2012 1500 4.7L V8 Spark Plugs

[zacharyaakov]

Hello all! I'm new here!

I got a 2012 RAM 1500 4.7L V8 about a month ago and have made a pledge to do ALL of my own maintenance on it. My dad is helping teach me and also has all the tools you could ever need but he lives a bit far away and can only help when he's in town...

I'm looking at doing the spark plugs sometime in the next month since the previous owner *doesn't recall* when they were last done... (tsk tsk).

I'm wondering if it's possible to do JUST the upper bank ones today/tomorrow with the limited tools i have. Would there be anything inherently wrong with just doing the upper intake spark plugs and leaving the lower exhaust bank spark plugs for a time when my dad is in town?

Thanks for the help!

 

[rzr6-4]

That would be fine. Just don't "I did half of them, its fine" and use it as an excuse to be lazy and not finish the job.

 

[Grams]

I would not do the job only half-azzed …especially since you don’t know when (if ever) they’d been done. I had a 4.7L v8 2012 Ram and I did the plugs at 100K….and they looked fine and may have been unnecessary…. I did them again at 205K and replaced the wires at the same time. (lowers are simple while doing this job.)

The MOST IMPORTANT thing about the 4.7L V8….. is the NARROW spark-plug WELL. You simply can NOT use a typical spark plug socket as it WILL get stuck in the well….and lead you to believe the plug is simply too tight.

I bought a special socket which claimed to be correct for this job….and it also failed to clear the sides of the spark-plug-well. I had to grind it even smaller.
So plan on buying the correct socket and Do NOT try to “cheap out” on that.

The job took about 2 hrs.

 

[svo855]

Anything worth doing is worth doing right. Don't accept half measures in life including auto maintenance.

 

[Burla]

I applaud you man, I think we all like your spirit. In life you will learn there is one general rule for everything, either do it right or save your self a lot of trouble and dont do it at all. Anything worth doing, as in any damn thing even making a hamburger, if it was worth doing it is worth doing right. I'd wait on pops, no harm as you are figuring it out to have a good ride or die next to you. I'm 60 years old and I still like having my bro's here when I do engine work and they are the same. No harm in it, yes do it alone if you need to but sometimes waiting a bit is the move.

 

[Grams]

In a previous thread I read the recommendation to “blow out” the spark plug well when replacing spark plugs. I like that but want to clarify it for anyone unfamiliar:

When first unscreweing the old plug…. only unscrew it partially…then use compressed air to “blow out” any debris in the spark plug well/socket….Before removing the plug completely. (Otherwise you may blow debris Into the cylinder.)

Also, put a little anti-sieze on the Middle Threads of the new plug before installation. This will facilitate installation, future removal, and improve electrical and thermal conductivity of the new plug. The middle threads so as to avoid getting any onto the electrodes.

Hope this helps.

This is a product I keep in the shop for such: