Finally changed spark plugs at 105,000 km...
#1
Finally changed spark plugs at 105,000 km...
I finally had some spare time to change the spark plugs in my 2009 Ram Hemi. I was at 105,000 km (65,000 miles) so I was about double the recommended interval for changing them. Truck was running great although gas mileage had been off a bit lately.
It wasn't that difficult to change out the 16 plugs. As noted by others, the 2 plugs on the passenger side closest to the firewall are difficult to access, as are the 4 plugs on the driver's side closest to the firewall. It took me about 2 1/2 hours total which included gapping the plugs, and a beer break after changing 8 plugs. It's more time-consuming than difficult.
I was surprised how good the old plugs looked. A nice light "coffee brown" color and no build up of deposits. (Of course, I still remember changing spark plugs on 2-stroke oil injected motorcycles so the plugs on a modern 4 stroke are definitely going to look a lot better...). The only thing I noticed was that the gap on the old plugs was out of spec...significantly larger which isn't surprising.
Based on the condition of the plugs, I simply don't see the logic in changing them at 30,000 miles (50,000 km). I essentially went double that and my plugs still looked good and my truck was running great. When I've put 50,000 km on my new plugs I think I'll pull one or two and have a look, but if they look fine I'll change them out after 100,000 km.
It wasn't that difficult to change out the 16 plugs. As noted by others, the 2 plugs on the passenger side closest to the firewall are difficult to access, as are the 4 plugs on the driver's side closest to the firewall. It took me about 2 1/2 hours total which included gapping the plugs, and a beer break after changing 8 plugs. It's more time-consuming than difficult.
I was surprised how good the old plugs looked. A nice light "coffee brown" color and no build up of deposits. (Of course, I still remember changing spark plugs on 2-stroke oil injected motorcycles so the plugs on a modern 4 stroke are definitely going to look a lot better...). The only thing I noticed was that the gap on the old plugs was out of spec...significantly larger which isn't surprising.
Based on the condition of the plugs, I simply don't see the logic in changing them at 30,000 miles (50,000 km). I essentially went double that and my plugs still looked good and my truck was running great. When I've put 50,000 km on my new plugs I think I'll pull one or two and have a look, but if they look fine I'll change them out after 100,000 km.
#3
As good as my plugs looked for 105,000 km (65,000 miles) I did check the gap on a few of the ones I removed and in each case the gap was larger than spec'd. Since changing my plugs my gas mileage has come back up a bit too.