Changing Spark Plugs
#46
When you make a post......just put [IMG] and [/IMG] around whatever you are going to make as the image. You have to have the images in a gallery of some sort or have them hosted by someone, and then you right click on the photo and copy the link to it. Link will look like (https://www.f150online.com/pic.jpg) as an example. Then put that link in between the [IMG] like that up there. So you end up with something that looks like [*IMG]https://www.f150online.com/pic.jpg[/IMG*] minus the *.
#51
#52
Yep.. The reason I posted this info was to let F150 Truck Owners know. I still do no know if Ford has done anything about this. Remeber, my truck was one of the first 04's made. It is entirely possible that Ford has changed the head design, expanding the plug wells below the threads. I just cannot believe that Ford didn't see this coming when they created the design in the first place.
As for consulting an Attorney. Naw, the mods add a variable that I am not prepared to deal with. I have a family attorney who would love to get his hands on this and I am sure attorney's exist throughout the country who would love to file a class action; but, too few truck owners have experienced this at this time. In time, we will learn if this is just an isolated incident or if this is a design flaw that Ford decided would be too costly to correct.
For those who decide to put a wrench on their plugs, I would be real curious to learn how it went for them. Remember, this problem is not likely to occur within the first 15K to 30K.
I will continue to watch this post. I have to order a PA body lift and arrange for 4.10 gears for my truck.
As for consulting an Attorney. Naw, the mods add a variable that I am not prepared to deal with. I have a family attorney who would love to get his hands on this and I am sure attorney's exist throughout the country who would love to file a class action; but, too few truck owners have experienced this at this time. In time, we will learn if this is just an isolated incident or if this is a design flaw that Ford decided would be too costly to correct.
For those who decide to put a wrench on their plugs, I would be real curious to learn how it went for them. Remember, this problem is not likely to occur within the first 15K to 30K.
I will continue to watch this post. I have to order a PA body lift and arrange for 4.10 gears for my truck.
#53
Something just doesnt add up.
Looking at the two pics you posted.....
This one appears to break at the sealing ring... which could happen for alot of reasons... over torqued from the factory... etc etc.
This one breaks at an all together different place.... way down by the tip of the plug. Notice how it tappers down after the sealing ring... you would have to have a lot of carbon build up to hold it and prevent the plug from releasing.
Now it might just be me or it just might be the crappy pictures you took... but i dont see any carbon build up. What i do see is discoloration of the metal.
Please post pics off all 8 plugs without blur and much much bigger pics.
Please discuss.
Chris
All eight broke at the same point.
This one appears to break at the sealing ring... which could happen for alot of reasons... over torqued from the factory... etc etc.
This one breaks at an all together different place.... way down by the tip of the plug. Notice how it tappers down after the sealing ring... you would have to have a lot of carbon build up to hold it and prevent the plug from releasing.
Now it might just be me or it just might be the crappy pictures you took... but i dont see any carbon build up. What i do see is discoloration of the metal.
Please post pics off all 8 plugs without blur and much much bigger pics.
Please discuss.
Chris
#55
I don't have the plugs and I am not going to engage in excessive analysis. The two pictures are of the same plug. The discoloration on the top is carbon build up. Together and apart. Yep they are crappy pictures to go along with a crappy design by Ford and Autolite. I engaged in this post simply to educate other F150 truck owners.
#56
#57
#58
I knew from the start that this was going to get ugly. That is why I started the post with a question. Unfortunately, I don't have the answer. Crappy pictures or good pictures of the plugs won't give you an answer either. Look at earlier posts with the pictures of the autolite plugs. The bottom part of the shield is pressed into the top part with the threads. Just a little carbon will cause it to seize if the tolerance between the bottom of the plug and the inside of the combustion chamber is close. My truck was built in June 2003. You may not have the same or similar problem. This may be one of those were some people have the problem (early mfg dates) and many don't because Ford quietly fixed the problem. Then again......
Remember an earlier post. I am a true Ford Truck owner. A little problem like this would never cause me to change allegiance. I have always been a Ford Truck owner and will die a Ford Truck owner. My only inent with this was to provide my brothers with information. Personally, I hope to remove these new plugs at or around 10K to 15K from now, inspect them, clean them with brake parts cleaner, and re-install them. If they give me trouble, I will decide what course of action to take at that time.
A 6.0 liter diesel and trans from a F250 is not out of the question.
For now, I have a body lift to be installed this coming weekend.
