Spark plugs

[TC Chris]

My little 4-cyl. Ranger has the tapered-seat spark plugs. When it reached about 100K I figured I should replace them whether they needed it or not (they did). It wasn't a problem. Now I've got another 88K on the engine and was thinking about doing it again. But AFTER I did the last job I read something about the tapered-seat plugs seizing up and breaking off. Hey, this is my daily driver and I don't have time to mess around with disasters like that.

So, is it a real problem, or should I just get a T-handle socket wrench & twist away?

Chris Campbell

[electra225]

How else can you get the spark plugs out? Most of the spark plug removal issues are on the 4.6 and 5.3 liter V-8's.

[Firedome]

Spray some Aero Kroil (supposed to penetrate a one-millionth sized gap) all around the seats and let it sit a day or 2. Also wonder if they're best done hot? Greg?

[hermitcrab]

I thought the 3 valve triton fords were the ones that broke easily?...be thankful you don't have a Hemi.... 16 spark plugs .. I changed mine last summer... only took me about 4 hours of laying on top of the motor.... and it is uncomfortable

[TC Chris]

How else can you get the spark plugs out?

I figured that if these were breakage-prone I'd take it to the shop where they would likely have an extractor.

Chris Campbell

[Firedome]

Yes, shops never seemed to appreciate it when I'd bring them a job I'd already botched, like a broken off exhaust manifold bolt.

[electra225]

Always, always, ALWAYS, remove spark plugs with the engine cold. Particularly important on engines with aluminum heads. The reason is the dissimilar expansion rates of the plugs and the head. Removing plugs with the engine warm is the #1 surest way to mess up the threads. After you get the plugs out, be sure to put some anti-seize compound on the new spark plug threads. This will prevent them seizing into the heads and goes a long way to assure you don't damage threads, again, particularly important on aluminum heads. The Ford Triton spark plug issue was due partly to poor engineering and partly due to hamfisted auto mechanics using air tools to remove the plugs. That is more commonly done than it was in my day. It makes my jaws hurt seeing somebody do it. The older cars like Chris's 283, or my old Buick 401 with their heavy cast iron heads don't matter much. You'll break off the plug before you mess up the threads. Breaking off plugs used to be fairly common on flathead engines used in farm machinery. Water would set around the plug and rust them to the head.

[William]

My little 4 cylinder Ford Ranger uses 8 spark plugs. Why, I have no idea, and they are a pain to change.

Bill

[electra225]

Ford did that awhile on the 2.3 liter engines and maybe some others. Emissions would be my guess.

[William]

I sure wasn't for extra power.

Bill

[electra225]

Do you remember the Merkur? It was a strange little car, built in Germany, i think. Basically on a Mustang or Pinto chassis. It had an eight-plug 2.3 liter Pinto engine with a turbocharger. VERY quick little car, but a complete piece of junk outside of its sturdy power train. Ford used the turbo 2.3 four banger in a model of Thunderbird. And, of course, in the Mustang. The 2.3 was not exciting when naturally aspirated, but it was a very reliable and sturdy engine.

[William]

It is a very reliable engine, and truck. I think mine was built when Ford and Mazda were partnered together. I have a manual tranny, 4 speed with overdrive. I have done very little to it over the years. The major thing now is rust, and it has lots of that. All the brake lines were replaced a few years ago because they rusted out. As long as it keeps going, and the body does not fall off I will keep driving it.

Bill

[Motorola minion]

Agreed that 2.3L was a German designed motor just like the Mercury Capri's 2.8 L V6. At least Ford started with a good design, from Europe where fuel economy ruled over power.

Just remember the infamous 4cyl option on Vega, Skyhawk, Monza, Astre, Sunbird etc all used a 2.3 L engine. Even after they got smart and used a 2.5 L Pontiac Iron Duke, the little cars were still crappy tho'

[electra225]

The post office still drives those little mail trucks based on the GM S-10 chassis. Powered by the Iron Duke and a TH 200 automatic. The Iron Duke sounded bad, but they were hard to kill. People liked them, since they were a reasonable blend of performance and economy. The only issue I had with them was they put the distributor on the back of the engine, hard to get to, hot parts all around it. And it would occasionally break a head bolt. Some of those mail trucks must be approaching 30 years old by now. Phoenix still runs thousands of them. The Ford 2.3 was a far superior engine, though. They used it as an industrial engine on tree chippers.

[TC Chris]

My little 4 cylinder Ford Ranger uses 8 spark plugs. Why, I have no idea, and they are a pain to change.

Bill

My old Ranger had 2 plugs/cyl. and 2 valves. The new one ("New" that is) has 1 plug/cyl. and 4 valves.

Chris Campbell

[TC Chris]

I sure wasn't for extra power.

Bill

Both of my Rangers have been peppy little things. I bet the 4 cyl. Ranger will beat the 283 Chevy off the line. In the old one I passed 5 cars on the highway once. Drop it down into 3rd and off she goes.

Chris Campbell

[William]

Chris, you Ford rangers must have the high performance 4 cylinders. Mine can hardly get out of it's own way.

Bill

[19&41]

My truck has the tapered seat plugs. Removed (?) them cold. broke 3 sets of threads off in the head. Had to tow the truck to my mechanic, who admonished me to never try to remove that type plug with the engine cold. That will be my plan from here on out.

[Firedome]

That Pinto/Ford 4 cyl 2.3 sohc engine was German built, had one in a Pinto wagon, a good little engine that would take a lot of thrashing.
The German built sohc 3.8 V6 in our '07 Mustang is also a very impressive engine, with more for-real net power than the original 289 Hi-Po "271 hp" V8 that was optional in the original '64-66 Mustang. Who needs the GT and it's high insurance rates.

Merkur was a modified Ford Sierra XR-4ti, with no relationship to Mustang or Pinto. It was brought to the US by then Ford of Europe CEO Bob Lutz, who'd earlier been CEO of BMW, and was responsible for bringing the awesome 2002 here (one of the funnest cars ever! it was the car that put BMW on the map in the US). Lutz was later Chrysler COO and finally was GM CEO before Mary Barra... boy that guy got around! I have huge respect for his car-savvy. Anyway, Merkur was intended by Lutz to be a BMW competitor, which it was in performance but not on the sales floor.

[Motorola minion]

I recall reading about Merkur ad wondered why there was not more interest and where it went, sales of course! Had a GF once who had a 94(?) Capri convertible coupe. I did not get to drive it much