I've read a lot of threads over the past few days about these truck motors shooting their plugs and requiring some expensive repair. I have a 4.6 99 F-150 with about 96000 miles on it. Is there preventive maintenance I can do to this motor to prevent this from happening? I'm more concerned because I have a Cold Air Kit and a Xcal tune...

 

dont quote me on this but i think the 5.4 had more plug problems.all you can do is make sure they are torqued down and leave them alone.

 

To the best of my knowledge,the 4.6's didnt have the problems the 5.4's did. but yes,making sure the spark plugs are torqued right is a good thing. The best thing to do if one does blow out,is to get a heli coil insert put in. then that hole doesnt have the problem anymore.

 

Here is what to do if one blows and you are in the middle of no where. Unplug the injector and the plug wire. This will allow you to drive the vehicle back to civilization. Yes it will make noise because the plug hole is open but it is safe to drive. If you don't at least unplug the fuel injector it will wash down the cylinder wall and cause ring failure. The odds are in your favor so don't worry about it. If it does happen use a timsert to have it repaired. See; http://www.timesert.com/html/sparkplugford.html

JMC

 

JMC, im not getting this. how does this work without dropping chips into the cylinder?

 

Note that it doesn't happen to everyone.
A small percentage of a bazillion trucks is a relatively large number.

On the internet, you're gonna hear more from folks who have had the problem so it may sound like everyone had the problem.

 

When we did Neal's truck I used grease to catch the chips. But like I wrote and Jordan too, don't worry about it till it happens.

JMC

 

it was just a curiosity bud. that is all.

 

the timesert is the way to go not a helicoil.timesert is much stronger.i used a timesert to fix a steering knuckle where the caliper bolt screwed in in my old dodge worked great.i wouod never trust a helicoil for that.

 

You can also fill the cylinder with shaving cream while running the tap in there. Rotate the engine by hand after you're done cutting new threads, and the shaving cream and all the metal shavings will get shoved out of the cylinder.

As far as keeping them from blowing out, whenever you decide to replace them, install the new plugs without anti seize, run them down by hand until they bottom out then go another 1/8 turn or so. You'll be fine as frog's hair.