Remember an earlier post. I am a true Ford Truck owner. A little problem like this would never cause me to change allegiance. I have always been a Ford Truck owner and will die a Ford Truck owner. My only inent with this was to provide my brothers with information. Personally, I hope to remove these new plugs at or around 10K to 15K from now, inspect them, clean them with brake parts cleaner, and re-install them. If they give me trouble, I will decide what course of action to take at that time.
A 6.0 liter diesel and trans from a F250 is not out of the question.
For now, I have a body lift to be installed this coming weekend.
#59
What Tschaid says makes very good sense and the pictures reveal alot of useable info. Basically, the plug seizes at the long sleeve protruding into the head. This allows a large portion of steel to aluminum that could, over the process of many heat cycles, seize together. THe plug is obviously not designed to sustain the stresses put on it and it snaps at the weakest point when attempting to remove it. The plug will then screw out and leave the sleeve in the cylinder head. The head will then have to be pulled and the spark plug hammered out from the inside of the combustion chamber, which is why the electrode is missing from the plug in the picture.
Basically, there is a huge portion(about an inch) that leaves room for carbon and heat to cause it to seize. This is a horrible design and I do not foresee a design change for later year models because this is the first we have heard of it. THe tolerances between the sleeve and head seem way too tight to begin with which causes the problem. I wouldnt resinstall the spark plugs if they are seized without remachining the tolerances on the head to prevent the problem again.
Anyone have the ***** to try to change their plugs and let us know the results...atleast anyone with higher miles? The plug is just not designed to have any forces exerted on the part of the plug, which is why it breaks. Maybe before this is said and done with we will all be experts on pulling 5.4 heads, because I will do it myself before I pay $1700.
Basically, there is a huge portion(about an inch) that leaves room for carbon and heat to cause it to seize. This is a horrible design and I do not foresee a design change for later year models because this is the first we have heard of it. THe tolerances between the sleeve and head seem way too tight to begin with which causes the problem. I wouldnt resinstall the spark plugs if they are seized without remachining the tolerances on the head to prevent the problem again.
Anyone have the ***** to try to change their plugs and let us know the results...atleast anyone with higher miles? The plug is just not designed to have any forces exerted on the part of the plug, which is why it breaks. Maybe before this is said and done with we will all be experts on pulling 5.4 heads, because I will do it myself before I pay $1700.
#60
Sivlerbullet,
Damn I wish I still lived in Atlanta ( was there from 92 through 98) We could have gotten together and talked about this over a beer.
I received a little more info today. I went back to the Ford Dealer just to talk about this some more and see if he had any more data. Today, he had a 2005 F150 owned by a local electrical contractor. The truck came in for other maintenance. The Service Manager gave it to the mechanic who handled my truck. The mechanic decided to pull one of the plugs just to satisfy his curiousity. The plug came out fine; however, it showed signs of carbon build up - 16K miles. And it was the same poor plug design. You are absolutely correct. This plug will not stand any force before separating.
Strong advice to F150 truck owners. Don't wait past 20K to pull the plugs and clean them. The carbon cleans away from the plug fairly easily with brake parts cleaner.
Having done most maintenance items myself for the past 25 years, I never believed I would be gun shy about putting a wrench on a plug. In time, this will pass. I was more bothered by not having my truck for 10 days than I was with the cost. Maybe I'm a sucker and should have hammered the dealer more; but, they have done me so many favors over the past four or five years that I simply wrote out the check. Maybe a fool. Maybe not.
Damn I wish I still lived in Atlanta ( was there from 92 through 98) We could have gotten together and talked about this over a beer.
I received a little more info today. I went back to the Ford Dealer just to talk about this some more and see if he had any more data. Today, he had a 2005 F150 owned by a local electrical contractor. The truck came in for other maintenance. The Service Manager gave it to the mechanic who handled my truck. The mechanic decided to pull one of the plugs just to satisfy his curiousity. The plug came out fine; however, it showed signs of carbon build up - 16K miles. And it was the same poor plug design. You are absolutely correct. This plug will not stand any force before separating.
Strong advice to F150 truck owners. Don't wait past 20K to pull the plugs and clean them. The carbon cleans away from the plug fairly easily with brake parts cleaner.
Having done most maintenance items myself for the past 25 years, I never believed I would be gun shy about putting a wrench on a plug. In time, this will pass. I was more bothered by not having my truck for 10 days than I was with the cost. Maybe I'm a sucker and should have hammered the dealer more; but, they have done me so many favors over the past four or five years that I simply wrote out the check. Maybe a fool. Maybe not.