Hey all,

I just got back from my first ever outing at the drag strip. All in all it was a pretty rough initiation...but more on that later.

I made 7 passes in my Silver 2000 SVT all within a 90 minute window. My truck is 'stock' except for a K&N panel filter and upgraded Bilstein shocks at all four corners. I had serious problems getting traction on all my runs and tried everything including launching from idle and gradually leaning into the throttle. Oh well...

Best best three passes were as follows:

Run #1
R/T .948
60' 2.239
1/8 9.101 @ 80.60
1/4 13.997 @ 100.33

Run #2
R/T 1.036
60' 2.230
1/8 9.107 @ 80.19
1/4 14.024 @ 100.17

Run #4
R/T .923
60' 2.199
1/8 9.111 @ 80.52
1/4 14.004 @ 100.51

The air temperature was 71 degrees, and my truck had about a 1/2 tank of gas with everything on it from the soft bed cover, to the spare tire and trailer hitch.

I was definitely pleased that my trap speed was staying consistently in the 100mph range all day, but the poor traction was killing my 60' times. I could easily shave another 0.2-0.3 off my time with a clean launch.

Then my day went downhill....

I packed up early and decided to head back and spend the rest of the day with the wife, but after driving about 7 miles from the track, I hear a loud banging noise coming from under the hood!
(oil and water temp readings were fine)

I pop the hood, and find that one of the hard plastic covers bolted-on above a fuel injector on my right engine bank has cracked and is banging against the stainless-steel fuel line above it. Luckily, this happened to me no more than 100 yards from a gas station - 5 hours and $100 later - I'm able to get my truck towed to my SVT dealer here in NoVa.

I'll find out tomorrow about the extent of the damage, but the towtruck driver/mechanic thought I'll only need a new fuel injector and plastic cover. I didn't hear my engine knocking at all, but two weekends ago when I took my truck in for routine servicing, my mechanic told me that some of my fuel injectors were dirty. I didn't get them replaced but later that week added some STP fuel injector cleaner. I just hope my engine is OK...the powertrain warranty on the truck has expired since I have 40K miles on the odometer.

Tough initation today!

 

Do you know what a coil pack looks like? It sounds like a spark plug has blown loose and cracked the coil pack???

Dan

 

I'm somewhat familiar with coil packs...that could very well be the problem (I didn't think of that). I just hope I didn't damage the piston. That last thing I want to do is pay for a new engine.

 

CONGRATS on a great day at the Track chiketkd

But Unfortunatly I have to agree with the others,
sounds like you spit a plug
Are they the stock Plugs ?

Your close enough on the miles,
Is it pass the 36 months ?
You MAY still be covered,
I pray you are, and it's something simple, but unfortunatly it sounds like a spit plug
I hope we're all wrong

 

My truck has 40K miles and I didn't get an extended warranty (standard warranty ends at 36K). The spark plugs are bone stock, but were replaced at the 30K service. If I have a spit plug, does that mean I'll need a new engine?!!

 

a new head......

 

Damn...how much would that run approx with labor? Thnx...

 

Gotta go with everyone else.. Its an almost guarantee its a blown plug.. You will more than likely need a new head or have that one helicoiled... Either way get your check book ready.. Sorry dude....

As for the way your truck runs it sounds to me like you never gave the truck time to cool down, not good... As you know your 60' suck, get them down and you will get a respectable time out of your truck... Good luck.. Did you run at capital raceway, not a great hookin track...

PEacE...................
(Jim)

 

My SVT mechanic just got back with me - my truck blew a spark plug! I haven't gotten an estimate yet...

 

 

Dealer replacement of the head will most likely run around $1200.

Daniel

 

Ouch! But I guess it could have been worse. At least my wife was understanding and I'm still alive and breathing...

 

If your SVT dealer did the 30k service with the plug change, maybe they should pick up the tab?

 

Be SURE they check ALL your plugs for proper tightness while replacing the head. Tell them you want the plugs untightened, run down finger-tight, and then just 1/16 th .of a turn more . I did mine that way when going to a colder plug--29,000 miles, ago and they are still tight. I used anti-seize too.

Dan

 

I just got off the phone with the Service Director at my local SVT Dealer here in Sterling/Herndon, VA. Really nice guy. He said blown spark plugs are a very common problem with the 5.4L engine and their dealership fixed two other Lightnings within the last six months for the same problem...

My dealer has already ordered new parts for my truck which should be in by Wednesday, and I should be back on the road by Friday/Saturday latest. Even though the mileage on my truck is 40K, the Service director feels confident that he can get Ford to pick up at least 70% of the tab. What's +ve on my side is that I have no aftermarket add-ons such as a chip or nitrous, and ALL of my service was done by that dealer so they can show Ford that my truck was maintained regularly.

The estimated cost for the repairs is $3000+, but my portion should be no more than $700-$750.