get the new ones in, especially when that shop rate is closer to ten times your own hourly rate than only double.

You have to let somebody else drive your car. Not everybody gets comfortable with that.


Norm