I paid $375 I believe to have plugs changed...luckily they didnt break any and I took it to my trusted mechanic who just happens to work at a Ford dealer.

 

I just had it changed today at one of my local ford dealers (i have 3 near by) I paid $387 out the door including labor, parts & tax, the installed 8 SP-507 PZT14F, and my truck an 2005 5.4L has only 41000 miles, they told me that the come out easy w/o problems, I asked to save the old plugs, and I can see rust on the sleves, even the Service person said that FORD should recomend change at arround 40k miles not 60k, as they have had broken plugs on trucks with only 60k, so he says 40k should be the magic number

 

These are supposed to be 100K mile plugs. Or so they say. That is when Ford reccomends them to be changed. Mine will be done at 60K and hopefully wont be a headache.

 

Mine came out fine at 65,500 and I was told they could have gone to 100,000. I think it helps if you use a gas with a good detergent.

 

what type of gas is that?? shell, BP??

 

Around here, it's Shell, Texaco, Chevron and Conoco. Techron is one of the better detergents. Stay away from Exxon.

 

Hi F150 Guru's. I have been reading a lot about these spark plugs and have pretty much talked myself into having the dealership change them. I guess I don’t understand why a dealership would charge you more money if they broke the plug while trying to remove it. It’s their mistake, right? Sorry for the newbie question.
CCB

 

No, it's not their fault. It's a design problem created by Ford, not the dealer and Ford will not pay for it. If you were the mechanic doing the job and something took twice as long as it should through no fault of your own, wouldn't you want to be paid for it?

 

I agree with what you are saying however, poor design is no fault of the customer. The dealerships know this problem exists and should be prepared for it. They have the tsb’s or at least access to them so they can’t claim ignorance. I am not trying to start a war here, just trying to make sure I am informed. I hate costly surprises.

BTW: It sounds like I should get mine changed soon or sell it off before 100,000.
Thanks,
CCB

 

Most dealers are very aware of it and the good ones have a high success rate. But, they did not create the porblem, Ford did. It's Ford that should stand behind it but won't admit the problem. My dealer has a very high success rate in getting them out, but if a customer has not been running gas with a good detergent, and one breaks even following the TSB, the dealer is not going to pay for it. They are innocent, so why should they?

It's a sorry situation for sure. What if there is an unscrupolous dealer that intentionally breaks them to increase the bill? That could happen and probably has.

 

Bluejay hit it on the head. It's a design flaw from Ford, who won't own up to it and pay for the possible damages. The dealership/service department is not at fault. And if it costs more time and money to fix it and if Ford is not willing to pay for it, the consumer in this scenario must pay. But if you get a dealership with a high success rate, that would be the best avenue to fix the issue.

 

I have been running nothing but Shell for the past few weeks. I am hoping it will help when it comes time to change the plugs.

 

Just me maybe, but if it is a design flaw I would think they would all (or almost) break? If they have a process from the factory that if followed should work, they should not be breaking them. I would never leave my truck to a dealer that would not quote me a hard price to do a job. Fortunately I don't think I will ever have to get them replaced as I only have 30k in 4 years and the truck will be gone before the 100k.

 

They will almost all break if special precautions are not taken. You must follow the TSB explicitly, and even then, some can break. The shank is pressed into the upper body and they failed to allow for carbon build up on the shank. You start turning one out without soaking it in carb cleaner and working it back and forth, odds are it will separate, as the hole is not big enough. Quintin, a Ford tech and member has stated he has had success using an impact with the jolting jarring the carbon loose.

Supposedly, nickel anti sieze on the shank will keep the carbon from adherring on the replacements.

 

I have never bought an extended warranty before but this is one of the reasons I did buy it this time!