On the 13th-gen F-150 this is a straightforward coil-on-plug job, but how long it takes depends entirely on which engine you have. The 5.0 V8 is the friendly one: pull the two plastic covers and all eight coils are right there. The 2.7 and 3.5 EcoBoost add charge-air tubing, brackets and coolant hoses that have to come loose first, and the rear bank on any of the V6 engines sits close enough to the firewall that you will want a wobble extension.
The thing people get wrong is the socket and the torque. These engines use a 9/16 in (14 mm) plug hex, not the 5/8 in from the old 4.6/5.4 modular trucks, and the plug torque is roughly 13 ft-lb into an aluminum head - about a third of what many people guess. Work only on a stone-cold engine, skip the anti-seize on the factory plated threads, and never try to re-gap a fine-wire iridium plug.
| Item | Type | |
|---|---|---|
| Socket set, 3/8 in drive 8, 10, 13 mm sockets Removes engine covers, charge-air duct clamps, ground straps and brackets to reach the coils. | Required | shop |
| Ratchet, 1/4 in drive With 3 in and 6 in extensions Coil bolts are small and in tight spots; a 1/4 in ratchet fits best. | Required | shop |
| Hex-head coil bolt socket 7 mm (some coils use 8 mm), 1/4 in drive Removes the single hold-down bolt on each ignition coil. | Required | shop |
| Trim/panel pry tool set Nylon Pops the plastic engine cover pins and cowl/wiper trim clips without breaking them. | Recommended | shop |
| Spark plug socket 9/16 in (14 mm) thin-wall magnetic or rubber-insert, 3/8 in drive The plug hex on 2.7/3.5 EcoBoost and 5.0 V8 is 9/16 in; thin wall is needed for the deep wells. | Required | shop |
| Spark plug socket 5/8 in (16 mm) magnetic, 3/8 in drive Needed if your engine (3.3 V6 / some Cyclone-family heads) uses the larger 5/8 in plug hex - check one plug first. | Recommended | shop |
| Extensions, 3/8 in drive 3 in, 6 in, 10 in, plus wobble/swivel adapter Reaches deep plug wells and clears the intake and firewall on the V6 rear cylinders. | Required | shop |
| Universal joint / swivel socket adapter 3/8 in drive Lets you get straight enough on the rear plugs of the V6 engines. | Recommended | shop |
| Torque wrench 3/8 in drive, 5-80 ft-lb range Plugs go into aluminum heads at a low, exact torque - overtightening strips threads. | Required | shop |
| Torque wrench, in-lb 1/4 in drive, 20-200 in-lb Coil bolts and small brackets are an inch-pound spec, not foot-pounds. | Recommended | shop |
| Compressed air or vacuum with nozzle Blow gun Clears dirt and leaves out of the plug wells before removing plugs so nothing falls in the cylinder. | Recommended | shop |
| Gap gauge Wire-loop or coin type Only to verify the factory gap on a suspect plug - do not bend fine-wire iridium tips. | Recommended | shop |
| Hose clamp pliers / flat screwdriver For spring and worm clamps on charge-air hoses EcoBoost intercooler and turbo plumbing must come loose to reach several coils. | Recommended | shop |
| Spark plugs Motorcraft per engine: 5.0 V8 (8), 3.5/3.3 V6 (6), 2.7 V6 (6) - buy by VIN Correct heat range and reach; EcoBoost plugs are engine-specific and pre-gapped. | Parts | shop |
| Dielectric grease Silicone Thin film inside each coil boot so it does not stick or arc next time. | Consumables | shop |
| Brake or electrical parts cleaner Aerosol Cleans oil and grit off the valve cover and coil boots. | Consumables | shop |
| Shop towels Keeps debris out of open plug holes and cleans up oil in coil wells. | Consumables | shop |
| Nitrile gloves and safety glasses Debris blows out of plug wells and hot manifolds are close by. | Safety | shop |
2.7 EcoBoost, 3.5 EcoBoost and 5.0 V8 all use a 9/16 in (14 mm) plug hex with a 7 mm hex-head coil bolt; the 3.3 NA V6 may use a 5/8 in (16 mm) plug hex, so pull one plug and check before buying. EcoBoost engines additionally require removing intercooler/charge-air ducting that the 5.0 does not, and the V6 engines have far tighter rear-bank access than the V8.
| Spark plugs (2.7/3.5 EcoBoost, 5.0 V8, aluminum head) | about 13 ft-lb (18 Nm) - verify in the service manual for your engine |
| Ignition coil hold-down bolt | about 53 in-lb (6 Nm) - verify in the service manual |
| Plastic engine cover / charge-air duct bolts | verify in the service manual (hand-snug, low in-lb) |
The 9/16 in (14 mm) plug hex and 7 mm coil bolt are correct for the 2.7/3.5 EcoBoost and 5.0 V8 in this generation; check one plug before buying a socket for the 3.3 V6, and confirm the exact plug torque for your engine in the Ford service manual since it is a low value into aluminum.
A 9/16 in (14 mm) thin-wall magnetic spark plug socket covers the 2.7 EcoBoost, 3.5 EcoBoost and 5.0 V8. The 3.3 V6 may take a 5/8 in (16 mm) socket, so check one plug first. You will also want 3 in, 6 in and 10 in extensions plus a wobble adapter.
Ford generally calls for around 60,000 miles on the turbocharged 2.7 and 3.5 EcoBoost and up to about 100,000 miles on the 5.0 V8 and 3.3 V6. Tuned or heavily towed EcoBoost trucks commonly benefit from 40,000-50,000 mile intervals. Check the maintenance schedule for your exact year.
Roughly 13 ft-lb (18 Nm) into the aluminum head - verify the exact figure for your engine in the service manual. Use a torque wrench; overtightening strips the head threads and undertightening causes misfires and blow-by.
Yes, on the 2.7 and 3.5 EcoBoost you need to loosen or remove the charge-air ducting and a few brackets to get straight access to several coils. Cover the open intake while it is off, and make sure every clamp and boot is fully seated on reassembly or you will get boost-related codes.