Hoping someone can help!

yes I have already searched, but come up blank...

I was going to change the spark plugs on my truck (3v 5.4l) and I can't get the dang things out! I got the boot off the first one, but using a standard spark plug socket, I can't get it to "grip" the socket. It just sits on top and spins.

Has anyone changed their plugs? If so, did you have to get a special size wrench? Any other advice?

Thanks!

 

They're made so you can't change them if I remember correctly. Just wondering, why do you want to change your plugs?

 

5.4 3V plugs are 9/16 instead of 5/8 like older mod motors. $nap-on makes a special socket for them.

 

Just standard maintenance.

I know the owners manual says something like 100,000 miles, but damn... I've always had better luck with performance and gas mileage by changing them at the 25,000 mile mark...

 

Let us know how it goes. By the looks of it, these guys will be easier to change than the previous generation. If any, looks like the back ones on the passenger side will be the problem children. . .

 

Has anybody, on this forum, actually completed a spark plug change on a 2004 F-150 with more than 60K miles ?

 

That would be #4 and it is tucked away pretty good, but since I got rid of my stock intake things have really opened up big time under the hood and now you can at least see it (#4 )

 

buy the way that socket is $40.00 on the matco truck.

 

the last plugs I changed were on my 97 F-150 4.2...and that was in 1998....since than I have not kept a ford past 100,000 KM...

 

You can pick one up (socket) from Sears (online order only), SK tools specially for 2004 on f150 for 9.99 plus s/h.

 

Nobody really answered my question. Apparently, I have run into something that few other 2004 + F150 truck owners have faced. Sure, the 97 - 03 trucks are pain to change plugs; but, they are nowhere near as difficult as the changing plugs in the 85 and 95 T-Birds that I owned.

My question was somewhat rhetorical. Yesterday, I got my F-150 back from the dealer. I have 68,000 miles on an 04 Lariat built in June, 2003.

To change the plugs, the heads had to be removed.

Here's why. The new plug design (Autolite brags about this on their web site) includes a metal sleeve that extends approximately 1 inch beyond the threads into the head. The sleeve is pressed into the threaded part of the plug and covers the porcelain and electrode. This sleeve gets loaded with carbon as the miles pile up on the truck. It is not too difficult to get a wrench on these plugs; but, we were 2 for 2 in breaking them off inside the plug well. And, the Ford Mechanic was 6 for 6 in breaking the remainder off. Ford lists the new plugs at $17.00 each. Napa sells the Autolite equivalent for $12 - $13 each.

To change 8 plugs in my truck cost nearly $1700 total. This would have paid for the taller gears that I want.

From this point forward, we will perform regular maintenance at 10K mile intervals of pulling the plugs, cleaning them, and put them back in the truck. This may help; but, the carbon in the plug wells beyond the threads make this one hell of a poor design.

This is why I posted the question. To see if anyone else had experienced the same or similar issue. If you have more than 30K miles.... I am curious.

Schaid
2004 F-150 Lariat (June, 2003 Build Date) 68K Miles
35" Pro Comp XTerrain
3" Skyjacker Lift with Rear Shocks
Airaid Intake
Superchips Programmer
Magnaflow SIDO Exhaust
Dual Electric Fans
Putco Spidre Web Grill

 

$1700 clams for a set of plugs!!?? you gotta be *****tin us!

 

No BS here. This is the straight scoop. If you have less than 30K on your truck, buy a 9/16ths socket from matco or Napa and see if you can remove a plug. Do an easy one. If you feel any significant resistance. Stop! Take the truck to the dealer and tell them to handle it. This has the makings of one massive issue for 2004 F150 Truck owners with the 5.4 3v.

 

Breaking all 8 plugs off in the heads doesn’t sound realistic

 

Here is a picture of these plugs for reference to your description, tschaid. I have 18,000 miles and will be (hopefully) installing the new plugs that Roush sends me with their PCM reflash. Do you think I will have any problem with getting mine out at 18,000? What actually breaks on them? Do you have any of the old, broken ones to take pictures of? Wow, this looks like major problems down the road, because most people that are unaware of this problem will get them changed at the 100,000 interval that is recommended OR if there are misfire problems beforehand.


I found another pic of a side by side comparison with a standard plug