spark plug gap extremely off

Passenger side was gapped at .050 and drivers side was at .060....the write up says .039-.043 max...i set the new ones at .041...why were they so off from the factory ?

 

Because the electrode wears down over time, mine were at .05 when I changed mine the other day at 60k
Not every was that high but 3 were

 

You have an '07 and are just now changing the plugs? (not saying it's a bad thing, my '08 2.7 will be getting it's first plugs soon)

The electrodes erode over time and the gap widens.
The plugs do not erode consistently from cylinder to cylinder.

 

My factory plugs were set at .06 and as high as .07.

 

67K miles...just did diff and plugs.

 

That's 37k overdue for the 4.0.. explains the wide gap.

 

glad I finally did it...wasn't as hard as I thought