Replace spark plugs at least every 60,000 km (Focus Turnier 1)

Ford's maintenance plan requires replacing spark plugs every 60,000 km. But if your car with old spark plugs starts more reluctantly than before, or jerks after starting, then the spark plugs could have gone on strike, for example due to burnt electrodes or invisible cracks in the ceramic insulator - these cracks readily absorb fuel condensate when starting a cold engine. And since the spark always chooses the path of least resistance, it is laid not through the electrodes of the spark plug. If you do not trust your old spark plugs, try with a new set of spark plugs. Always replace the spark plugs only when the engine is cold and with a special spark plug wrench or a nut-type spark plug wrench.

Stages of work

Disconnect the spark plug connectors.



Well shielded: To get to the spark plug connectors, on 1.4 and 1.6L engines you must first disconnect the fuel lines on the cylinder head cover and remove the cover (six bolts). On 1.8 and 2.0L engines, carefully remove the spark plug connectors from the spark plug holes in the cylinder head cover. When doing this, rotate the spark plug connectors by about 25°, this makes it easier to remove them.



Loosen the spark plugs about three turns and blow out the spark plug holes thoroughly with compressed air. This will prevent dirt from getting into the holes and then into the cylinders during disassembly.

Unscrew the spark plugs using special keys and arrange them in the order of the cylinders outside the engine compartment.

Before installation, lightly lubricate the threads of the new spark plugs with copper paste and screw them into the holes by hand (without twisting), then tighten them another quarter of a turn (90°) using a spark plug wrench. This corresponds approximately to the prescribed tightening torque (25 Nm).

If you trust used spark plugs, carefully clean the threads of the plugs with a brass brush before installation. Otherwise, installation is the same as with new plugs, but turn the spark plug wrench only 15° (the sealing ring in used spark plugs is already compressed).

Practical advice

To remove a jammed spark plug, do not use force, otherwise you can strip the threads in the cylinder head (light metal). In this case, warm up the engine and then try to unscrew the spark plug. Be careful - with a hot engine, you can quickly burn your hands. Therefore, wait with installation until the engine cools down. There is also a technical reason for our recommendation - cold spark plugs installed on a hot engine will then sit as if welded. The next time you replace the spark plug, it will be easier to dismantle if you lightly lubricate the threads with heat-resistant copper-containing grease before installation.

For more information, please visit the website (Fordbook.ru)