Ford 5.4 litre spark plug problem

[joeparaski]

A heads up to you Ford owners. Make sure you put anti-seize on the spark plug threads when you change plugs (if you can get them out). These plugs use a 14 mm socket and they don't look like your usual spark plug. They tend to get stuck in the head and they break apart, leaving part of the plug in the thread hole, requiring the removal of the cylinder heads (ShopKey labor time puts it at 25 hours for the job).

Ford has changed the design of the plug from the original and has a special liquid you spray in the spark plug holex to help free it up before removal, which doesn't always work btw.

Joe

[VR3]

another tip - change the plugs at 60,000 instead of 100,000

[MillerLiteScott]

Even if there was not a problem with the spark plugs breaking or stripping the threads out of the head it is still a bitch of a job to even get a socket onto the plugs much less get them out or back in.

Been there done that.

Scott

[disneyjoe7]

another tip - change the plugs at 60,000 instead of 100,000

Best common sense right here. :)

[raidersrule76]

Yea and your also lucky if they don't just blow the plug right out of the hole going down the road seen that happen too. You can usually fix it the first time with a heli coil if your lucky but it will do it again and then you are **** out of luck new head not cheap either.

Mark

[187CAM]

That sux. I thought the Hemi was hard enough to change the 16 plugs it has.

[ohskigod]

Add the 4.6 to that list as well. my Mustang was made right on the us of the design change so I have no ida if I will have that problem or not, the dealer will be doing it anyway.

I dont think I will even go to 60000 before a plug change since I put so few miles on it (bought it in 8/07 and have about 6500 miles on it)

[sucks2beme]

Old 4.6/5.4 problem was not enough threads holding it in.
It sometimes blew out a sparkplug. I've had two blow out on the 98 f150.
Fix, forget heli-coil, use Quickserts. They will last. The new design
has threads, and a new problem. There are new procedures and tools to help.
http://www.denlorstools.com/autoblog...ds-bad-design/

[VR3]

Best common sense right here. :)

Ford says you can keep them in there 100,000 miles.

But that is asking for trouble.

[VR3]

I had the spark plugs replaced on my truck at around 104,000 (I hope that was not the first change) but it went very smoothly!! :)

[Serendipity]

I had the spark plugs replaced on my truck at around 104,000 (I hope that was not the first change) but it went very smoothly!! :)

How many miles do you have on the truck now?

[Rivrrat]

I haven't even figured out where the plugs are on my 05 F-150 yet. But, at 34k, I have a few yrs to worry about that.

[thsmith]

98K on my 01 Expedition 5.4l, had plugs replaced and no issues at 104K.

[sucks2beme]

98K on my 01 Expedition 5.4l, had plugs replaced and no issues at 104K.

2001 had the old heads. Those were the ones that blew out plugs.

[sbpolk]

I have an 05 Expy Eddie Bauer on lease, that is going back in December. Last week my wife was driving it, suddenly began running very rough, CEL light started flashing, and nasty stench. She was less than a half mile from home and limped it into the garage. I am scared to find out what's wrong with it.

We leased it new, changed oil every 3-5k, driven gently and never had a single issue with it. It currently has about 52k on it, and I am afraid I will be putting a new engine it it just before turning it in at the end of the lease...

Ridiculous.

[Rivrrat]

I have an 05 Expy Eddie Bauer on lease, that is going back in December. Last week my wife was driving it, suddenly began running very rough, CEL light started flashing, and nasty stench. She was less than a half mile from home and limped it into the garage. I am scared to find out what's wrong with it.

We leased it new, changed oil every 3-5k, driven gently and never had a single issue with it. It currently has about 52k on it, and I am afraid I will be putting a new engine it it just before turning it in at the end of the lease...

Ridiculous.

That Kind of sounds like the catalytic converter to me.

[thsmith]

2001 had the old heads. Those were the ones that blew out plugs.

With 6K on new plugs and 104k overall I am not worried.

[sbpolk]

That Kind of sounds like the catalytic converter to me.

Wow, that would be great...

[joeparaski]

For those of you who replaced the plugs....did you do it yourself? If not, was it "actually" done or not? I say this because the customer we had with this problem said that his Ford dealer replaced the plugs 40,000 km ago, with an invoice to prove it. BUT...the plugs were NOT replaced, they still had the little white paint spot on top which denotes that it is the original plugs from the assembly line...plus, they sure didn't look like 40k plugs either.

