Spark Plug change w/ cylinder boroscope photos (2022 Ecoboost @ 53k miles)

[JohnCondren1933]

Higher octane than 87 does zero zilch Nada for 2.5l naturally aspirated hybrid engine.
The only reason I would consider the highest octane premium brand gas is they supposedly put their best additive package in it for cleaning valve carbon buildup in direct head injected engines without also port injection.

But a $30 gallon of Lucas injector & valve cleaner additive can condition I think 400 gallons of gasoline.
And has an additive that assists with a complete combustion, ive definitely felt a difference with water contaminate gas running rough, put in some Luas fuel additive & smoothed right out.

9 cents extra a gallon for Lucas vs $1-1.50 extra per gallon for the highest octane fuel "premium" additives?

Someone better explain what voodoo is in the premium gas to command THAT level of price increase - Octane Booster additives are not made of magic unobtanium mined in the mines of Mount Doom, if oil companies make any money on low octane they would be rolling in $$$ from each high octane fillup.

If the engine requires high octane gas, for THAT cost difference I would just as soon dump a couple ml of an Octane Booster in the tank, to boost the octane of a top tier low-octane fuel.
3rd party Octane Booster can probably boost octane for 10-20 cents a gallon vs $1-1.50 extra per gallon

Premium fuel may give a bit better performance and mpg. But it doesn't come close to making enough difference to cover the price increase in my opinion. Paying $1.00/gallon more for an extra mile per gallon or couple of tenths improved 0-60 isn't justified in my opinion. If I had an EcoBoost and was towing in hot weather, maybe. But for routine driving, no way. My sister has a small Cadillac SUV that says premium fuel recommended. (Not required). I tried to convince her to use mid grade if she doesn't trust regular. But my brother in law told her premium only. So I'll defer to him.

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[Darryl]

Higher octane than 87 does zero zilch Nada for 2.5l naturally aspirated hybrid engine.
The only reason I would consider the highest octane premium brand gas is they supposedly put their best additive package in it for cleaning valve carbon buildup in direct head injected engines without also port injection.

But a $30 gallon of Lucas injector & valve cleaner additive can condition I think 400 gallons of gasoline.
And has an additive that assists with a complete combustion, ive definitely felt a difference with water contaminate gas running rough, put in some Luas fuel additive & smoothed right out.

9 cents extra a gallon for Lucas vs $1-1.50 extra per gallon for the highest octane fuel "premium" additives?

Someone better explain what voodoo is in the premium gas to command THAT level of price increase - Octane Booster additives are not made of magic unobtanium mined in the mines of Mount Doom, if oil companies make any money on low octane they would be rolling in $$$ from each high octane fillup.

If the engine requires high octane gas, for THAT cost difference I would just as soon dump a couple ml of an Octane Booster in the tank, to boost the octane of a top tier low-octane fuel.
3rd party Octane Booster can probably boost octane for 10-20 cents a gallon vs $1-1.50 extra per gallon

I was speaking of vehicles that say premium is required in order to achieve the maximum (advertised) horsepower such as the EcoBoost 4 cyls. But they say that regular is permissable with slightly reduced performance. In those engines the knock sensor will reduce the timing in order to prevent pinging. If it was my vehicle, I'd use regular because the power and mpg advantage of premium wont make up for the price difference. But in most naturally aspirated engines such as the 2.5 Atkinson that specifically recommended regular. Premium offers NO advantage since the engine is specifically calibrated for regular. Some gasoline companies add extra detergents to their premium in order to attract drivers who think a good quality regular isn't enough. Personally, in my old vehicles, I would add an additive to the fuel tank every so often. But given my style of driving, even that was probably unnecessary since I always get my vehicle fully warm and drive at highway speeds every day. I've never had fuel injector issues in any vehicle starting from my 1981 Toyota Celica Supra to the Bonneville or any of the various Ford products. But if people drive slow and don't get their vehicles to full operating temp all the time, they probably should use an additive regularly.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

I was speaking of vehicles that say premium is required in order to achieve the maximum (advertised) horsepower such as the EcoBoost 4 cyls. But they say that regular is permissable with slightly reduced performance. In those engines the knock sensor will reduce the timing in order to prevent pinging. If it was my vehicle, I'd use regular because the power and mpg advantage of premium wont make up for the price difference. But in most naturally aspirated engines such as the 2.5 Atkinson that specifically recommended regular. Premium offers NO advantage since the engine is specifically calibrated for regular. Some gasoline companies add extra detergents to their premium in order to attract drivers who think a good quality regular isn't enough. Personally, in my old vehicles, I would add an additive to the fuel tank every so often. But given my style of driving, even that was probably unnecessary since I always get my vehicle fully warm and drive at highway speeds every day. I've never had fuel injector issues in any vehicle starting from my 1981 Toyota Celica Supra to the Bonneville or any of the various Ford products. But if people drive slow and don't get their vehicles to full operating temp all the time, they probably should use an additive regularly.

