BaySheet
Opening the sheet…
In-depth guide
2018 Ford F-150
2018 Ford F-150 spark plug gap, Motorcraft number, and firing sequence by gasoline engine. The 3.5L gap is not the 2.7L gap.
Difficulty, time, and cost are estimates when this guide gives them. Torque is a cited figure, or it is left off.
Main source: 2018 F-150 Owner's Manual, third printing, February 2018, engine specifications and Motorcraft parts (opens in a new tab), Ford Motor Company, published 2018-02-01, read 2026-10-15.
Numbers on this page come from the cited source. Match the engine before you use a capacity or a torque. Do not work under a vehicle held only by a jack.
None listed for removal
The parts notes tell you to contact a dealer and to follow the maintenance schedule. They do not name a socket or a gap tool.
| Item | Figure | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7L EcoBoost | 164 cubic inches. Compression 10.3:1. Coil on plug. Gap 0.028-0.031 (0.7-0.8 mm). Motorcraft SP-542. Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6. | Engine specifications and the 2.7L Motorcraft parts table |
| 3.3L | 201 cubic inches. Compression 12:1. Coil on plug. Gap 0.049-0.053 in (1.25-1.35 mm). Motorcraft SP-520. Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6. | Engine specifications and the 3.3L Motorcraft parts table |
| 3.5L EcoBoost | 213 cubic inches. Compression 10.5:1. Coil on plug. Gap 0.030-0.033 in (0.75-0.85 mm). Motorcraft SP-534. Firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6. | Engine specifications and the 3.5L Motorcraft parts table |
| 5.0L | 307 cubic inches. Compression 12:1. Coil on plug, coil near plug. Gap 0.049-0.053 in (1.25-1.35 mm). Motorcraft SP-551. Firing order 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8. | Engine specifications and the 5.0L Motorcraft parts table |
2.7L EcoBoost
3.3L
3.5L EcoBoost
5.0L
Firing sequence from the February 2018 F-150 owner's manual engine specifications. Sequence only.
Illustration, not to scale; confirm with your owner's manual. This is the firing sequence only. It does not show where each cylinder sits on the engine.
Source for this drawing: 2018 Ford F-150 Owner's Manual, third printing February 2018, Engine Specifications for the 2.7L EcoBoost, 3.3L, 3.5L EcoBoost, and 5.0L.
Read the engine on the emissions label or the driver's door and use that row. SP-542 is listed for the 2.7L EcoBoost. SP-520 is listed for the 3.3L. SP-534 is listed for the 3.5L EcoBoost. SP-551 is listed for the 5.0L.
The specification tables print 0.028-0.031 (0.7-0.8 mm) for the 2.7L, 0.049-0.053 in (1.25-1.35 mm) for the 3.3L, 0.030-0.033 in (0.75-0.85 mm) for the 3.5L EcoBoost, and 0.049-0.053 in (1.25-1.35 mm) for the 5.0L. The 5.0L ignition line says coil on plug, coil near plug. The other three say coil on plug.
The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6 on the 2.7L, 3.3L, and 3.5L, and 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 on the 5.0L. That is the order in the specification table. It is not a map of the coils on the engine.
The parts notes say to contact an authorized dealer for spark plug replacement and to replace plugs at the scheduled interval. They do not print a removal procedure.
Each gasoline specification block also prints a drive-belt figure. Those figures are not redrawn here.
The diesel specification block prints firing order 1-4-2-5-3-6, 183 cubic inches, ultra-low-sulfur diesel, and compression ratio 16:1. The diesel parts table lists glow plug ZD-22. That engine is left off the spark plug drawing on purpose. A 2020 F-150 plug chart uses different Motorcraft numbers and a different 3.5L gap, so do not move SP-542 or the 0.030-0.033 in 3.5L gap onto that later book.
Outbound links only. BaySheet does not sell parts. Confirm fitment on the retailer page. Amazon links are searches for the part name plus this vehicle. They are not a part number.
Part
Motorcraft spark plug for the gasoline engine
SP-542, SP-520, SP-534, or SP-551 as listed above. The manual says to use Motorcraft parts that meet Ford's specification.
Spark plug numbers in the 2018 F-150 owner's manual (opens in a new tab)Search Amazon.com (affiliate link) (opens in a new tab)
Tool
None listed for removal
The parts notes tell you to contact a dealer and to follow the maintenance schedule. They do not name a socket or a gap tool.
Spark plug notes in the 2018 F-150 owner's manual (opens in a new tab)Search Amazon.com (affiliate link) (opens in a new tab)
The 2018 specification table prints 0.030-0.033 in (0.75-0.85 mm) and Motorcraft SP-534 for the 3.5L EcoBoost, and 0.028-0.031 (0.7-0.8 mm) and SP-542 for the 2.7L. A 2020 F-150 chart is a different book.
No. The parts notes say to contact an authorized dealer for spark plug replacement. This page does not add a coil-pull procedure.
The maintenance checklist is on the site now. The email list is not sending yet, so this box will not store an address.
These guides cover the same kind of work. Their numbers belong to those vehicles, not to this one.