Joe

Joe

[Serendipity]

Ford says you can keep them in there 100,000 miles.

But that is asking for trouble.

I personally would replace them MUCH more frequently.

How many miles do you have on the truck anyways?

If I were you I would be interested in the past owners' service records, to determine if/when they were replaced before you got the truck.

[VR3]

In 04 Ford totally redesigned the 5.4 liter and you were pretty much guaranteed some problems if you waited until 100,000 to change the plugs. The guys that did it at 60,000 usually turned ok. If the plugs didn't shoot through the top, they broke off when taking them out.

I have not heard any problems with the 4.6 liter after 04 having this problem.

There is a lot more to a car than oil changes every 3,000 miles.

My truck is clicking on to 135,000 and counting.

Zero problems other than window regulators (two). Common problem for my model year.

But I am maintenance nut.

Every 3,000 - Oil/filter change + fuel injector cleaner

Every 30,000 -
1) Front differential fluid
2) rear differential fluid
3) Power steering flush
4) radiator flush
5) fuel filter change
6) pvc valve change
7) throttle body / fuel injector cleaning
8) transmission fluid change
9) check belts and hoses (replace as necessary)

Every 60,000 -
1) spark plugs

I drive my truck hard --- and it has given me no real problems. (knock on wood)

[Serendipity]

In 04 Ford totally redesigned the 5.4 liter and you were pretty much guaranteed some problems if you waited until 100,000 to change the plugs. The guys that did it at 60,000 usually turned ok. If the plugs didn't shoot through the top, they broke off when taking them out.

I have not heard any problems with the 4.6 liter after 04 having this problem.

There is a lot more to a car than oil changes every 3,000 miles.

My truck is clicking on to 135,000 and counting.

Zero problems other than window regulators (two). Common problem for my model year.

But I am maintenance nut.

Every 3,000 - Oil/filter change + fuel injector cleaner

Every 30,000 -
1) Front differential fluid
2) rear differential fluid
3) Power steering flush
4) radiator flush
5) fuel filter change
6) pvc valve change
7) throttle body / fuel injector cleaning
8) transmission fluid change
9) check belts and hoses (replace as necessary)

Every 60,000 -
1) spark plugs

I drive my truck hard --- and it has given me no real problems. (knock on wood)

What about...
1. Bleed Brakes
2. Lubricate Chassis
3. Trans filter?

[concealer404]

This kindof makes me glad that i destroy plugs on my DD, so i just change them every time i do an oil change.

[VR3]

of course I change the trans filter when they change the fluid. that would be silly not to.

I have them check the brakes. There is nothing to lubricate on this truck. It uses "lifetime" parts. I do have them look over the cv joints and all that good stuff.

What are you changing spark plugs in every oil change??

[concealer404]

1990 MX6 GT.

I can't get plugs in as cold a heat range as i really need, so they don't last long.

[Serendipity]

of course I change the trans filter when they change the fluid. that would be silly not to.

I have them check the brakes. There is nothing to lubricate on this truck. It uses "lifetime" parts. I do have them look over the cv joints and all that good stuff.

What are you changing spark plugs in every oil change??

Nope, but from what I understand the newer cars use platinum tipped spark plugs so they can go a bit longer.

Personally, I would change regular spark plugs at 30k / platinum plugs at twice that. Waited too long for the first change and got a "check engine" light. Next time will be in 30k, definitely!

[Serendipity]

Trey - I guess you do the following stuff yourself?

1. Change oil and oil filter
2. Replace Air Filter
3. Top off brake fluid
4. Add/flush power steering fluid
5. In-Cabin Microfilter
6. Battery Fluid
7. Transmission Fluid Change
8. Flushed Radiator, bleed radiator
9. Bleed Brakes

Saved me a lot of $$ compared to going to the dealer.

[LessisNevermore]

A heads up to you Ford owners. Make sure you put anti-seize on the spark plug threads when you change plugs

This is a common problem on any engine that has aluminum cyl. heads. You've got two dis-similar metals, and there is a chemical reaction to the steel by the aluminum. It corrodes at the threads, effectively 'shrinking' the hole around the spark plug. A lot of times the softer aluminum gives way and the threads strip out. Maybe they should just heli-coil the heads at the factory and save the mechanics a step.:D

Caution should be used to not over tighten the plugs when using anti-seize. Lubricant (anti-seize) changes the torque values.