ORIGINAL Iridium Plugs at 223,000 Miles

[Funkychateau]

At about 100,000 miles I was thinking of replacing plugs in my 2014 5.7 Hemi, so I removed both from cylinder #2 (because it was easiest to reach) for inspection. They still looked brand-new, so I put them back in and stopped worrying about plugs.

At 223,000 miles, I’m getting a recurring “cylinder 2 misfire” code, and I naturally thought “maybe it’s the plugs”. So I ordered plugs from Rockauto and the Geartech swivel socket from Amazon, and prepared myself to get dirty.

So far I’ve completed the left bank (cylinders 2, 4, 6, and 8). To my surprise, the plugs look little different at 223,000 than they did at 100,000. Even the gaps appear not to be eroding. That’s a 1/16” (0.0625”) drill bit in the photo for comparison.

Another thing I noted was that the rubber spark-plug boots seal very well to the heads. There was no sign of dirt or water infiltration into the bores, and all plugs came out easily. I unscrewed all using fingertips on the extension once they were broken loose.

If I hadn’t already bought plugs, I’d probably clean these and put them back in. And now I’m sorta wishing I’d gotten Iridium again instead of Platinum, but both were recommended for my application and the Platinums had a rebate that made them about $2 apiece

My question is, do others see this plug longevity for NGK Iridium ILZFR5E?

 

[Treburkulosis]

I am running those plugs in mine. I like them. As for the boots, they are life time meaning you should never have to change them. Id do a PCV as well.

 

[EdGs]

I changed the factory plugs in my '15 at around 106K miles, and they looked great still.

The NGK 92145 laser iridium plugs came pre-gapped, and were only $6 and change each from RockAuto before discounts.

I think your platinum replacements will wear out sooner, but with the way those iridium's lasted you, who knows?

 

[Funkychateau]

I am running those plugs in mine. I like them. As for the boots, they are life time meaning you should never have to change them. Id do a PCV as well.

I was thinking about that. But I didn’t think about it in time to include it in my Rockauto order, and I don’t want to pay double elsewhere, so it will have to wait until I buy something else.

Besides, since there is only one of those, it’s not likely responsible for my cylinder-2 misfire.

 

[Treburkulosis]

I found Summit of all places to be the cheapest.

Standard Motor Products V470 Standard Motor PCV Valves | Summit Racing

Free Shipping - Standard Motor PCV Valves with qualifying orders of $109. Shop PCV Valves at Summit Racing.

www.summitracing.com

 

[Funkychateau]

Finished all but cylinders 5 and 7, which are the ones underneath the vacuum booster for the power brakes. I’m pushing 70 and my back is killing me, gonna rest and eat before facing these.

 

[EdGs]

Finished all but cylinders 5 and 7, which are the ones underneath the vacuum booster for the power brakes. I’m pushing 70 and my back is killing me, gonna rest and eat before facing these.

I feel you. My FIL has a topside creeper that I used when I did mine. It was a blessing, but I had a sore abdomen from laying my fat a$$ on it.

Do you have the Gearwrench 80546 magnetic swivel spark plug extension? Worth every penny.

 

[Funkychateau]

I feel you. My FIL has a topside creeper that I used when I did mine. It was a blessing, but I had a sore abdomen from laying my fat a$$ on it.

Do you have the Gearwrench 80546 magnetic swivel spark plug extension? Worth every penny.

Yes, I ordered it from Amazon before starting this job.

BTW, there’s a damn good reason why NONE of the YouTube videos show anyone using a torque wrench on cylinders 5 and 7!

Luckily the plugs are new, so you can feel when the washer contacts the head, feel the period of near-constant resistance as it crushes, then give it “just a little more” when the tightness suddenly increases.

 

[PolarisCobra]

With that many miles, I am amazed that you could get them out of the head. That would be my worry.

 

[EdGs]

Yes, I ordered it from Amazon before starting this job.

BTW, there’s a damn good reason why NONE of the YouTube videos show anyone using a torque wrench on cylinders 5 and 7!