I agree on the Hybrids not needing 93 octane but like You said the 2.0 EB will make more power on 91 or 93 vs 87 octane and the power ratings on the 2.0 EB are with 91 octane IIRC. Years ago I raced my 2019 F-150 Crew Cab 4X4 with the 3.5 EB. The one time it was on 87 Octane IIRC and ran like a 14.25 IIRC in the 1/4 mile a guy on the F-150 site said start using 93 octane before You got to the track next time. I did and ran a 14.13@97 MPH IIRC so like You said in a earlier post it was worth a little over a tenth of a second and a MPH or Two in the 1/4 mile.

 

[Darryl]

I agree on the Hybrids not needing 93 octane but like You said the 2.0 EB will make more power on 91 or 93 vs 87 octane and the power ratings on the 2.0 EB are with 91 octane IIRC. Years ago I raced my 2019 F-150 Crew Cab 4X4 with the 3.5 EB. The one time it was on 87 Octane IIRC and ran like a 14.25 IIRC in the 1/4 mile a guy on the F-150 site said start using 93 octane before You got to the track next time. I did and ran a 14.13@97 MPH IIRC so like You said in a earlier post it was worth a little over a tenth of a second and a MPH or Two in the 1/4 mile.

That would only make a difference in a race where fractions of a second count. But hardly worth it in real world driving. I think it makes a bit more of a difference with the small EcoBoost engines,mand possibly a bit better fuel economy but still not enough to justify the steep price increase. Maybe if the difference was 10 cents a gallon, but no way at the huge price gaps that currently exist in my opinion. But others are free to do what they will. It's their truck and their money

 

[Cherokee]

My thoughts on the mid grade 89 or 91 octane.
87 is my local regular,
89 is my local mid grade,
93 octane is my local premium ethanol and

93 octane is my real gas non ethanol that my Ecoboost likes the best, in the summer when the air is thinner. Winter I mostly run regular, every third or fourth tank I do non ethanol just for shits and giggles.
@ $3.65 per gallon.
89 is $3.29
87 is $2.89

My friend, the manager of my regular fuel stop,
A BP
Said they buy very little mid grade but have to monitor the water level in that ground tank closer than regular.
She talked to a local mechanic. He would not recommend fueling with the mid grade because so little is sold. It sits in the ground tanks far longer and ethanol is hydrostatic as hell.
Meaning it draws water.

What I actually see and feel running NON ethanol real gas ?
A smoother idle,
A noticeable extra dose of Zip when I put it in sport mode and step on it.

I do a twice a month quickie Italian tune up,
Just a few miles. I can hold my speed down and still hold near 5,000 - 5,500 rpm’s if I do it in Low.

If not in Low I’m playing with 90 - 100 mph and that’s likely to score a deer hit or a rather expensive ticket.

93 octane premium ethanol does not feel any stronger than regular in my Ecoboost.
89 octane feels just like regular.

My turbo likes the ethanol free. It’s very obvious to me, in my perfectly running 1 year old 2024 Ecoboost with 12,000 miles.

When sitting at a light at idle with the oh so stupid stop/start disabled I cannot feel my motor running at all. The only indication is the tach.

Because of the added Lariat sound package including the better sound proofing of the windshield I can only hear my motor if I roll down my window.

Had a good ol boy next to me at a light. He’s sitting in his Dodge Hemi. Had a set of loud pipes or mufflers. It sounded like the old school glass packs.

I bump into sport mode,
Lights about to change, I see and hear him hold the brake and bring up the engine.
He barked those big old meats and broke em loose for just a couple of feet.

I left the line with him, right next to him.
He floored it.
I pulled two truck lengths on him. Then pulled farther ahead and he got off the gas.

I never had it on the floor.

Oh the shame he must have felt,
A four banger walked away from him.
Italian tune complete for this month.

His truck was just too heavy, too loud, and just not enough power and torque.
But it could prolly pull a house down right !

I hung with a BMW M5 a while back :’P

 

[JimKivi]

2022 ecoboost awd 4k fx4. Towing, mountain terrain, hot summers cold winters ect.

Changed my spark plugs at 53k miles and took some photos of the cylinders while I had the plugs out. Share your thoughts.

"Share your thoughts" ? Looks to me like those plugs have a LOT of life left on them, good for another 40 or 50K, I would guess.

 

[Cherokee]

The color of the plugs indicate a very correct fuel air mixture operating in the correct temperature range.

I pulled a set out of my 2013 F-150 3.7L V-6 at 150,000 miles. They did not need re gapping and looked exactly like yours.

I put em right back in.
My Buddy, my Ford Salesman bought the truck with 167,000 miles, still on the Original iridium’s.
He moved his daughter down south. Two trips for 3,800 miles. It ran perfect.
He changed the plugs and noticed no performance gain whatsoever so ever.

 

[cyberdog]

What about the top of the intake valves? - Given the EB2.0 through 2024 was DI only with no Port Injection, I'd be curious what the tops of those valves look like.

