6.4 Hemi 100K Spark Plug Change

[mtofell]

So, I'm the boring old-ish guy with absolutely zero mods, have had the oil changed at the dealer and have a lifetime maxcare warranty I want to keep in place. Currently at 83K, I'll be coming up on the the need to replace the spark plugs soon. (manual says @ 100K). Apparently, there are 16 of them (but only 8 cylinders - when did things get so complicated?) and the dealer wants $400 to do the job. I see I can buy the plugs for about $8/ea so it looks like I'm paying the dealer $275 to replace 16 spark plugs.

Has anyone done this themselves and are there any tricks or difficulties? In my younger years I've swapped engines and trannys, done brake jobs and all kinds of stuff but between a bad back, lots of kids and owning a company that allows me to write off vehicle expenses, I just don't mess with things much. I'm leaning towards the dealer just to keep the warranty gods happy buy paying $275 for a half hour work might just be my tipping point.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

So, I'm the boring old-ish guy with absolutely zero mods, have had the oil changed at the dealer and have a lifetime maxcare warranty I want to keep in place. Currently at 83K, I'll be coming up on the the need to replace the spark plugs soon. (manual says @ 100K). Apparently, there are 16 of them (but only 8 cylinders - when did things get so complicated?) and the dealer wants $400 to do the job. I see I can buy the plugs for about $8/ea so it looks like I'm paying the dealer $275 to replace 16 spark plugs.

Has anyone done this themselves and are there any tricks or difficulties? In my younger years I've swapped engines and trannys, done brake jobs and all kinds of stuff but between a bad back, lots of kids and owning a company that allows me to write off vehicle expenses, I just don't mess with things much. I'm leaning towards the dealer just to keep the warranty gods happy buy paying $275 for a half hour work might just be my tipping point.

Brother, I'm with you about letting the dealership do it.

I've done all my own work for over 40 yrs and usually had at least 3 vehicles plus 4 motorcycles at any given time. Built 4 sbc engines from scratch, etc, etc.

I'm 60 now, had 2 back fusions, broken collar bone, shoulder, wrists, not to mention the arthritis and neuropathy.

I looked real hard at my engine and I don't see how the hell I'm gonna get at those plugs. Sits waaay back under the firewall.

I did install the grille guard, headache rack, cat back exhaust, CAI, LED lights all around and other crap but.....

It kills me but I think its time to watch.

 

[GsRAM]

Oh come on guys! You can do it! It looks daunting because of all the shrouds and BS they put on these modern engines. You may have to move some stuff out of the way but I'd be willing to bet once you did, it's very doable.

Granted there may be some cussing and wrench throwing involved (lol) but once done you will have the satisfaction of knowing it's done right and not by some dealer parts swapper.

Just my .02 but on something that critical I'll do it myself regardless of difficulty so I know how tight they are, that they are gapped to spec, (and not just thrown in out of the box unchecked), etc

As long as I can turn a wrench I'll do my own work. When the day comes or I live long enough that I can't, that'll be a sad day for me.

Good luck!

 

[Hd74ica]

I'm 70 years old and have rebuilt 74 inch Harleys so have some mechanical skills, that said its easier now to pay someone to bust their knuckles turning wrenches. This '18 6.4 will probably outlive me. LOL Only wish I would have bought this truck 10 years ago.

 

[Iron Outlaw]

Have you tried getting a quote from another mechanic besides the dealer? Mine Is usually way cheaper and I trust him more

 

[lpennock]

Just went through this on my mini van. The $400 also included cleaning the EGR stuff. You may want to check what is included in the service.

Don't know anything about the 6.4 but my van had aluminum heads so I wanted to push the potential of thread damage in to the dealers lap because of the life time warranty.

Sent from my SM-T350 using Tapatalk

 

[pwjouster]

im 26 and just had my L5 S1 fused and disc replaced.
if i could do this job i would.
sometimes, we get taken out of the game. and its fun to blame other people when things dont go as planned

 

[SouthTexan]

If I can replace my VG turbo and stock manifold with performance pulse manifold and S364.5/80 turbo on my 14..... changing spark plugs should be cake.

Took three days(after work), a lot of cussing, and Lord knows how many beer breaks.

 

[mtofell]

Thanks everyone! Sounds like I'll likely get it done at the dealer. I don't go outside of the dealer just so the warranty stays intact and there isn't a bunch of finger pointing if there is ever a problem. As for trusting another mechanic more, I don't really care since I have the lifetime warranty. I really like it that the truck has never been touched by anyone other than a Ram dealer. Anything wrong is on them. If this was super easy I'd have done it myself but I don't need much of a nudge to just let them handle it.

 

[PatinAZ]

My shade tree mechanic days ended when with my old blazer where I could sit up in the engine bay, straddling the 350 and reach anything I needed to. About the only wrenching I do on my truck is diff/x-fer case fluids.

