Hi All
Need some advice on plug change. I have just under 25000 miles on my 2004 Lariat. Question being is should I try for a plug change and all its related risks or leave well enough alone.The truck is running great ,and at this rate the truck will be 16 years old before it hits the 100000 mile mark.
And I do keep my trucks for a long time , my last truck was a 1986 F 150 I bought new.

 

I changed the ones in my 06 F150 at about 20k following the TSB and all 8 of them felt and sounded like they would break. Luckily all 8 came out in one piece. We changed my neighbor's at the same time on his 05 F150 with 40k on it and one broke. He fabbed up a home-made extractor and got the ground shield out. We both put one-piece Champion 7989s back in and everything has been fine since.

 

Why the heck are you guys changing plugs so early?I can see @ maybe 80k miles but wow you guys need to settle down.100k is the magic #.......

 

You evidently don't know about the problem with the redesigned spark plugs for the 3-valve heads sticking and breaking off in the heads. Let a couple get stuck and break off in your engine and you will have an entirely new attitude about this issue.

 

My dealer has a tech that has had great success removing the plugs. He has done many plug changes and has had 2 break. He did mine at 65,000 with none breaking. he did another member's on here at 133,000 and none broke. His secret is that he follows the TSB explicitly.

My truck was running great when I had them changed and they still looked new. They could have easily gone 100,000. I went back with Motorcraft as I think they are the best plug for the money and this set will go for 100,000. I think it is very important to use a gas with a good detergent, such as Techron.

 

I think I will check out a few more dealerships and see what they have to say. The one I did check said they did not have the Ford tool to extract the broken piece (go figure a Ford dealership.)
I know I will follow the latest TSB to the letter and take my time, I don't think I could say the same for most of them , who knows. They also say if they break of any plugs it is a added cost to me.
If anybody is going to break any off it may as well be me.

 

After reading this I figured I would call one of the local dealerships and check into this. They said for plugs and coil packs it would be $500. Plus an additional $90 for each plug that breaks. I may try to tackle this myself.

 

Not sure what they were quoting you. Eight coils should be a lot more, from a dealer, and that is too high for just plugs. Possibly plugs and boots, maybe.

 

I have been wondering too if I should change mine, I'm at a little over 60k now and the truck still runs strong. I have been thinking about it and searching around, but think ill just leave them be

 

I did my plugs last weekend and they came out with no problems. I did the job myself. The truck is an 05 KR with the 5.4 and it has 92K km, 56K miles.

 

I'm so confused, still don't know what do.Its kind of sad that we have to be worried about changing a set of spark plugs. Ford has been putting them in cars for over 100 years , I guess they call this progress.