Guys,

First let me say that this a great forum, and from what I read a very knowledgable community. I look forward to learning from your experiences.

I have just upgraded my Eddie Bauer Explorer for a 06 F-150 KR. The truck has 62K on it and was very well taken care of inside. The back seats do not even look like they were sat in. However, I did not receive any paperwork on the truck's previous maintenance, and I am a bit lost as to what I should check to get the truck up to spec.

I have a few questions:

1. The first thing that I did was change the oil and check the transmission fluid. I did purchase a K&N air filter. Should I go after replacing the COPs and the Plugs? What about the Fuel Filter? Transmission Flush? Any advice would be great.

2. I have been pouring over the forums here, and they are great. I have discovered to my disappointment that Ford had a problem with the 5.4L V8 with the spark plugs. I am a bit confused about the engine(s) series that had the spark plug problem. The TSB that I read only talked about the 2004 5.4L, however other members here on the net have talked about broken plugs in all these engines. My engine has VIN code 5, and is a 2006 model. Should I be worried about spark plug problems with this engine?

3. I talked to Ford this morning, they said that I should bring the truck in for a complete check up. They wanted 550 to change the filters and flush the transmission. Now I am all about OEM, but it seems a little steep that those things should cost 550. I found the Motorcraft fuel filter for 12.95 at a local distributer. I am not a ASE mechanic, but I have been working on engines since I was a kid and am not stranger to rebuilds. This being said I know when I am in over my head, and with the TSB that is out for those plugs I don't think I want to attempt to change the plugs myself (as much as it hurts to say that). Do you guys pay for Ford service on these trucks?

4. Any other sugesstions from you guys as to what to check would be great.

Thanks for all your help.

 

First of all, welcome and congrats on the new KR.

I personally have all of my service done at a Lincoln/Mercury dealer. I had a great shadetree mechanic for years, but these newer contraptions are, IMHO, just too complex to be worked on without the benefit of specialization.

Just as a general remark, you'll want to consider posting some of your more technical questions in some of the more technical forums here. Yes, there are some folks on the KR forum who really know their stuff. But in large part, we're not overhauling our KRs on weekends. I have found that targeting questions to the tranny or the engine or the what-have-you forum usually delivers the mail. Or I just talk to the service manager at my L/M dealer. I trust him.

Enjoy that new truck!!!

 

svermill,

Thanks for the info. Yes unfortunately it seems that I am bit out in the cold. I by no means want to soup the truck up like may of the other F150s here on the forums, but I would like to to perform a little better than stock.

I appreciate your honesty and I will post my more technical questions to the technical forums.

Thanks again.

 

x2 taking the truck to the dealer. Lots of electronics and the way I see it, hard to contest who did the work if the truck was only serviced by Ford. My service writer also drives an '06 F150 so he is on top of how these trucks work and what might be trouble areas.

Oil change and tire rotate is now 36.99 at the dealer. This seems like a good deal to me. I use to change my own oil, but the old oil disposal, six quarts of new oil, and bad filter location (oil everywhere when the filter is loosened) made me think twice about doing my own oil changes.