does the 4.6 have the same issues as the 5.4?,thanks

 

No, the 4.6 has traditional plugs. Just change them.

 

^^^ he is correct.

 

Not to hijack, but when has everybody been changing theirs on 4.6's? I'm at 81,000 and I'd bet mine are about ready for changing

 

Does anyone that has changed the plugs on the 4.6 know how easily accessible they were to change? I'm at about 148,000 miles and I'm probably due for a change.

 

i aswell would like to know im at 86000 and thinking about doing the plugs. what is needed to do this? and what sparkplugs do i buy (brand, modle number)?

 

Just did mine guys on my 4.6 with 155K!! Went flawless, just take your time, have the right tools such as extensions and torque wrench, the back passenger side is a bit tough to get to but...its accessible with your swivels! I did them all individually and with each COP I took off I had my shop vac there and sucked the holes out so as to not get anything in there! Gap your plugs and enjoy it! I was actually really nervous but it was far better than expected, did one side one sunday evening in 2 hrs and the other side the next day in 2 hrs, I just really took my time and enjoyed learning!! Runs great now with smoother acceleration!! I went back with motocraft, used anit-seize and dielectric grease on the COP's! Total cost...about 50 bucks I think!

 

Good to know.

Thanks

 

DO NOT USE ANTI SEIZE on a 4.6 spark plug. Only the 2 piece plugs of the 5.4 require anti-seize. Using it on a 4.6 one piece plug will cause the plug to loosen and eventually blow out of the head usually taking the threads with it.

When I changed the plugs in my 4.6 with 85,000 miles on them, I found that the gap was any where from .064 to .079 which is way too wide for 4.6. I use Autolite Double Platinums in mine and it runs like new. Fuel mileage also came back.


Make sure to use a dielectric grease on the insulators before putting the COPS back on to seal out moisture. If this is yer first time with a 4.6 with COPS, figure about 4 hours, lots of patience and extensions with swivels. You do not need to remove the fuel rails. You can work around them. The COPS unbolt first and then pull the COPS out of the hole. Remove the old plug like any other plug and reinstall a new one. I used a piece of old fish tank hose to get the plugs out of the holes and to start the new ones. Looks like this:


It's not near as hard to do as it sounds. Just take yer time and enjoy the day.

 

i was talking to a buddy of mine at school he also has a 4.6l and he said that one of the sparkplugs blew out and took out all the threads. and i asked him how could that have happend and he said that he replaced them awhile ago but wasnt sure what spark plug he used so now his truck is in the shop and they told him they were goign to try and re-thread it and if it doesnt work that hes goign to need a new engine? is this true?

 

You need to tell yer buddy to get the truck out of THAT shop ASAP- they are clueless. Some of the early year Tritons had short threads in the heads and were known to spit the plugs. But there are several ways to fix it without pulling the head or replacing the head. Timecert is the best but a Helicoil will also work most of the time. If this shop doesn't know about this, and apparently they don't, they don't have any knowledge at all about working on a Triton engine. Would you let a beginner work on yer engine? That's what these guys are if they don't already know about this.

 

Those gaps are crazy. Makes me consider going in just to check on them even though I only got 24K on it.

We had a 2K 4.6 and the fuel rail was the biggest PIA of the whole project. The rear two plugs were time consuming, but not too bad. The hose idea is a must, I've got a couple in the box right next to the myriad of plug sockets.

 

Its not a bad job. I did it by myself in about 2 hours and 4 bl's.