Blown Plug & Repair

[mrmike]

I thought I would relate my experience with a blown plug and my subsequent repair. I am not a professional mechanic, but I am an enthusiast having spent lots of time working on my 1989 Mustang GT. I have never opened an engine up or pulled one. I am fairly adept at changing shocks, brake pads, exhaust componets, etc. I have a 1999 5.4L that was way overdue for spark plug change at 140,000 miles. Based on the excellent advice within this forum I ordered the Global COPs and acquired my plugs at the local Advance Auto. Unfortunately, before I could do the change, the #3 plug blew destroying the COP. I read and re-read everything I could find in this forum reagarding the blow out and the use of the TimeSert repair kit. I found one on Amazon for $364 and it came with good instructions as well as the link to the repair video. I picked a nice 90+ degree day here in Georgia to change the plugs and do the repair. I started on the passenger side leaving the blow-out repair until last. It was not too difficult to get the COPs off and the plugs out with all the extensions at hand. On the driver's side, I did find it easier to change the plugs and COPs after removing the fuel rail. I torqued the plugs to 28 ft.lbs without anti-sieze and was generous with the dielectric grease. The TimeSert kit worked as advertised. I will say that I was extremely apprehensive before I started, but my confidence grew as the procedure progressed exactly as stated in the directions. I want to thank all the folks on here for your knowledge and the tremendous amount of help you provided. So far, I have put about 500 miles on the truck since the repair and all is well. I am almost ready to take a longer drive.

[Bluejay]

Great post, glad your misfortune turned out so well. Sounds as if you did everything correctly.

[Galaxy]

Glad it worked out for ya. Should have joined this forum earlier and done some searching around...there's a member on here that rents the kit out for an extremely good deal. Would have saved you a ton of money over the good deal you did get

But, at least you fixed it the right way.

[glc]

The only better way to repair it without pulling the head is NOT cheap -

www.blownoutsparkplug.com