Luckily the plugs are new, so you can feel when the washer contacts the head, feel the period of near-constant resistance as it crushes, then give it “just a little more” when the tightness suddenly increases.

Hopefully, the plugs will take care of your misfire.

 

[Funkychateau]

Hopefully, the plugs will take care of your misfire.

I’m afraid it won’t, based on how good the plugs looked, but maybe I’ll get lucky.

I also swapped the coil packs between cylinders 2 and 4. If no misfire, then it was plugs. If misfire moves to 4, then it was #2 coils.

If misfire remains on 2, maybe injector. Or mechanical (hope not).

 

[Burla]

Those plugs are amazing, thanks for sharing. You know the usual suspect and don't want to say it for the misfire? If there is any hope that it is fuel injector, I would think the plug that belongs to that cylinder #2 would have some funk on it. Did number 2 plug look as good as the rest? If 5 and 7 is that hard just pass til you solve the issue, since you did 2 plug already the mis fire should go away or travel like you say. If not, cam lob is a usual suspect and the largest known issue on the board, and replacing plugs at that point least of your worries. I hope not, good luck

 

[Elvira]

For the price of iridium plugs, i would of changed anyways at 100,000. Plugs that last that long, there is no need to look for any on sale items, you definately are getting your moneys worth even at full price. Get the good ones, came from factory !

 

[2012RAM1500RT]

If I got 223,000 miles out of any plug I would put that exact same plug in, no questions asked! Who or what brand could possibly top it!

 

[NOV87]

Just swapped mine at 94k. Started getting random pre-detonation sound when stepping on gas pedal (about 3000 rpm). No codes.
That's gone now. Didn't have high hopes for it, but new plugs helped a lot. Pretty happy

 

[farout75]

I have 96,000 miles on my 17 RAM. I have the FCA Max Care unlimited miles for 84 months. So to protect my warranty I am going to replace the plugs shortly after it turns 100,000 miles. I still get good MPG (17.5 to 20) and it runs very good. I have had no issues with my truck at all so far.

 

[Funkychateau]

Well, the cylinder-2 misfire code is still there. I was able to reset it long enough to pass inspection and renew my tags, but it comes back within 50 miles or so.

There is a ticking noise coming from the passenger side of the engine. Can an injector make that noise, or is it always a bad lifter?

Fuel economy is still good (about 22 highway), but power seems a little low. With cruise engaged, it downshifts when encountering small hills.

 

[Funkychateau]

Those plugs are amazing, thanks for sharing. You know the usual suspect and don't want to say it for the misfire? If there is any hope that it is fuel injector, I would think the plug that belongs to that cylinder #2 would have some funk on it. Did number 2 plug look as good as the rest? If 5 and 7 is that hard just pass til you solve the issue, since you did 2 plug already the mis fire should go away or travel like you say. If not, cam lob is a usual suspect and the largest known issue on the board, and replacing plugs at that point least of your worries. I hope not, good luck

I went ahead and finished the plugs in 5 and 7. Got a rib on the left that still hurts a week later from laying across the battery with my feet in the air.

But that’s why I do this stuff. I can imagine that a “professional”, after seeing how good the easy plugs looked, would possibly just leave the others alone.

Cylinder-2 misfire still remains, so it was not the plugs or coil.

 

[Outdoors76]

not good that its not the plugs or coils. i was willing to bet it would be a coil since I had two f150's with notorious coil issues I always had spares in the damn truck.

but on a good note you got over 220000 miles before this happened.

is the misfire affecting performance? or did you only notice because of the CEL?

just wondering, im no mechanic.

 

[BLUKTY2]

This may not be relevant at all since I have the 6.4 but.........

Earlier this year I had an intermittent misfire code (cylinder #2) but the engine always ran fine; never missed a beat and ran strong. I would clear the code and it quickly came back- within less than 100 miles. I ran a tank of fuel with some injector cleaner through the system (sorry, don't remember what brand) and the code never came back. Coincidence? Maybe. But it is a cheap and real easy thing to try.