Been reading the post about plug change intervals, been thinking about doing the change over the last couple days. Questions on the subject is: 1) How about E3 plugs, any comments on them? 2) Posts are saying 16 plugs on the 5.7, where would the other 8 be located besides under the coil packs on the L and R? Are there two per coil pack for the 2 per cylinder?


BTW, saw the idea about E3 from the latest editions of Power Nation on Spike.

 

My feelings about changing spark plugs is somewhat different than some of the members here I guess. Each one of our trucks came with a manual from the factory in which the factory gave recommended time frames and/or mileage to change your spark plugs. The manual also recommends the type of plugs to use. You can choose to follow the factory recommendations or you can do what ever in hell you like. It's your truck. You paid for it. I don't know if you'll get a hassle from your dealer about your warranty or not if you don't follow the factory recommendation. I just think it's cheap insurance to follow their recommendations. You paid 30-40-50k for your truck--$100-$200 isn't to much of an investment as far as I'm concerned to change your plugs. Mine came with copper and that what I use to replace them every 30k. I know---but they looked new---so what, I changed them anyway.
Jay

 

jay good point. i have 273,000 on my 09 ... prof is in the pudding

 

Yes, there are two spark plugs under each coil pack on later (2007 and up?) 5.7 Hemis and there are two spark plug boots attached to the coil. The spark plug type and heat range has changed over the years. Earlier, up to 2012s got copper core plugs (Champion REC12MCC4 in '10, '11, & '12). In my experience these perform exceptionally well and will go well beyond the factory recommended change limit. However, as with any spark plug you'll see gap increases as mileage is accumulated. This will affect ignition timing at some point by retarding the spark event. Electrode erosion will affect high RPM firing as well.


I realize changing spark plugs on modern engines is not always a pleasant task, especially on 5.7 Hemis. But installing a different type may or not work for you. The platinum and iridium materials themselves may produce a longer lasting viable plug, but in every case where I've compared cross-referenced plugs the heat range is obviously different! In some cases the cross-referenced plug comes with a suggested wider gap and the ignition coils may not have been designed to consistently provide a reliable higher spark voltage with them (4 cylinder GMs especially).


There are plenty of examples on the web of people complaining of problems encountered after attempting to cross-reference a spark plug. My recommendation is you can't go wrong with the factory recommended spark plug.


Best regards,
Dusty


2014 Ram Big Horn 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP70, 3.92 LSD, factory dual exhaust, 20” wheels. Now at: 023073 miles.

 

^^^^^^^ Excellent information!!!!!!!
Jay

 

The 2014 Rams with 5.7 Hemi motors are now getting an iridium spark plug with a factory change interval of 100,000 miles. (Chrysler P/N SP143877-AA). These...I'm pretty sure...may have been in the 2013s as well. Check your owners manual.


Regards,
Dusty
2014 Ram Big Horn 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP70, 3.92 LSD, factory dual exhaust, 20” wheels. Now at: 023073 miles.

 

Some 13's but not all. Mine had the old style.
Jay

 

2009 ram I'm a mechanic at ford dealership. change mine every 30,000 miles like clockwork no matter how good they look as I have lifetime warranty. I see where I work warranty denied every day for not having receipts for maintenance called for in the owners manual at mileage in the book.

if I didn't have warranty I'd probably let them go 50,000 judging by the way they look at 30,000.

 

Boy, Ford sure is tight on their warranty. An acquaintance of mine had to pay for a differential repair himself because he had no record of a fluid change. Our local newsrag ran an article last year and according to that Ford warranty denials were the highest in the industry.


Regards,
Dusty


2014 Ram Big Horn 1500 Quad Cab 2WD, 5.7 Hemi, 8HP70, 3.92 LSD, factory dual exhaust, 20” wheels. Now at: 023139 miles.

 

Ford's warranty denial policy is the reason I've been driving Rams since 1998. Had a valve literally fall apart in the cylinder at 14,000 miles on a new 1997 5.4 Triton. They cited multiple bogus reasons for denial. First they said because I modified the truck by installing a body lift, then it was the fact I was using the truck for towing my 3000 pound bass boats to paying tournaments (saying it made the truck commercial use).

Put in a complaint with Ford Corporate who assigned a regional rep who called called the dealership, never talked to me and denied my warranty. The worst part is they knew they had bad pistons out there because the Chinese factory was having casting issues.

Finally got my lawyer involved who sent one letter and they did an about face. Got it fixed (five weeks), didn't trust the truck and the day after I picked it up I traded it on a new 1998 Ram.


Another quick story - got a hunting buddy with a 2013 Powerstroke. His HPFP system died - well documented problem with the 6.7 engines. They denied warranty because his fuel was contaminated - bad diesel. Funny thing, we both filled up the day his died on the way to go on a dove hunt, same Pilot truck stop where hundreds of big rigs also filled that day. 23,000 miles on it at the time (last fall), well under warranty and they billed him $11,000...