Ok guys i think its time to do it. truck has 92k on stock plugs, ive got the stock motorcraft plugs for it. now my question, what torque specs? any anti-seize? Thanks

 

28 ft/lb, NO antiseize.

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/ar...y-writeup.html

There is another thread as well. Maybe they will help.

 

https://www.f150online.com/forums/v8...ug-change.html

 

That's a 3V write-up I believe.

 

A little copper anti-seize on the taper part of the plug. None on the threads.

 

My 2000 F150 4.6 liter 2V engine appears to have at least two inserts in the #5 and #6 plug holes. There may be more, but I haven't looked at them all yet. I'm trying to figure out how to how to check the inserts to see if they are still intact and/or how to change the plugs without further damaging the inserts. I don't know which kind of inserts they are - helicoil, Timesert etc.

Background - Bought the truck last spring with 160,000 mi. Fixed a CEL indicating coil problem and a miss on #1 cyl last month by replacing the COP. It ran fine on a 1000 mi round trip to Chicago and back with a trailer. My daughter then took the truck to haul some stuff to New Hampshire - 600 mi one way. She got a CEL shortly after leaving that indicated a miss on #6 - not specific code. I caught up with her, replaced the COP on that cyl (actually tried two aftermarket COPs and the second one seemed to be better) and tried to replace the spark plug. When I took out the plug on the side of the road it appeared to be oversized. I figured out later it was actually a regular plug inside an insert. At the time I took it out I didn't know that and just put it back in. I still had one new aftermarket COP, so I also replaced another COP on #8 that seemed to be an original Motorcraft. Replacing the COP the second time appeared to fix the miss after she drove the truck up several hills, so after following a while I let her go on. She drove it to NH and got the CEL back when almost there. I had her take the truck to a dealer there and asked them to fix #6 and replace all the plugs. They checked #6, said it was "fine" (but didn't replace the plug for some reason) and said #5 had an intermittent miss, but they could not get the plug out of #5 - said it was stuck. They apparently did get the plug out of #6 so that it comes out and leaves the insert in the head. They apparently didn't change any other plugs as I had requested. They also replaced a brake line which probably was needed.

She drove the truck back to me this week. It again got a CEL 100 miles out but drove in OK. I started looking at it today. It showed P0306 - miss on #6 like before. I could not hear or feel any blowby on either #5 or #6 when the truck is running. I took out the #6 plug and replaced it with a new Motorcraft. After running a few minutes the CEL on that one has not come back yet. I tried disconnecting and reconnecting the elec connector on #5 but really couldn't tell if it made a difference or not. I loosened the #5 plug a little and sprayed it with PBBlaster. This is where it stands tonight. I plan to see if I can "ease" that plug out after it soaks, and see if I can see any inserts in the other plug holes. I want to try to replace all the plugs with Motorcraft, but I'm worried I may break off a plug or damage the inserts. I probably will also replace the other COPs that have not been changed.

I would like any advice that may help me figure out what kind of inserts are in there, how to remove the plugs, and whether I should do anything else to make sure the inserts and plugs are good and as stable as possible and the plugs are firing.

 

holler1 - if one of your inserts comes out and you're weary about putting it back in, you can go to oreilly's and get a new one for about $4, i don't remember the part number, but here's what it looks like and the box it came in. (don't mind the nasty sparkplug, one of my spark plug sockets rubber ring was stuck on the plug and i couldn't get it off and it melted to the plug.)

insert sleeve on the right



box the insert came in

 

The *ONLY* inserts that work and last are Timesert and the custom ones installed by www.blownoutsparkplug.com. Too bad you aren't near San Diego, those guys could fix it right for you.

 

Update - Finally got the plug out of #5. It came out with an insert. I had soaked it for a couple of days in WD40. I nearly "lost it" as I was tightening and loosening alternately, and at one point it moved in so far I lost hold with the socket. I had to grind off the end of the socket to make the holding surfaces flush with the end to get hold of it again. After that I just turned it all the way out with a 3/8 rachet. I'm going to try to add a picture of the #5 and #6 plugs. #5 clearly is in bad shape, but according to the Autofair dealer in NH, it was firing intermittently. Hard to believe it was firing at all. The plug really doesn't want to come out of the insert, so I don't think I can put the same insert back in.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/me...s5and6top.html

Anyway, I'm hoping someone can help me identify the insert. It is not a spring-type. From the descriptions I've heard, it looks like a Timesert or something similar. The outer diameter of the insert is 16.8 mm and the top 3 threads look like cutting threads. I've read that Timesert has 3 cutting threads. The bottom 3 threads look like they have picked up some aluminum from the head. So I want to figure out if I can just put a new Timesert in the existing threads, or if I have to rethread it or get an oversize insert (like Bigsert).

I think I will also post this in the Engine thread on plug blowout, since that thread has a lot of discussion on this topic already.

 

that insert is the exact same one i posted, go to your auto parts store and ask for it. just get a new plug while you are there too and you can try and compare it to the old one if possible.

 

I got the same thing out of my engine. That is not a Time-sert. You should be able to put a Time-sert in. Normal size, not a Big-sert. Galaxy, a member on these forums, rents the kit for $80 plus shipping both ways. If you don't want to buy the whole kit (about $360 on Amazon), the rental works great.

 

My manual says [2002 and earlier models spark plug torque 84-168 in lbs] 168 = 14FT LBS [2003 AND 2004 models 15 ftlbs] I just did mine a few days ago and torqued them 14ftlbs. If someone knows something this manual doesn't please elaborate.

 

serranot,
Thanks, I agree it isn't a Timesert after looking at their website. It appears to be some kind of generic insert. I'm in conversation with Galaxy. I'm still checking the other plugs to see if there are other inserts in the engine. So far I checked #1, 2, 3 and 8 and they are OK. Also, I'm still not sure if the insert took enough material out of the head to not fit a regular Timesert - will discuss with Galaxy before going ahead with the repair.

I moved my post to the engines forum since there was already a thread there on this topic.

 

i guess my posts aren't showing up or something, because i've already explained what you need to do......