Do you have to remove the Whipple to replace the 16 spark plug's in GEN 1 6.2L Raptor?

[427windsorman]

I bought a 2014 Raptor in Rexburg, Idaho at Woody Smith Ford back in February and found it had a Whipple already on it. It had 72K miles when I bought it and just hit 81K miles, time for a tune-up and oil change, etc. I bought supercharger oil, S@B Whipple air filter replacement, NGK LTR7IX (9510) plugs, MSD coils, MSD wires, Royal Purple 5W20 oil, Amsoil filter, and Gates K061251RPM Serpentine Belt. The pulley is a 3.5" and the tune is unknown since the truck did not come with a tuner.

The shop installed everything, except the supercharger oil, coils, wires, and plugs because they said the supercharger had to be removed. Is this true? if so, that sure complicates tune-ups.

What intake gasket should I get if the SC has to come off?

Any other tips or advice for Whipple SC maintenance and tune-ups?

 

[Vash]

The supercharger doesn’t need to come off to change coils or plugs. It may need to to change the supercharger oil though as I think the fill for it is on the rear of the gear case. The supercharger oil is good for 100k miles. I’m not sure about whether the gasket needs to be replaced if the supercharger comes off. I’d recommend reaching out to Whipple for a PDF of the install/maintenance manual if you don’t have a physical copy.

BTW, the MSD coils are garbage. Various reports of guys having cylinder misfires after “upgrading” to MSD coils. You’re better off sticking with Ford Motorcraft or NGK since NGK is an OEM supplier.

 

[427windsorman]

The supercharger doesn’t need to come off to change coils or plugs. It may need to to change the supercharger oil though as I think the fill for it is on the rear of the gear case. The supercharger oil is good for 100k miles. I’m not sure about whether the gasket needs to be replaced if the supercharger comes off. I’d recommend reaching out to Whipple for a PDF of the install/maintenance manual if you don’t have a physical copy.

BTW, the MSD coils are garbage. Various reports of guys having cylinder misfires after “upgrading” to MSD coils. You’re better off sticking with Ford Motorcraft or NGK since NGK is an OEM supplier.

Thanks, I appreciate the reply and information. Time to try another shop.

As for the MSD coils, I think i am still within the return window, so will likely just send them back.

 

[Vash]

Correction. Despite the diagram in the Whipple install manual, it looks like there’s an oil plug accessible on the supercharger on the top of the gear housing behind the Jack shaft that the pulley attaches to. It’s removable using an hex key bit. Maybe a 1/4” hex bit. Only challenge is that this tucked under the rain tray/firewall, so you’d need to use some tubing or a fluid pump to get the oil in or out since it isn’t accessible via funnel or the nozzle on the Whipple supercharger oil bottle.

 

[Gen1TillDeath]

Thanks, I appreciate the reply and information. Time to try another shop.

As for the MSD coils, I think i am still within the return window, so will likely just send them back.

Yeah “Fordtechmakuloco” just did Video on the MSD coils.

 

[Gryphon313]

Yeah “Fordtechmakuloco” just did Video on the MSD coils.

Wish he had made that video a couple months ago. Would have saved me some $$.

 

[akley88]

Yeah “Fordtechmakuloco” just did Video on the MSD coils.

maybe the raptors are different but the ford coils are notorious for dying in the super duty groups im in. its about once a week someone asks about the arcing they are getting from a coil being shot. the msd coils should not be looked at as an upgrade though. i know people that have them in super dutys for tens of thousands of miles and have had no issues but i will say there are also plenty of people that have issues with them dying.

 

[Vash]

At the end of the day, the coils have plastic bodies and rubber boots. I’d bet a lot of the arcing-related failures could be associated with the operating conditions. Whereas most of the MSD failures reported are coils that are DOA or immediately fail after install. I’m on the factory coils at over 120k miles. I have a set of NGK coils on the shelf, but I’m keeping the factory coils as backups.

 

[akley88]

At the end of the day, the coils have plastic bodies and rubber boots. I’d bet a lot of the arcing-related failures could be associated with the operating conditions. Whereas most of the MSD failures reported are coils that are DOA or immediately fail after install. I’m on the factory coils at over 120k miles. I have a set of NGK coils on the shelf, but I’m keeping the factory coils as backups.

your right it could be the general differences in how the trucks are used. the super dutys are generally getting more loaded and towing strain and probably not cleaned as well. i did have an issue with several of my oem plugs being caked with corrosion at 50k. i did swap coils but kept all the good ones like you.

 

[Vash]

I didn’t replace my spark plugs since they’re still fairly new, but I did replace all eight ignition coils and plug wires today. Only things I needed to remove to allow access to the coils were the plastic cover for the Jack shaft on the Whipple and the throttle body. I went with NGK coils and Granatelli wires with silicone sleeves and Kevlar boots since I have headers albeit ceramic coated.