Well, I was worried with all the hype of the 9/16 plugs breaking off in the heads and having to be surgically removed etc... I bought the OTC socket and removal kit etc in prep. So I wanted to get the Motorcraft multi piece plugs out ASAP and a one piece in. I have 2.5 years and 38k miles on my 5.4L. All eight plugs came out with ease. I was pleasantly surprised. I chose NGK Iridium stock replacements. This engine is much easier to do plugs on that my old Lightning 5.4L! There was the lightest touch of carbon on the electrode side but they were vary clean and lean in general. This engine burns lean IMO, the stainless exhaust is rusting from the high towing heat causing breakdown.

 

right on sounds good, nice choice of plugs one of my favs.

 

Hey.

2010 5.4?

Bud - you worried about nothing - the redesign occurred back in 2008

You have 'classic' 1-piece plugs already. No need for the extraction tool, either.

Good job, anyway!

BTW - if yer worried aboot the EGT's, get a custom programmer with a proper max tow tune.

 

Aren't plugs supposed to be changed around 80K miles?

 

Ford recommends ~60K now.

No such thing as a 100K plug - too many folks have seen unacceptable gap growth with high mileage.

These plugs are not that expensive - no reason to leave them in that long...

NGK Part # 372 {#ZNAR6AIX11} Iridium IX $6.92 - Rock Auto

MOTORCRAFT Part # SP509 {#HJFS24FP} Finewire Double Platinum $ 7.40 - Rock Auto

Fresh plugs FTW


MGD

 

This is what Ford recommends......

90,000 miles
❑ Change engine oil and replace oil filter
❑ Inspect automatic transmission fluid level on
vehicles if equipped with dipstick. Consult
your dealer for your particular requirements.
❑ Replace cabin air filter (if equipped)
❑ Replace climate-controlled seat filter (if equipped)
❑ Replace engine air filter
❑ Replace fuel filter (except Escape, Mariner,
F-Series [non Super Duty],
Expedition/Navigator [short wheel base only],
E-Series and Transit Connect)
❑ Replace spark plugs
❑ Inspect steering linkage, ball joints, suspension,
tie rod ends, driveshaft, and U-joints (lubricate if
equipped with Zerk fittings)
❑ Torque the rear U-bolts (Transit Connect only)
❑ Inspect engine cooling system and hoses
❑ Inspect brake pads, shoes, rotors, drums, brake
lines and hoses and parking brake system.
❑ Inspect half shaft boots (if equipped)
❑ Inspect exhaust system and heat shields
❑ Inspect accessory drive belts
❑ Inspect and lubricate 4x4 front axle U-joints
❑ Rotate tires, inspect tires for wear and measure
tread depth
❑ Inspect the wheels and related components for
abnormal noise, wear, looseness, or drag
❑ Perform multi-point inspection (recommended)
DEALER VALIDATION:
RO#: P&A CODE:

This is straight from my maintenance manual. My truck is a 2010 so unless Ford changed it within 2 years then I don't see any reason to change the plugs before the recommended interval, unless it makes a noticeable difference on how the truck runs.

 

Neither my originals or the replacements made it to the recommended interval (100k) before misfiring.

The 5.4 3V with the ORIGINAL heads (2 piece) were recommended at 100k, but Ford shortened it to 60k after the fact because of the removal issues.

 

Sorry - preponderance of experiential evidence tells me otherwise.

99% of Ford's maintenance recommendations are not for YOUR benefit, it's for THEIRS.

Google Total Cost of Ownership ( TCO, fleet) - perhaps you'll understand then.

Lifetime balljoints? Nope.
Lifetime tranny fluid? Nope.
90-100K plugs? Nope.
Long-duration fuel filter? Nope.


BTW, my manual says 100k, but a later Ford publication revised it to 60K. Twofold reasons: (1) easier extraction ( good in theory, not so good in practice). (2) Mitigate plug gap growth, which was found to be excessive at the original interval, which tends to cause misfires and stresses other ignition components.

Yer plugs are not immune to the latter, I'm afraid - regardless of what you may wish.

Like I said - they're relatively cheap, and take all of an hour to change - yer doing yerself a disservice by waiting that long. I do mine evey 30K. I sorta enjoy it.

Hint: it's called PREVENTATIVE maintenance for a very good reason. IF you want to continue practicing REACTIVE maintenance, then by all means follow ALL of Ford's recommendations to the letter. The fuel filter, for one, will love you for it

And you will very much enjoy it WHEN (not IF) a CHEAP Ungreasable steering component unexpectedly lets go @ speed in the middle of nowhere, while you have a bowl of goldfish on the seat But hey! FORD tells yall they'll last fer the life of the truck. So comforting to know while yer waiting fer that tow (if yer alive, that is). Extreme, you say? Nope.

This site is a Goldmine of precious info that has been Hard Won by those who have reported all thes many, many things that Ford does not want you to know. Binary Solution Set: You can either learn from those hard lessons, or ignore them.

Yer truck, yer money, yer call.

Lastly, and Most Importantly:

- this here is a SMiley -->
- the above prose is only MY Opinion
- I DO still wish you the best of luck!

MGD

 

no need to pretend to be a redneck on the internet

 

Who's Pretending?

Ah be the Original Canuckistanian, skirt-chasin', beer-swillin', pork-smokin', ***-scratchin', swampgas-generatin' Redneck!

At yer service, aight!

 

Which one is you?

 

The one taking the pitcher, of course.

What - do ye think I wanna get caught under that thang and git banned?

I gots problems enough 'round here!

 

and now your a pirate?

I'm no psychiatrist but my uneducated expert opinion is you have multiple personality disorder.

 

Arghhhhh ...you'd be wise tae mind yer nuts, me matey




MGD






YIKES !!! Sorry OP - this here thread kinda got all jacked up My bad! Danged cheap wobblypops ....

And YES, ol' Big D, I be drankin'

 

The 60k is more for the two piece plug ease of extraction than for the other.....

anything over 80k is when we're starting to see the gap spread on the classic style plugs for the revised 3v heads....