On a local Minneapolis news station, the top story was on Triton 5.4l's blowing plugs. For their story, go to:

http://kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=71864

I recently purchased a 2000 F150 5.4l with 80,000 miles on it. This story scared me, so I have spent a great deal of time researching it on the internet. Is it a correct assumption because of the poor design, if it is going to happen, it is going to happen? And there is really no way to prevent it? On the local news story, it was said that the factory installed plugs should be replace and this will fix the problem. But how can this fix the problem, if the plugs are not the problem, its the head?

I realize that the actual number of occurances vs. 5.4l's sold is a small percentage but I am now very paranoid. Ignorance is bliss, I have been very pleased with my truck since purchased, now I am afraid to turn the key.

 

No, it is not a "this WILL happen to you" sort of situation. As you said, a very small percentage of the 5.4L engings out there spit plugs.

Also, changing the OEM spark plugs will not help, because once again, as you said, there are still too few threads in the HEAD holding the spark plug in...putting a new plug won't help. Checking to make sure they are tight is a good idea though.

For the most part, I wouldnt take much of what they said to heart. If you really want to find out more, there is a thread here that is nearly 10 pages long about the subject...just do a search in the engines forum for "blown plugs"

 

I saw that story last night too. Was sitting there watching the news with my fiance. Boy did it get her worked up. I am guessing it was the $3,500 dollar "fix it" tag that got to her. (Something about dream wedding....and that money would already be spent) I have an 02 FX4 with just over 30,000 miles on it and saw that they have had 3 reports of trucks blowing plugs out. Get this, after the news story, she was intent on me changing out my sparkplugs with aftermarkets and so on and so forth....hmm, with plugs, come plug wires...etc.

Now if Kare 11 can just do a story this winter on why trucks with lifts/ oversized tires with chips and a few other goodies handle the winter roads better.....I might have an easier time selling that concept too!

Later,

Steve

 

I've got a '97 5.4 and when I replaced the plugs in it after I bought it used with 62k miles on it almost 4 years ago I noticed that the stock plugs only had threads on the lower part of the part that goes into the head. Maybe a total of 5 threads......

The plugs I replaced them with had threads from the seat all the way to the end of the plug. At first, I thought I had the wrong plugs, but when I compared the length of the plugs, they were the same size.

I wish I could remember 100% if it took more turns to put the new plugs in compared to how many turns it took to get the old ones out..... I'm pretty much 90% sure it was the same amount of turns however....

That just leads me to believe that the head itself probably does not have all that many threads in it.

Dunno...... but, I've had the current plugs in there for almost 4 years and the truck has 133k miles on it now.....

At this point, I don't plan on doing anything with the plugs until they have 100k on them. At that time, I'll pull one and check it, but until then, I've not been concerned about the whole "plug blowout" deal..... I'm more concerned about getting run over by some yahoo out there yaking on his cell phone!!

Good luck!

Mitch

 

Yes, a very small percentage actually spit the plugs, but they are ALL at risk. I just blew my second, either because of the flawed head, or something else because now I have water in the oil w/ a siezed motor, but the first one was a "normal" blown plug.

When I removed all the plugs this time, some where loose already after I just changed them 10k or so ago. I had torqued them as the Chilton manual said, and did not use anti-sieze. My new motor should have updated heads so this will not happen as easy. I'm also planning on getting the big-sert kit and doing all the holes in my old heads and e-baying them or something if anybody is interested. Dealer qouted me 1450 dollars for one new head, not installed.

As a side question, does anybody know how the end of the plug gets smashed when they are ejected? Both of mine had the bottom smashed against the electrode. It would seem the piston would have to do it, but that would mean the spark plug sank into the hole farther, but it's a tapered plug so I don't see that happening. I'm looking for a reason for my water in the oil problem.

 

Flash78,

There are six threads in the cylinder head. So that is all that is holding the plug in the hole. Regardless of weather the plug it self has one hundred threads only six will actually hold the plug in the head. The reporter did not do any research on that fact. I do not condone Ford's attitude on the subject but I also do not like the fact that The reporter was looking for a news item to fill the show. The repair is very simple. Use an insert and screw what Ford has to say about it. After all they are the morons that caused the problem in the first place. So the reporter should have looked into the unauthorized repair and the actual cost. It would have saved a lot of people the unnecessary concern that they are now facing. And yes I have performed the insert repair that they are talking about. It is not difficult.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

JMC, can I ask you a question or anyone else? I read somewhere posted here that a guy who owns an E150 was going to put Big Serts in every plug hole. My question is : If the threads are not stripped out of the head, how would these inserts be able to fit? Doesn't the hole have to be larger?I'm just curious because I would do the same thing on my next tune up. Thanks.

 

Spellbound,

There are basically three steps to the process. Ream, tap and insert. You ream out the hole, tap the hole to the next bigger size and then install the insert. The plug then screws into the one size larger hole that was made into the correct size by intallling the insert. Here is a link to the process.
http://www.timesert.com/bigsert-repair.html

JMC

 

Here is a link to alot of info on this subject.

https://www.f150online.com/forums/sh...ght=blown+plug


Here is another link to installing the big-serts in a ford van
http://www.angelfire.com/biz/gobingo/index.htm

have fun

 

I have been reading about the blown plugs in the 5.4 engines and was wondering if anyone with an 03 5.4 has had this problem. I have seen that in all the post I have read the plugs blew out of 5.4's in the late 90 models. Guess I am hoping that it is not a problem with the 03 models or Ford had corrected the problem. I was gonna change my plugs on my 03 as a precaution but as stated, it is not the plugs that are faulty, it is the cylinder heads. Now I am worried bout my truck.

 

Rest Easy, the heads were changed starting in 03-up.


Bob

 

So Ford has changed the design on the 03 year model 5.4 engine. I can stop my worry now.

 

Correct me if I am wrong but I believe 99% of the plugs coming out were on lightnings because of the higher cylinder pressures(and the small thread count in the heads).Also they don't use wires anymore, just coil packs that go over the plug.

 

the lightning and V10's blow plugs but so do regular 5.4's. I know from experiance.

 

Hey guys, i have an 03 with the 5.4 liter but it was made in october of 02 according to the sticker in the door. so am i screwed with an old head or what? I thought i read someplace that they didnt change the heads till sometime during the 03 model year

I love this truck- would hate to have any problems.