First off, I'm new to the site and can easily say this is the best of all the truck sites I have found!!!

Here's my story: I just bought a '97 F150 4X4 Extended Cab with a 4.6 liter V-8/auto trans on Monday. It just turned 81K miles on the way home from the private party seller. I thought I had read about the "spitting" plug issue and it was related mostly to the Lightnings and the bigger-bore motors. Not 10 minutes after we got home with the truck my wife tells me about a story on the local news (KGO TV ch. 7 in S.F. if you want to check their website...) telling about the woes of some local truck owners who have run into the problem and the resulting Ford 'Brick Wall'. Now that I found this site and I'm reading more on the subject I find there are not one but two issues with plugs that apparently affects both big and small-bore V-8's. It sounds like either they come out on their own or they come out in pieces!

I'm afraid to even start the thing up!! Is there anything I can/should/shouldn't do about this? Yesterday I was looking in at the engine and see where they place the spark plugs (WTF?? Who's idea was that???) and now can see where they could easily have problems with cr@p falling into the cylinder! Especially when the plugs sieze in the hole and it either breaks off the porcealin or pulls the threads...

I read in another thread where Ford now has a TSB, special tools and procedure for removing/retrieving plugs and pieces. Is that info available on-line somewhere? I looked at the TSP link above and I see the titles/#'s of the TSB's, but not the actual documents.

Can some of you please fill me in a bit more, and maybe calm my nerves a bit! I don't know why these issues didn't show up on any of the usual "long term reliability" ratings that I had looked at, either...

I await the knowledge and wisdom of the board...

 

the issue of the plugs coming out in pieces is only for the newer 3 valve motors, and it does require special tools to fix; however the motor in your vehicle uses standrd style plugs and does not have this problem. As far as the plugs blowing out of the heads just make sure they are properly torqued and check them at least 2-3 times a year, usually during an oilchage to make sure they don't come loose.

you're good happy motoring!

 

I know this is not all you wanted to hear but the wisdom of it is your getting all excited before anything happens to your motor. Maybe that it won't happen.
If it's going to happen, it will, no matter what position you take except selling the truck.
THINK ABOUT IT!

 

Call the original owner and ask if the factory plugs were replaced.
Probably weren't as the manual states it's a 100K item.

If they are original, take it to a ford dealer for new plugs and specifically mention your concern about the plug issue. Have it written in the customer comment/ issues section of the work order.

Sign it and go on your merry way.

 

Okay Newbe , you may be new but you sure know how to stir things up around here lol. You don't have to worry about it. Your going to get quite a few chiming in and disagreeing with me. People try to pull there own maintenance and just do it half a$$ Like - You can't properly tighten the back plugs (#4) without taking more stuff off on the motor and moving out of the way. Some people just get it the best they can and call it done. Well, not even being close to getting it done right they drop the hood. Ford knows full well whats going on and won't comply to all the wynny baby's who want something done due to there own negligence.

They put a few more threads in the heads since 04 I believe, because of the crybabies - so now it's biatch to get the plugs out!!

FYI - Manuel states your plugs should be checked at 65k - hint , this is when your suppose to change them. After 65k they will go down hill and effect both performance and mileage.

I don't care what anyone thinks , I have 200,000 miles without an issue and mine's a production 5.4L like all the others.

 

How many 4.6 and 5.4 mods are on the streets? A couple million? At least? How many have had the problem? A thousand? Maybe ten thousand at the farthest stretch of the extreme? Now, consider your odds and enjoy your truck.

And FWIW, you could loose the whole truck tomorrow to a drunk driver. Stop worrying about an issue that has affected only a small percentage of owners and letting that get in the way of enjoying your new toy.

 

Hear! Hear!

 

tritonpwr hit it on the head - Acumamahtata - means noo worries dude

 

Don't worry about the plugs blowing out. If one does, get back to us and we will direct you to the time-sert link for the tool and procedure. There is always a guy in most mid size to large cities that will have the tools and expertise to fix it for you if it does happen. A lot of the independent shops are aware of the problem and can handle it too. As for the 3 valve engines in the 04+ trucks, more and more of the shops are finding ways to deal with the problem. The good ones have contacts at the dealer that will print the TSB for them and some even lend them the tool. If it ever happens to you on the road just unplug the corresponding fuel injector and coil and drive it home on 7 cylinders. Unplugging the injector keeps fuel from washing down the cylinder. So enjoy your truck. Now that you know all there is about it it you will never have it happen.

Regards

Jean Marc Chartier

 

Thanks everyone! I'm breathing much easier now, and I appreciate it! JBREW said that the manual specifies to inspect the plugs at 65K. My manual doesn't mention anything about plugs until 100K. Du you all recommend earlier replacement, and if I should decide to attempt it is there anything in particular I need to do like there is on the 3V 5.4's?

 

Well I have hit my head a few times , I think 65K a good # for changeout.

 

I'm more of the 3 year 30-40k type myself. Plus, I like the "feel" of fresh plugs. But, I've been racing for many, many years, so my butt-dyno is probably more sensitive (and bias LOL) than most.

In re your pic, I used to do that. Lost my bikes and gear in a divorce and never got back in it.

 

Holey HELL!! She took the bikes?? That's like takin a mans tools!!! Nahh, musta been a good trade-off. Maybe it was the bikes or the tools

Any way you put it - it would suck giving those up!!

30 -40k I hear yuh, every time I popped ( ) them out for a look-see , they appeared to be almost new looking. That started to fade at 60K - that's when I green lighted on a change out. I used BOSCH plugs then - HUGE mistake - it didn't run for more than 5 minutes lol and the plugs turned 100 different colors. Put the old one's back in her for while and went with the OEM Motor-crafts.

 

I have 168K miles on my '01 f150 5.4 and its never been back to dealer or even in a mechanic's shop since I bought it new. But, I do a lot of maintenance on my truck. I changed first set of plugs around 40k because I could detect a slight miss. Changed them to bosch and those didn't hold up well so i changed them with about 20k on them. Went to an autolite double plat and those held up well with about 40k so I have stuck with that particular brand.

I find that gap definitely increases with mileage so I don't know how you can expect plugs to last 100k.

I do use a small dab of anti-seize on plug threads to prevent any seizing problems. With all the plug changes I have made, I have yet to find a loose plug and I have not had any problems except it is a pain in the butt to remove the back plugs. I usually take off the front wheels and lower the truck where control arms/rotors are just about touching the ground to make it easier on my 53 year old back, lol!

 

First off - great picture! I used to do that (although nowhere near so radical!) about 35 years ago. Back in the days when we thought 5" of suspension travel was like **** on a ritz! That and snowboarding is why I am currently laid up with a whol lotta lower back problems I'm sure!

But I do have another question or two - I read the other post and subsequent link about changing plugs on a 4.6. I might be mis-reading but it sounds like there are two-maybe three versions of that motor? The post in the "how-to" section talks about a 4.6 with the plugs located in the "usual" position - which to me is below the valve covers. Mine are definitly on top, up by the injectors. I have two distributors at the front of the engine with plug wires going to the plugs as normal. I looked and there is only a big rubber boot and no coil on the plug. It looks like the coil is integral to the distributor. So I don't have the COP but I do have plugs on top.

Are these still a beeotch to change out -other than clearance?

Thnaks again you guys!