I'll gladly pay someone who works on these things day in and day out.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

Yes Sir, PatinAZ.
I could get in the engine compartment of my lifted K5 Blazer! Everything was right there.

I can barely move now-a-days. Lost my job last yr over these injuries piling up on me. I am applying for Soc Sec disability right now. I could do these plugs but, I'd pay for it for a week. Tired of being in pain. I was sore for a week just doing my MagnaFlow cat back. (Highlights attached)

I don't trust anybody but myself working on any of my stuff. I've gapped every plug I've ever put in and considering I did 2 or 3 tune-ups a day for several years for a living, that's a ****load of plugs! LoL. That don't count all my own cars, trucks, bikes, tractors, quads, and snowblowers for 45 yrs. I'm worn the F*** out is all.

Headache rack
Oil changes
MF cat back
N-Fab steps
Grille guard
Rotating them mudders
Flares
LED Headlights, tail lights, 3rd brake, bed lights and some cool Red LED interior lights!

When the time comes for plugs in another 78,000 miles, I'll just watch....real close.


Red don't ruin your night vision!

 

[BWL]

About a 2 hour job by the time all is said and done if all the boots come off without tearing and the plugs don't fight you because they're seized in there if you've done it before. Worse vehicles to do plug changes on, but still a pain. Don't feel like your paying 400 for a quick job. Not the case.

 

[reloaderguy]

For you guys wanting to do service work in the engine compartment but find it physically difficult, take a look at the Topside Creeper. It allows you to rest over a padded ladder-like platform instead of the truck.

https://www.amazon.com/Traxion-3-100-Foldable-Topside-Creeper/dp/B00QGXSODA

 

[GsRAM]

im 26 and just had my L5 S1 fused and disc replaced.
if i could do this job i would.
sometimes, we get taken out of the game. and its fun to blame other people when things dont go as planned

Man that stinks. Sorry to hear that. I totally understand some can't or don't want to do their own work.

 

[U&A]

The plugs in the Hemi is actually a 30,000 mile plug. I have all data for my 6.4 and its an NGK part number for the plug. If you search the plug on NGK’s website it says 30,000 miles.

Dont believe everything your manual tells you.




Sent while firmly grasping my redline lubed RAM [emoji231]

 

[boblonben]

So, I'm the boring old-ish guy with absolutely zero mods, have had the oil changed at the dealer and have a lifetime maxcare warranty I want to keep in place. Currently at 83K, I'll be coming up on the the need to replace the spark plugs soon. (manual says @ 100K). Apparently, there are 16 of them (but only 8 cylinders - when did things get so complicated?) and the dealer wants $400 to do the job. I see I can buy the plugs for about $8/ea so it looks like I'm paying the dealer $275 to replace 16 spark plugs.

Has anyone done this themselves and are there any tricks or difficulties? In my younger years I've swapped engines and trannys, done brake jobs and all kinds of stuff but between a bad back, lots of kids and owning a company that allows me to write off vehicle expenses, I just don't mess with things much. I'm leaning towards the dealer just to keep the warranty gods happy buy paying $275 for a half hour work might just be my tipping point.

First it is MORE than a half hours work. Yes 16 plugs are there. Took mine to my local shop, bought my own plugs and the shop charged me $150 to do the work. Still cheaper than the dealer by $100 or so and I trust my local shop. Like you I don't do my own anymore, too much hassle and hard to get at with o coil on plug set ups and all.

 

[CMV157]

I've done all 16 on a 5.7. Can't imagine it would be any different overall. I was in no rush, took my time and enjoyed some refreshments. It's actually a pretty easy job if you're physically able to be bent over the engine.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

This thought has been sticking in the back of my mind as well. (Magic, 100,000 mi. Plugs). Since I just passed 20k mi., I really didn't think too hard on it. But NOWWWWW I have to, thank you very much! [emoji12].

Done more than a few through the wheel wells, just not Hemi plugs. Probably impossible that way. Oh hell, I'll just have to grow a pair and git-r-dun. Maybe look into that flyin' trapeez that "reloaderguy" found.

 

[wgreggking]

Did my last truck, 2008 5.4, F150. you know the one's that break in half, in the aluminum head. "Only" broke 6, bought the special extractor tool. It took about 1 hour for the first, total 3hour job. Other than my artificial hip, and three bad discs, is the 6.4 Hemi that bad?
Maybe replace at 50K.

 

[Hemi395]

The plugs in the Hemi is actually a 30,000 mile plug. I have all data for my 6.4 and its an NGK part number for the plug. If you search the plug on NGK’s website it says 30,000 miles.

Dont believe everything your manual tells you.




Sent while firmly grasping my redline lubed RAM [emoji231]

Great info @U&A! I’d most certainly go by the plug manufacturers recommendation over FCAs.