Actually you did that in the 70's.
They 'decided' that the u-joints would never need greasing. Same in the front end.
They didn't.
They went out at 20-25k miles. The 'fix' was to install nipples. The aftermarket sold kits to add them. Then they went back to the factory putting them in. Court order in several states.
Then the grease improved to the point where they could dispense with them again. They also went to things like Struts to simplify the system.
For years front ends dropped out of almost new cars.

Eventually the technology improved to the point that the longer maintenance intervals would work.

The 3 valve engine has a problem with the plugs.
It is known.
It is documented.
NONE of this has anything to do with maintenance.
WHY are posters becoming confused about this?

This is nothing like changing your oil ever 2000 miles or changing you transmission fluid every year or any other 'over doing it' type of maintenance.

THE PLUGS ARE BREAKING in the FREAKING HEADS!
SOME OF THEM ARE BREAKING LOOSE FROM THEIR SEATS.
This has nothing to do with how long platinum plugs last.
This has nothing to do with how many miles Ford or anybody else claims a platinum plug will last.
Ford has a problem with this engine, the same as any maker can have with almost any part, especially new designs.

You guys complaining, do you refuse to do recalls? After all the brakes are sure to be good for 30k miles. Tear up those recall notices on the master cylinder.
Tear up that recall on the tires, tires are good for 60k miles.
Tear up that recall on PCMs they last forever, there is no maintenance schedule for them.

Heck, why replace anything that goes bad? It's not in the maintenance schedules is it?

Honestly, I can not see why people can not understand the difference between maintenance and defects.

Eventually Ford will be forced to notice this bug, courts or simple business practice. They finally acknowledge the vibration and have a dozen or so fixes.
In the meantime, putting in plugs at 50% of their actual recommended life is a LOT cheaper than pulling the heads at 100% of the recommended distance.

 

Chris,

Some people use the argument of how long plugs last in order to cover up and distract you from the point that there is an issue with the plugs becoming stuck in the heads. They do this to make themselves feel better about ignoring a problem and mainly to distract you from the entire problem by saying, "why would you want to change your plugs?' I’ve heard so much of this I want to take them by the neck and say, "WTF business of yours is it why I want to change my plugs, I'll change then when I want. The point is that they a becoming seized, not how long Ford "claims" they will last!!"

And Kool Aid, you have no mechanical experience if you think that a plug will perform the same at 25kmiles and 100k miles. I mean really, listen to yourself, you are embarrassing yourself.

 

I don't know what we're yelling about!

 

It's not necessary to change all the plugs, just change the ones you don't want to be seized.

The preceeding comment was a feeble attempt at sarcasm.

 

silverbullet5.4, I'm sure you are right.

Although, in addition, I think that the guys that don't want to do it are seeking to justify their action (or lack of action) by attacking those that do.

I think the problem was unexpected to Ford.

I think that the test engines were not run on all variants of blend gasoline.

From the corrosion/deposits plus the variance in results it would appear that the fuel run may be the big contributor to the problem.

With 20-30 completely different blends of gasoline there is no way that Ford tested with all fuels. I doubt they really expected to need to do that.

Also, this is a very extreme plug. An innovative design.
Sometimes that works out, sometimes it doesn't.

I think they will come up with a better plug, a better method of removal. But I also think that will come long after a few thousand people will snap plugs and be forced to pay a lot themselves. This money will never be refunded by Ford, and it will lower resale value on the model truck.

 

Apparently you don't have much experience with these things.

Take a wild guess how many cars and trucks are driving down the road, right now, with plugs that have over 100K on them.

And for the record.....I never once said the plug would perform the same at any other mileage after it was new. Please don't put words in my mouth. What I said was the "plugs will work" and they will.

If was using my vehicle for mission critical work, (like racing for instance) I would change the plugs often. But for a daily driver, going back and forth to work, what's the point? So I can get one billionth of a percent better performance/mileage out of my truck?

Please.....

And Chris....the point is,

No plugs would be breaking if they were not being removed. If you didn't visit this board, and you followed the recommended service schedule, you would not have any broken plugs. If you change them every ten thousand miles you won't have any broken plugs either.

So what?

There are hundreds of thousands of F-150 drivers that never ever read anything about these plugs, and never will. Their plugs aren't broken either.

 

Kool Aid, you indeed would have broken plugs, you would just have to deal with it later at 100k miles. BUT, that is assuming you do not foul a plug or have one die on you before 100k miles. Also, your plug conditions have alot to do with what fuel you run, the quality of fuel, the types of driving you do,the types of weather you drive in,and the efficiency of your engine management. If for some reason you may need a reflash due to a rich condition or detonation due to timing or whatever the reason, your plugs will need to be changed. So your theory of plugs lasting 100k miles does not take into account the variables such as weather, driving styles, engine efficiency, and gasoline quality/types. On another note, both power and fuel efficiency can be improved due to cleaner burning by replacing higher mileage plugs. I personally wouldnt let mine go beyond 25k miles, but hey, some are more concerned with maintenance than others. If your solution to this spark plug problem is to simply not change your plugs, than thats fine. But please allow the more logical thinking men talk, thanks.

 

No one is stopping you, or even trying to.

And the 'logical' part is questionable, at best.

 

Your right, its logical to ignore regular engine maintenance. Look, we are not your typical honda drivers who drive and thats it. This is a truck enthusiast forum, most guys on here are diy's and actually enjoy working on their truck. I know me personally it would really bother me to be paying for a truck and know there is a problem and simply to ignore it. But hey, like I said, I make the payments, so I decide when to perform maintenance. I didnt intend to buy the truck to sell at 100k miles, I bought it to have for the long run. So its either pay less now and change the spark plugs, or pay alot later to have the heads removed. Now remind me again how saving money in the long run is illogical? You can do whatever you want, its your truck, but do not redicule others for changing their spark plugs. Its not your damn business.

 

Excuse me......but I didn't ridicule anyone. There you go putting words in my mouth, again!

Did you read the subject line of the thread starter?

Here it is, in case you didn't.........

So, are only those that think he should change the plugs be allowed to post?

Or, is this an open forum where anyone can respond to the original question?

This IS my business.