Hello all,
I replaced my secondary tensioners today and getting ready to put everything back together. It's a 2001 XK8 with 70,000 miles. While things are still apart it would make sense to replace the plugs, but I'm worried about breaking one or damaging the threads and missing the Summer weather. I believe it's around 100,000 miles to the recommended replacement and that will be 3 or more years from now. Should I just leave them alone for now?

 

Replace then now while you're in there. They are not that expensive and one more maintenance item off the list. Just use care as you normally would.

 

I would change them.

Be mindful of the fact that it is an aluminum cylinder head.

FORD has a TSB procedure out for some of their aluminum cylinder heads
that is useful to know about:

Only remove the plugs when stone cold. If the plug is stiff to
unscrew, stop there, spray some penetrating fluid in the hole.
Screw back in lightly, screw back out lightly. Leave overnight.

Try again the next day, working the plug threads back and
forth to clean the threads.

If still stiff, repeat the above procedure.

++

 

That's what I was thinking, thanks for the emotional support