I have 130,00 on my 97 F150 4.6 v8! - I had my "check engine light" come on at 111,000 - engine was running veryrough! - Brought it in,was told I need to rplacee my plugs & wires... - Since it was time for that I said OK - A few days later, the light came on again, same rough -stalling in the engine. They tell me one of the plugs was loose, fixed right away. Ok now it's 6 months later & I now have 130,00 - same problem - now they say it came loose again, probably because of the threads in the cylinder heads is stripped! - They tighten it again but said that I may have to replace the heads - Min. of $2500.00 - I asked for a price on a New Engine & if I should go that route. I was quoted $5600 for a new engine - Should I go for the new Engine??

Please Help

Joe

 

HI Joe,
You can comfortably get 175,000 - 200,000 mi on that engine. ( check the 100,000 mi club thread) I have heard of problems with the 5.4 blowing out plugs but it sounds like they cross threaded a plug during your tune up. I would check with an engine machine shop and see if therre is a quick fix for the stripped plug hole ( heli-coil??) who knows, you might even be able to get a plug to stay in the head permanately. Good plat. plugs should go 40k at least. Even if they put locktite on it to keep it home you at least put off major repairs for a year or two. That will give you time to save for a new engine or even a down payment on something else. Personally, I would have no problem glueing the plug in place, getting a few more mile out of it and dumping it in trade at the local ford store. Just a thought!!!

 

Pestco gives some good advice but you will never really know when your patch will decide to fail. You need to decide what your plans for the future are, if you plan on keeping the truck for several years and the truck is in excellent mechanical shape then put an engine in it. The truth is at over 100k you don't really know whats next you trans, a/c, rear axle, etc. If you just did the heads then your doing a major repair on a high mileage engine which in my opinion is asking for trouble. Another choice could be to patch it and try to make it a couple months untill the 2004 f 150 comes out and trade it in, the dealer will wholesale it anyway. The new f 150 is really nice we just had a preview last week. From what I saw last week the F 150 will be the hottest thing selling in a couple months.

 

I wouldn't spend the money on a new enigne. Heck have them tighten the plug then weld the thing in place. Those are 100,000 mile plugs. to your engine will be 230,000 before you have to worry about it again.

 

Have it Heli-coil'd. I have seen it done on aluminum heads with no problem.

Rob