Good afternoon,

I have a 2004 F-150 FX4 5.4L that has a bit over 110k miles on it. I have performed general maintenance (new tires, oil and filter changes, air filter changes, keeping fluids up) but nothing more than that. I believe one of my spark plugs is starting to go bad (slight skip, left tailpipe noise at idle from true duals) so I want to replace them and was wondering what else you guys things I should do at the same time? I'll do the plug change but was thinking of a tranny flush, possible coolant system flush at the dealer or somewhere else. Also, what spark plugs do you recommend?

Thanks!

 

For the most part, just follow the factory recommendations.

Your truck came with a service guide as well as an owners guide.

If not get one here: http://www.motorcraftservice.com/vdi...&menuIndex1=24

Exceptions, depending on whom you believe, are the front O2's, and fuel filter. I, and more than a few others, percieve them as relatively frequent maintenance items - certainly yours are due.

As for plugs - you are in for a treat. Begin by using the excellent search feature to pull up the vast body of knowledge on the plugs in these 5.4 3V's.

Here's one: https://www.f150online.com/forums/20...ark-plugs.html

There is also an updated TSB on the latest approved method for extraction (BJ, insert here ;-) http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/jm...sb08-07-06.pdf )

Then Let us know if you still want to tackle it

 

Yup, spark plugs are gonna be fun most likely. Better buy the extraction tool in advance, and some seafoam. Coolant flush and tranny fluid/filter change are all good items to do. You may want to change the front/rear differential fluid as well.

 

I'd also add a dose of Auto-Rx to the oil for cleaning the engine internals. I'm at 95,000 on my 4.6 and this summer it will see a new water pump and thermostat. You only get to over heat these engines once and then it's a boat anchor. The pump and thermostat are cheap insurance. Power flush the tranny and use Motorcraft fluid. Change the differential fluids. Change the COPS when changing the plugs. The best and cheapest are from Ebay. I'll also be changing the EGR on mine as a maintenance item and you need to clean the throttle body if you haven't done so. Change the belt, check the fan clutch for any play and that it cycles.
COPS:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NEW-I...Q5fAccessories

Auto-Rx:
http://www.auto-rx.com/pages/how-auto-rx-works.html
Don't pay any attention to the advertising hype. It's a great cleaner, nothing more. It won't strip lubrication like the quicky flushes and will do no harm unlike the solvent based quicky flushes.

 

You follow this explicitly.

http://ww2.justanswer.com/uploads/jm...sb08-07-06.pdf

 

I wouldn't add anything like Auto-Rx to the engine personally. If you've been doing normal oil changed with seimi- or full-synthetic oil, there will be no need to use an additive. I'd even be leary of adding seafoam to the oil. That's one area where I say, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

 

Hey everyone, thanks for the great replies and TSB. This makes me appreciate my 57 Chevy much more- we changed the plugs n wires, points and coil in no time...looks like this will be fun, lol. Have a great evening!

 

Sure, but how often? About every 12,000 miles. You just went 110,000! So, you can spend 9 times the money and time and still be ahead.

 

Well I started looking more closely into doing this myself. I pulled some of the coils to check them out and got the plugs and tools but after reading more online about all the issues people have encountered I decided it would be best to take the truck to my local Ford dealer, Upcountry Ford in Simpsonville SC. I dropped the truck off on a Monday morning at 10 am and got it back on Wednesday at 3pm. In the end 7 of the 8 plugs broke off while they were changing them and one of the coil wires was damaged (prob from me trying to remove in the 25 deg weather). They even said their extraction tool broke and they had to get another. In the end they charged extra only for the coil plug fix so my total bill was $411 which from what I'd read about other dealerships they did me very fair. I can't believe other dealerships charge folks for each plug that breaks. At any rate I feel much better about that now. I hate it was that way to start with - Ford never should have let something like that slip- but at least it is right now. I went ahead and changed my oil afterwards and replaced my fuel filter since I hadn't ever replaced it and everything is running super smooth. Just wanted to give my update.

 

For anyone out there considering changing spark plugs...attempt it yourself before taking it to the dealership. You will most likely break one or two but if you're careful and let pb cleaner soak into them for about a half hour you can take them our relatively easily. I changed mine last october and got everyone out except for the passenger side nearest the firewall. All I'm saying is the dealerships make more money if they break plugs, right? so why not try it yourself and save some money!!! I only broke one and it only cost like $80 to remove plus about $50 for plugs but much, much less than $400+... Best of luck to everyone!

 

+++1

 

This is great info.With 85k on my 05 Lariat,is that too soon to do plugs?

 

At that mileage, I would do front and rear diff fluids, trannie fluid, plugs, and coolant. That assumes that none of these have already been done,

 

Your exhaust note is due to no X pipe. Very common for truck true duals to be differently toned than the other. My passenger side is more choppy than the left side. The left has many more bends than the passenger side which effects the tone.

 

I'll be doing the drivetrain soon. probably take it in unless I discover it's easy as pie.