$340 to do the coil packs and spark plugs

[Mightytalldude]

@WILDHOBO did this recently, probably has words of advise.

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[WILDHOBO]

I put Autolite plugs in my 2020 Gladiator and it seemed fine. Only ran them maybe 10K miles before I traded it in. Reputation wise though, Autolite has a spotty one across a lot of vehicles and I would say get the Champions since they are the OEM plugs. I just took on the risk of Autolites because that was what's available at the time when I needed them.

Oem is the way to go. I bought mine from the dealer.

 

[WILDHOBO]

@WILDHOBO did this recently, probably has words of advise.

It’s a big job. I’d be more worried about all the smalll delicate details being done right for only $100. If they go near your intake with power tools, tackle them. It’s plastic. The driver side is a royal pain to disassemble if you have adult sized hands. To be honest, it’s an easy job if you take your time. If it’s rushed, something will get broken or dropped.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Oem is the way to go. I bought mine from the dealer.

That's the route I went. With the sales they were having I was all in on parts at $255. A guys gonna toss them in for $100 so now $355 for parts and labor. I returned the auto lites for the champions

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yep, Chrysler/Jeep engines are known to like Champion plugs and not much else. I tried NGK Irridiums in my 3.8 JK engine and it was horrendous. Pinged like crazy, and yes, the gaps were correct. Went back to the Champs and it ran flawlessly.

My JLUR is at 93k and will get new plugs in the Fall. I will do it myself and will go with the OEM.

Btw, a friend ran his older (JK) Pentastar to about 140k miles before changing the plugs. It was shocking how well it was running. I drive my JL back to back with my JT all the time and the JL (93k miles) runs exactly the same as the JT at 42k miles, which is to say, perfectly. I doubt I'll know a difference from old to new when I do it around 100k.

That goes back to the AMC days - I've had my very best luck with Champions in every AMC I've owned - and the 4.0 Jeeps and so on. 390, 360, 258, whatever.
I've had good luck with Autolite in things, but AMCs and Jeeps seem to prefer Champion.
I'vre tried NGK in my AMCs and they just didn't do well.

Part of the issue with brand switching is that heat ranges don't translate perfectly. A different brand plug may "cross over" but the heat range could be off by a bit and in some modern engines, that can be problematic.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

It’s a big job. I’d be more worried about all the smalll delicate details being done right for only $100. If they go near your intake with power tools, tackle them. It’s plastic. The driver side is a royal pain to disassemble if you have adult sized hands. To be honest, it’s an easy job if you take your time. If it’s rushed, something will get broken or dropped.

He came recommended by a lot of other jeep guy's around my area, some with JL's and JT's. I know he's at least done 20 jobs like this for people plus my buddy who's the service manager at Hendricks told me to use him because that's the guy he uses. He use to work at the dealership before he started his own thing.

 

[WILDHOBO]

He came recommended by a lot of other jeep guy's around my area, some with JL's and JT's. I know he's at least done 20 jobs like this for people plus my buddy who's the service manager at Hendricks told me to use him because that's the guy he uses. He use to work at the dealership before he started his own thing.

Perfect. Sounds like great references. I get worried when prices seem too low. I did it myself, but it being the first time, took my time over a few hours. It’s a pita to get the right plug wrench down the narrow tubes. The magnetic one I have was too large in diameter. I had to use a traditional plug wrench with an extension, a hinged 3/8” adapter, and duct tape to keep it together.

 

[Jeeperjamie]

Perfect. Sounds like great references. I get worried when prices seem too low. I did it myself, but it being the first time, took my time over a few hours. It’s a pita to get the right plug wrench down the narrow tubes. The magnetic one I have was too large in diameter. I had to use a traditional plug wrench with an extension, a hinged 3/8” adapter, and duct tape to keep it together.

I watched a YouTube video with someone doing it on a JL and that's why I figured it would be better for me to let someone else do it. My 2010 jku was a hour or less and way more simple than this engine. Maybe not a better engine but easier to work on for sure.

 

[WILDHOBO]

I watched a YouTube video with someone doing it on a JL and that's why I figured it would be better for me to let someone else do it. My 2010 jku was a hour or less and way more simple than this engine. Maybe not a better engine but easier to work on for sure.

Yep. The more stuff they cram in the engine bay to make things “better”, the more space to work is lost.

 

[Hootbro]

I watched a YouTube video with someone doing it on a JL and that's why I figured it would be better for me to let someone else do it. My 2010 jku was a hour or less and way more simple than this engine. Maybe not a better engine but easier to work on for sure.

When I did my 2020 Gladiator plugs, probably took me 4 hours at a very slow and steady pace. After doing it once, I can probably knock it out easily in 2.5 hours or less. I do think your mechanic quote of 1 hour is a little low though unless he just goes absolute medieval on it.

 

[ShadowsPapa]

Yep. The more stuff they cram in the engine bay to make things “better”, the more space to work is lost.

I can change the plugs in either of my cars in 15 minutes.
I think back to the days of the Citation and other cars with plugs almost up against the firewall, and worse. And today you have to disassemble the upper part of the engine to get to them.
Thank goodness spark plugs aren't an every 10,000 miles thing they used to be!

 

[ShadowsPapa]

When I did my 2020 Gladiator plugs, probably took me 4 hours at a very slow and steady pace. After doing it once, I can probably knock it out easily in 2.5 hours or less. I do think your mechanic quote of 1 hour is a little low though unless he just goes absolute medieval on it.

I figure right around that 2.5 hour mark and that's pretty close to what it took on that Grand Cherokee (2021 with the TSB for a misfire caused by spark plugs)

 

[Jeeperjamie]

When I did my 2020 Gladiator plugs, probably took me 4 hours at a very slow and steady pace. After doing it once, I can probably knock it out easily in 2.5 hours or less. I do think your mechanic quote of 1 hour is a little low though unless he just goes absolute medieval on it.

I figure right around that 2.5 hour mark and that's pretty close to what it took on that Grand Cherokee (2021 with the TSB for a misfire caused by spark plugs)

Yeah I in no way expect him to be done in a hour. I just figured he said that because I told him we are down to one vehicle right now and asked him how long it would take to get it done. I had drop my bmw 328i at the shop to get a power steering fluid leak fixed and we sold our BMW X5 50i 2 weeks ago. Looks like based on the wife and what she's wanting there will be a Tesla Model S in the driveway before the end of the month.

I'm just gonna tell him to take his time.

 

[WILDHOBO]

When I did my 2020 Gladiator plugs, probably took me 4 hours at a very slow and steady pace. After doing it once, I can probably knock it out easily in 2.5 hours or less. I do think your mechanic quote of 1 hour is a little low though unless he just goes absolute medieval on it.

Completely agree.

 

[LostWoods]

At 91,000, he likely really needs plugs.
That's one thing I won't typically go the max on - spark plugs.
I know they say 100,000 miles, but seriously, not me. He's SO close to that 100,000 anyway and for 100 bucks, heck yes.

I'd not run anything through it until I looked closely at the spark plugs to get a reading on how things are inside physically, oil-wise and so on.

If I ran anything through it - it would be after I looked at plugs.

I've never seen 100k plugs actually go 100k without issues but maybe it's better since I got out. If you pull them in the 60-80k range, they're likely toast and how early just depends on how the vehicle was used. They still "work" when the tip is gone but the quality of combustion drops off hard.

You saying the autolite should be fine

If there's one thing my years as a smog tech taught me, it's don't fuck with major sensors and the ignition system. Factory parts, every time. Champion used to be the OEM for Mopar plugs but not sure if they still are. Leave Autolite to the Fords.

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