I have been hearing many horror stories about the F150 5.4 L engines spitting out the spark plug out of the head. It appears it is due to the A/C unit dripping water down on it everytime you use it. Is there any truth to this ? Has anyone ever had this happen ?

 

Nothing to do with air conditioning.
Not enough threads in the head.

 

oh ok... is there a way to fix the problem before it happens or do you just have to wait till it happens then fix it ?

 

You have mixed two separate issues improperly into one.

 

Hello 99blue150,

You asked....is there a way to fix the problem before it happens or do you just have to wait till it happens then fix it ?

Actually you have the opportunity to decide to fix or wait based on how you use your truck.

Most of the rest of us that blew plugs were caught by surprise. Never in the history of gas engines has any maker been so stupid to design an aluminum head with only 3-4 threads. The result is now history with more and more 97-03 V8's & V10's blowing plugs. I work my truck hard towing horses sometimes 1000 miles and there are enough potential problems without adding in a possible plug blowout which would strand me and the horses far from home. When my plug blew at 72000mi I was screwed. Couldn't sell it cause it was now worthless but I really wanted to keep it anyway. Couldn't fix just one plug cause the others could blow at any time making the truck totally undependable for my use. All 8 holes done with the motor in the truck was $2000 with 30 day warranty...Whoo Hoo. So, I had the engine torn down and a machine shop put TimeCerts in all 8 holes plus cam, lifters, headers, water pump, etc. 12month 12000mi warranty out the door $5600. Now the little pony puller has 102000mi and runs real strong. 230rwhp. Had I known about the problem in advance I would have traded the truck plus the $5600 for a diesel which gets twice the mileage pulling the same load.

On a lighter note, the 2006's are having major trouble getting the plugs OUT. They not only seize in the head but when turned forcefully the sparkplug threaded piece separates from the rest of the plug and spins in the plug hole stripping the threads out of the aluminum head all the while the center electrode part remains firmly seized to the head. Affectionately known as a "spinner" So how does one change these plugs? Remove the head of course.

Good Luck 99blue150...us Ford guys could sure use some

 

I'm pretty sure that only really applies to those who wait too long. Over time they get "stuck" but if they are changed around 50k miles there is usually no issue.

 

but didn't i read somewhere that the factory recommended change interval was 100000mileS?

 

I have a 99 f150 5.4 and have know about the plug issue for awhile.....I was told by a few mechs that since I only have 58000 on the engine don't wait have them(plugs) changed now.....Something about carbon build up that makes it really difficult to deal with.....

 

Many vehicles use plugs now with 100k mile replacement intervals. I work at a foreign car dealership, not Ford, any we pull the plugs out inspect them, and put anti-seize on the threads every 30K miles or so. I don't know if Ford dealers recommend this but they should if they dont. I know some of the plugs are a pain to do but the extra time or money invested now could save you thousands down the road.

-Jon

 

yea.. ford has created a mess i hate to say it though...lol... I think I may go out and change my plugs this weekend... It appears on my 5.4 that I need to remove the fuel rail to change a plug in the back does this sound about right ?

 

According to the book the fuel rails do not need to be removed. A swivel and a couple of extensions for your ratchet is all you need. Good luck.

 

thanks I think im gonna need it..lol

 

I work in the lab where they're developing a workaround for that one as well. First of all, the official service procedure is to crack it loose, then soak the bujeesus out of it with penetrating oil, working it gently back and forth 1/8 of a turn at a time. That loosens the carbon deposits that build up around the plug, and generally allows the plug to be removed in whole 95%+ of the time. The other 5 percent break off leaving the spinner. The fix they're working on for that is to loctite a pin in the center of the ceramic core that's left behind, and that will pop right out of the steel sleeve. Then, run a screw into the steel sleeve and use a slide hammer to pop it out of the head.

Yes, I know, it's a royal pain in the ***, and IMHO, a crappy solution to what's clearly a design flaw, but it works.

As for the plug-spitting, they're all on borrowed time. It sucks, but it's the way it is for the moment. It'll likely take a class-action lawsuit by the masses to get corporate off its *** to address the problem. However, because it's not a life or limb failure, it's doubtful that there will ever be a recall for it.

-Joe

 

Geez, you think they would have learned. Although I guess one could say that "not being able to get the plugs out" is a "fix" for "blowing the plugs out." I think I'll just stay on the program where I trade mine in at 59,000 miles (with the original plugs in them) and get the next spark plug problem.

 

I hate to say this, but this is one of the reasons why so many people are buying japanese vehicles now. Even though my truck is older, less powerful, and refined as the 97+ models. I am glad i dont have one of the newer ones. It seems every 5.4/6.8 blows a plug. Its happened to my sister twice.

No im not one who's going to convert to the other side, but if ford is trying to pull this major of an issue off without a recall, im pretty damn sure a silverado will be the next vehicle ill own.