97 mark spark plug torque specs...

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ripped camel

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Search gave some people asking torque specs with guestimates, but noone verified what the correct specs were.

97 Mark VIII

Thanks guys....
 
So they don't strip....... But really 16 to 20 ft lbs. and always change your plugs on a cold engine.
 
Tiltedhalo said:
So they don't strip....... But really 16 to 20 ft lbs. and always change your plugs on a cold engine.
Click to expand...
:eek:

Manual says 6.6 to 7.3 lb-ft for '93, 6.5 to 15 lb-ft for '94, 7 to 15 lb-ft for '95-'96 and 12 to 15 lb-ft for '97 and '98. :confused:
 
ive always torqued mine to 22lbs, its 18-22 i think.............and yeah, COLD engine.








the service manual got errors here and there, it list our headlight bulb as a 9007 in one page :rolleyes:
 
I always do 16 and make sure the engine hasnt been started that day.
 
So you guys are saying lather on the anti-seize, redline the car for half an hour, and then use a breaker bar and tighten the plugs as tight as possible? ;)
 
i am in need or changing my spark plugs annd going from there? have anyone have ever done the seafoam to a 97 mark viii?
 
94BLU8 said:
i am in need or changing my spark plugs annd going from there? have anyone have ever done the seafoam to a 97 mark viii?
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I'm on the second phase of seafoam right now. I'm sending the first phase off to that company that tests oil. I'm curious what they'll find.

I was being sarcastic in my response about lathering on antiseize, tightening the plugs as tight as possible, and redlining the car for half an hour. Obviously you shouldn't redline your car for 30 minutes before changing your plugs. Not only would that seriously damage your engine, but the engine would be so hot you couldn't even touch it. ;)

Follow the torque specs that a few of these guys noted directly from the ford service manual.
 
ok see ive always changing my plugs when my engine was cold and then started and drove it for about 15-20 minutes to let it heatr up and get settled
 
I put mine in until the damn things are tight but not over tightened and I do not (maybe I should) use anti seize. No certain amount of torque, just tight and have replaced them again since 2005 and when I removed the last ones I put in, they came out fine and were still tight. No loose plugs, no seized plugs and all were burning white (cold engine). 764's is what I used the first time and this time I tried the platinum plugs and I like the 764's better. Platinum plugs don't mean anything against a true copper plug IMO. I had to see it to believe it. Jamie told me I was a retard for buying platinum plugs. Now I'm ready to just pull them again and put some new 764's back in.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that just puts the plugs in without using a torque wrench. Everyone has their own way of doing things and as you can see, different numbers of torque are being used. Cold engine, anti seize if you want or don't want and good and tight but don't go crazy trying to break one, you'll be just fine. 14lbs of torque compared to 22lbs of torque ain't gonna make the car run any better either way.
 
I prefer the copper plugs for blown applications. Last set I got for the Mark I had a coupon for E3s and after tearing apart a display for them and switching the plugs around it still had a larger brighter spark so i figured screw it, give them a shot. No more he said she said BS, just see how they do.
Well the car definatly starts quicker and idles smoother when the A/C is off (always idles like silk with it on). No power difference that I can feel but a dyno may show 1 or 2 hp. I did get slightly better mileage though. I drive the car hard and do 35% city driving (mile wise) and 50% time wise. I used to get 20.2 and now after 3000 miles I have averaged 21.6 so after 20 fill ups they pay for themselves. :D

Just pulled them yesterday to check them and they look like new still. Dont have to gap them eaither. :wrench
TQ wrench broke on another project so I just did it by feel on a cold engine.
Never did use a TQ wrench on my Cobras.
 
nolimit94VIII said:
I put mine in until the damn things are tight but not over tightened and I do not (maybe I should) use anti seize. No certain amount of torque, just tight and have replaced them again since 2005 and when I removed the last ones I put in, they came out fine and were still tight. No loose plugs, no seized plugs and all were burning white (cold engine). 764's is what I used the first time and this time I tried the platinum plugs and I like the 764's better. Platinum plugs don't mean anything against a true copper plug IMO. I had to see it to believe it. Jamie told me I was a retard for buying platinum plugs. Now I'm ready to just pull them again and put some new 764's back in.

I'm sure I'm not the only one that just puts the plugs in without using a torque wrench. Everyone has their own way of doing things and as you can see, different numbers of torque are being used. Cold engine, anti seize if you want or don't want and good and tight but don't go crazy trying to break one, you'll be just fine. 14lbs of torque compared to 22lbs of torque ain't gonna make the car run any better either way.
Click to expand...

Torque specs aren't to make the car run any better, it's to prevent spark plug blow out from overtightening onto an aluminum head. Mustangs are known for blowing spark plugs out for just that reason. My mustang blew 4 of it's 8 spark plugs out. I know the previous owner didn't use specs because when I went in to fix the holes he already tapped one of them.

Anyway there is a reason to use torque specs. The only specs ANYONE should be following is the ones in the ford service manual. That's what I was trying to get on here.
 
nolimit94VIII said:
I put mine in until the damn things are tight but not over tightened and I do not (maybe I should) use anti seize. No certain amount of torque, just tight ...
Click to expand...

Yea, and I swap wheels all the time without a torque wrench. And I assure you I am within a few foot pounds of the recommended torque spec on the lugnuts.

But spark plugs in an aluminum head?! I just don't have the same confidence without a torque wrench. LOL :D

I follow the book with 7 lb-ft of torque on a cool engine and use a thin coat of anti-seize on the '93. Believe it or not, I haven't changed the plugs yet on the '96.
 
kustomizingkid said:
22c's Driller?
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I started running the Autolites 764s. I did run 22c's but the last couple changes have been 12c's. Don't seem to have any fouling issues, but it doesn't idle a lot either. LOL :D

I change them every year once or twice whether it needs it or not. Hell, I've changed plug wires more than some people have changed their plugs. :)
 
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