I just changed the plugs on my 2005 at 90k with no breakage. I had them changed at 34k by local dealer. Fortunately, the dealer put anti sieze on the shank like he was supposed to and they came out with no drama. Definitely don't skip the anti seize when replacing the plugs. It did look like he used copper and not nickel anti seize.

 

Thats good to hear. The plugs are easier to get to than the previous body style trucks. Even with dealing with the stubborn plugs in my 06 I changed them faster than my 00.

 

NEVER use copper anti-seize on the plug shank, with the heat it will react with the aluminum and could seize. Nickle is the recommended anti seize as it can take the heat of combustion and plays well with aluminum. What you saw was probably rust which, happens on the shank of these plugs.

 

Pretty sure it wasn't rust. The shanks looked clean. I found a copper paste like substance on the the plug taper where it meets the shank. Whatever it was, I used the proper nickle anti seize.