Being Port Injected the Hybrid, and 2025+ (mix of DI & Port) should stay clean, DI tends to build carbon on them.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

My thoughts on the mid grade 89 or 91 octane.
87 is my local regular,
89 is my local mid grade,
93 octane is my local premium ethanol and

93 octane is my real gas non ethanol that my Ecoboost likes the best, in the summer when the air is thinner. Winter I mostly run regular, every third or fourth tank I do non ethanol just for shits and giggles.
@ $3.65 per gallon.
89 is $3.29
87 is $2.89

My friend, the manager of my regular fuel stop,
A BP
Said they buy very little mid grade but have to monitor the water level in that ground tank closer than regular.
She talked to a local mechanic. He would not recommend fueling with the mid grade because so little is sold. It sits in the ground tanks far longer and ethanol is hydrostatic as hell.
Meaning it draws water.

What I actually see and feel running NON ethanol real gas ?
A smoother idle,
A noticeable extra dose of Zip when I put it in sport mode and step on it.

I do a twice a month quickie Italian tune up,
Just a few miles. I can hold my speed down and still hold near 5,000 - 5,500 rpm’s if I do it in Low.

If not in Low I’m playing with 90 - 100 mph and that’s likely to score a deer hit or a rather expensive ticket.

93 octane premium ethanol does not feel any stronger than regular in my Ecoboost.
89 octane feels just like regular.

My turbo likes the ethanol free. It’s very obvious to me, in my perfectly running 1 year old 2024 Ecoboost with 12,000 miles.

When sitting at a light at idle with the oh so stupid stop/start disabled I cannot feel my motor running at all. The only indication is the tach.

Because of the added Lariat sound package including the better sound proofing of the windshield I can only hear my motor if I roll down my window.

Had a good ol boy next to me at a light. He’s sitting in his Dodge Hemi. Had a set of loud pipes or mufflers. It sounded like the old school glass packs.

I bump into sport mode,
Lights about to change, I see and hear him hold the brake and bring up the engine.
He barked those big old meats and broke em loose for just a couple of feet.

I left the line with him, right next to him.
He floored it.
I pulled two truck lengths on him. Then pulled farther ahead and he got off the gas.

I never had it on the floor.

Oh the shame he must have felt,
A four banger walked away from him.
Italian tune complete for this month.

His truck was just too heavy, too loud, and just not enough power and torque.
But it could prolly pull a house down right !

I hung with a BMW M5 a while back :’P

Like I mentioned a week or so ago I found Non Ethanol Fuel but it was only 90 Octane and was 20 cents a gallon more than the 93 Octane that had 10-15% Ethanol.

 

[MetalsGeek]

Plugs & piston crowns look pretty clean. I would love to see the back side of the intake valves, and similar images for the 2.5L hybrid ICE.,

 

[AirborneRATT]

Looks good. I appreciate you sharing. I feel better about my purchase.

 

[Darryl]

What about the top of the intake valves? - Given the EB2.0 through 2024 was DI only with no Port Injection, I'd be curious what the tops of those valves look like.

Being Port Injected the Hybrid, and 2025+ (mix of DI & Port) should stay clean, DI tends to build carbon on them.

I'd be willing to bet that they have just enough deposits to cause him to be unnecessarily concerned . But given the fact that he DRIVES the truck, he will likely never need to ever do anything about it for the life of the truck. My cousin has a 2015 F150 with 229,000 miles. He changes the oil about every 6000 miles or so. So all of his significant work. I've replaced the coolant fittings on the turbo at around 115,000 . The throttle body sometimes or another,The starter, and the right valve cover at around 150,000. (engine clean). Looking into parts of normally invisible an engine that's being maintained properly and showing no signs of trouble, is nice as a curiously factor. But that's about it. If taken seriously it can lead to unnecessary expense that don't really help measurably improve performance or extend life. Especially if one doesn't have other normally operating specimens to view as a point of reference

 

[Timothyd]

I'd be willing to bet that they have just enough deposits to cause him to be unnecessarily concerned . But given the fact that he DRIVES the truck, he will likely never need to ever do anything about it for the life of the truck. My cousin has a 2015 F150 with 229,000 miles. He changes the oil about every 6000 miles or so. So all of his significant work. I've replaced the coolant fittings on the turbo at around 115,000 . The throttle body sometimes or another,The starter, and the right valve cover at around 150,000. (engine clean). Looking into parts of normally invisible an engine that's being maintained properly and showing no signs of trouble, is nice as a curiously factor. But that's about it. If taken seriously it can lead to unnecessary expense that don't really help measurably improve performance or extend life. Especially if one doesn't have other normally operating specimens to view as a point of reference

Does that truck have Direct Injection?

 

[Darryl]

Does that truck have Direct Injection?

Yes. It's a 1st gen 3,5 EcoBoost, direct injection. I replaced the spark plugs and the left catalytic converter yesterday. They needed it. But they weren't terribly messed up. Yes, valve deposits are somewhat common on some of these engines. But maybe it's because we live where we live. But it's really not THAT common. And my cousin's truck may or may not have deposits. But evidently not enough to cause an issue. He doesn't abuse his truck. But he doesn't baby it either. Rows a boat thats nowhere near the limit. Has a small oil leak from the rear main seal. But not enough to mess up his garage. Still drives it on long trips.

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