I'm nearing 100K on my MKZ with the 3.5L Duratech, and I'm suspecting it would benefit from plugs at a minimum. Experience with other cars tells me that coils can start going in the 125K range.
Here's what I'm debating on this:
In general, I hate doing plugs on transverse mounted V engines. It looks like this one will need to have the intake manifold off. I've read procedures, although admittedly not watched videos on it to see difficult those back 3 plugs will be to access. The 3 front ones I'm not expecting too much trouble. Of course the coils will need to come out to get to the plugs, so with that in mind I'm considering a couple of options:
1. Do plugs only and cross that bridge when I come to it with coils
2. Replace the back 3 coils, the save the front ones for as-needed
3. Just bite the bullet and do it all
To be honest, options 2 and 3 are most appealing to me. Experience with other cars has told me that aftermarket coils can be hit or miss and I've had Autozone ones fail in 6 months(fortunately on a modular V8, which is a 10 minute swap). The last time I did a job with difficult coil access, I did Motorcraft coils, which hurt but I felt good about them lasting. Going that route isn't cheap, though.
In my situation, what would you all do?
Here's what I'm debating on this:
In general, I hate doing plugs on transverse mounted V engines. It looks like this one will need to have the intake manifold off. I've read procedures, although admittedly not watched videos on it to see difficult those back 3 plugs will be to access. The 3 front ones I'm not expecting too much trouble. Of course the coils will need to come out to get to the plugs, so with that in mind I'm considering a couple of options:
1. Do plugs only and cross that bridge when I come to it with coils
2. Replace the back 3 coils, the save the front ones for as-needed
3. Just bite the bullet and do it all
To be honest, options 2 and 3 are most appealing to me. Experience with other cars has told me that aftermarket coils can be hit or miss and I've had Autozone ones fail in 6 months(fortunately on a modular V8, which is a 10 minute swap). The last time I did a job with difficult coil access, I did Motorcraft coils, which hurt but I felt good about them lasting. Going that route isn't cheap, though.
In my situation, what would you all do?