[bonzipenguins]

I cant find them and nobody is any help trying to help me at the dealership they were saying $1,400 to do this

[bonzipenguins]

I cant find them and nobody is any help trying to help me at the dealership they were saying $1,400 to do this 98 Ford V10 E350

[Blazin72]

$1400 to change spark plugs? I think somebody is smoking something...

My dad has an E350 chassis cab with a 460 and doing anything on that engine is a pain in the butt. You can't even see the engine when you open the hood. Have you pulled the engine cover from the inside of the van?

[Bumpstick]

Try under the valve covers... Might check a labor guide to be sure that does sound a little rough...

[ernkazern]

The ignition system on the V10 is "coil on plug". You won't see the plugs or plug wires. Look for the coils, you have to pull them out to get to the spark plugs. My book says about 4 hours. The problem is that on some of the Ford engines the threads in the head are prone to coming out with the plug. That estimate sounds like they're assuming the worst and are estimating they'll have to replace the spark plug threads with heli coils on all 10 cylinders. That's my guess anyway.

[Bumpstick]

ernkazern... You may be right as most are that way but...? Seems like there were 2 years of the plugs under the valve covers...? I know they had them with the 4.6 engines we had a state police car that came in and when I went to look on the labor guide it said like 8.5 hours...! Went back out and looked at the car and low and behold no coils just wires going into the valve covers...!

[Jmark]

At that price, i'd be tempted to just sell it and go van shopping! LOL

[poncho62]

I know that the 4 cyl Ford in the Escape has the plugs under the intake manifold.....maybe this is similar.

[75gmck25]

I had a mechanic change the plugs on my 5.4L V-8, and he didn't have any trouble finding the parts. The V-10 is the same engine family.
For a 2000 Excursion with the V-10, Rockauto.com shows the plug as Motorcraft SP479 for $2.50 each. The Motorcraft COP is about $55.

You need a mechanic that knows how to work with Ford aluminum heads, so that he/she doesn't strip the threads when the plugs are changed. If the threads are damaged, sometimes there isn't enough to hold the plug and it will blow the plug out of the head. You have to either pull the head and rethread, or try to repair the threads.

You also need a mechanic who is familiar with Ford Coil on Plug (COP) and how to determine if one is bad. You want to replace the bad ones, but you have ten on your engine and they are $30-50 each.


Bruce

[Jmark]

I called my son last night. He's done lots of them and STRONGLY warns about tackling this job as a first time experience.
The plugs are under the coil pack. 10 of them! They are oriented close to the intake, running down each side. There is a 7mm screw holding in the coil pack. Remove the screw and un-plug the harnes to each pack. Carefully twist and pull on the pack to remove the approx 4" boot/wire from the plug. Warning! The plug boots are prone to failure too, ck them closely!
Next, using a swivel and long extension, remove the plug. They are DEEP in the head and usually a magnet is needed to get them up and out. Warning!!! Threads in the aluminum head may be damaged OR become damaged upon removal or install!! My son has seen more plugs literally blow out of the head for no reason than getting damaged during the r&r.

His suggestion.....USE ONLY FORD OEM PLUGS OR MOTORCRAFT PLUGS. The Delco's and Champs don't seem to hold up well in this application, but that is their shops suggestion.

"Usual" r&r time for him is 4 hours,,,,IF ALL GOES PRETTY WELL! He estimates that for a new person doing this, 6-8 hours, providing nothing goes wrong.

Kinda makes me glad I drive 3 older Chevies! LOL

Mark

[ernkazern]

I second the use only Ford or Motorcraft spark plugs motion. Also, find the correct torque spec for the plugs and use it!

[xxllmm4]

The ignition system on the V10 is "coil on plug". You won't see the plugs or plug wires. Look for the coils, you have to pull them out to get to the spark plugs. My book says about 4 hours. The problem is that on some of the Ford engines the threads in the head are prone to coming out with the plug. That estimate sounds like they're assuming the worst and are estimating they'll have to replace the spark plug threads with heli coils on all 10 cylinders. That's my guess anyway.
Reply With Quote

LOL Ford engineering at its finest! Sorry, I used to be a shuttle driver and we had one of the shuttles with the V10 and I loved that one. It ran really strong for a 15 passenger van!

[Chevrolet4x4s]

Besure to add anti sieze to the plugs when you replace them.
Shane

[barnym17]

They probably assume they will have to pull the body off the frame to repair the holes they are pretty sure will strip.This is pretty common with Ford nowadays.

[rreruption]

I've had some 5325 denso iridium plugs I marked down the price in my store would these be ok?I havent worked with too many V10's before I've done newer hemis,ls1s ,and even a 5.3L vortec but im kinda new to fords