Guys, I need help here. I'll do almost anything mechanically but with all the hassle on changing the '06 5.4 plugs, I'd let somebody that has done a ton of them do it. I asked around town and I took it to the mechanic recommended by several guys I respect and the shop has been there for over 20 years.

My '06 Mark LT has just over 70,000 miles and he assured me he would get them all out cleanly. He broke three and all was well as I left the shop, almost $600 later. He has extreme difficulty with # 8 and the truck was in the shop for nearly 3 days.

Less than 50 miles later the truck suddenly idles terribly rough. I barely make back to his shop thinking a coil came loose, or a plug wire came off or something very simple. He called me yesterday to say that all the basic checks are fine and he suspect something mechanical. Monday he is pulling the valve cover as he suspects a broken rocker arm or some issue in the valve train. I suggested to him that this issue had to be related to what was done to the truck. He says no, Ford has had an issue with rocker arms and it's just a coincidence.

Is this possible???? I'm a pretty logical guy and this coincidence of having a mechanical issue with a truck that has been perfect for 71,000 miles and then breaks a rocker arm 50 miles since the plugs were changed out sound to me like the odds of getting hit by a meteorite twice in the same weekend!

Thoughts, or comments??? I think a piece of the plug remained in the cylinder, jammed in a valve and broke the rocker. Am I wrong????

 

Sorry to hear about your trouble! Start buying lottery tickets and hide from the meteor!

I changed the plugs in my truck, drove it a week, and the cam phasers went...had them changed and a week later, the truck started running real bad...took it back to the dealer, and they say it needs a new engine...Is it something they did? who knows...I have 100k more miles than you...I have been trying to find anything else that would explain why it idles and runs rough...

I hope you only need a rocker...but be prepared for more! Hence playing the lotto!

Regards!

 

Thanks for the reply, I will keep you posted.

 

Update, found out the debris put a hole in the piston!

 

Damn, He left broken plug parts down in the head. OUCH!

 

That had to be a pretty big piece to hole the piston, usually they will just blow out the exhaust.

 

Yes I'm sure it was and I hope to God they find it in the pan........keep in mind too there might be a piece of the piston floating around also!

What a nightmare!

 

At this point it doesn't matter if or where they find it. If it destroyed a piston, you're looking at an engine replacement.

 

Although I'm a little late to the party here, I might question the true knowledge of your mechanic. A "broken rocker arm?" maybe on a motor with pushrod actuated valves, but not on a Ford modular motor with overhead cams.

 

Exactly my thoughts...

It's driven by camshafts and tappets.

 

Might explain why he had so much trouble changing the plugs. (Just a thought.)

- Jack

 

Well, people do call the cam followers rocker arms. They also call the lash adjusters lifters or tappets. The cams don't ride directly on top of the valves in this engine.

 

Just semantics, followers would be correct instead of rockers. The piston was replaced and the truck runs like new. The mechanic is a man of his word. Almost 23 hours - all at his cost.

Thank you to all who assisted.

 

That had to bite ..... but it also will add to his reps.

Glad he fixed it.

 

They will come apart. When the roller in the center of the cam follower seizes, the cam begins beating the rocker arm harshly. After a period of time, they can come apart and even take out the valve keeper and drop a valve. Has happened to more than a few.

Take a look at this link of one it actually happened to:
http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/13...ne-seized.html