Changing plugs on 125k 4.7 v-8... IE gas milage

[cobraearl]

Ive heard all kinds of HORROR stories from folks with 4.6 ford engines having their plugs seize and strip out.. My question is: If I start to change the plugs on my 2001 4.7 Dakota with 125k am I apt to have stripped threads and other issues? I have little experience with Aluminum heads and dont want to create problems for myself that will cost MUCH money to solve.

The reason im thinking about changeing the plug is 13.8 - 14.2 gas milage. its a 4 door 4wd with a positive traction rearend, 3.55 ratio, 125k. Some times it feels like it is missing driving down the road. I dont even get 15mpg on the interstate. I know its not gonna get GREAT GAS MILAGE... but the way i drive it, I expect better than 14mpg.

Is there some sensor or other item that goes out on these vehicles that causes bad gasmilage? Had advance auto pull the codes and there were none. and no check engine light.

[cobraearl]

Hasnt anyone ever changed their plugs on a 4.7???

[chirorod]

I haven't changed plugs on a 4.7. But it could be that problems happen when changing plugs on a hot engine. And it could be that some fords are prone to trouble. I remember when the Volvo V6's came out that the factory specified that the engine had to sit overnight before changing the plugs. Shouldn't have any trouble if the 4.7 has sat for a couple of hours or so. Then use anti-seize on the new threads.
Just because heads might be aluminum doesn't automatically mean trouble. My Volvo 240 is going on half a million miles. It has an aluminum head, and the plugs have been changed a bunch of times. For some silly reason, the car lasts a lot of miles, but the plugs don't.

[JVMopar]

I've done them with no problems.

[cobraearl]

THANKS

earl

[dakman1]

The problem was a ford issue. If I remember it had something to do with the plugs used.

[old woolie]

Originally Posted by dakman1

The problem was a ford issue. If I remember it had something to do with the plugs used.

I believe it was the very small amount of threads in the heads that led to Dorfs problems.