I have a 2003 F-150 Extend Cab, 4x4 with the Triton 5.4L engine. I only have 53000 miles on it. Should I be worried about the blown spark plug issue???

I ask this because my sister and her husband have a 2003 F-350 Supercrew Cab 4x4 with the same engine and with 107000 miles. A week ago, they blew one of the plugs out, I'm not sure which # it was, but I know it was on the passenger side.

What years did the blown spark plug issue really affect the 5.4s???

Thanks
Tim

 

97 - 03

 

just make sure u change the plugs properly

 

Tim,

I too had to deal with the spark plug issue. I had my mechanic install a heli-coil into the head to 'try' and fix the plug (71000 miles). 10,000 miles later it blew out again. So the dealership wanted $3600 to replace the drivers side head. They offered no warranty on the new head. So I had my mechanic drop a rebuilt Jasper engine in it. $3600 for the other head if it were to blow a plug, so $7200 for both heads versus $5000 to put in the rebuild. Apparently this affects all of the 1997-2004 series with the 5.4 . My mechanic said they've been doing a lot of replacement work on those trucks as they work on company fleets of the 5.4 equipped trucks. I read somewhere online that a mechanic tore his engine apart and found that there's not enough threads in the head and the threads that were there are too thin. You get the right temperature and pressure and BOOM. When I had it happen I thought the front tire blew out, that's how loud it was. A guy I work with though also has a 2001 F150, 120,000 miles on it and he hasn't had any problems with it. So it's either hit or miss with these trucks I guess. Hopefully you got a good one.

Tim

 

I'm trying to decide do I take and try to get a different set of wheels, or just ride it out... It's not like I even have an extra $500 sitting around to even get a quick fix done. Well, it's not like I even have the $$$ to make the extra insurance payments or the high monthly truck payments... Unfortunately, the bank owns my truck for the next 5 years... So yeah, I'm not too sure which way to go...
Thanks

 

On most of the 2003 engines, the heads are upgraded to more threads holding the spark plugs in the head. I have a 2000 5.4 so I check the torque on the plugs every thirty thousand miles.

I think a dealer could tell you if you have the later improved heads on your 2003.

 

i got 140,000 outa my 97 5.4. my dad put a helicoil in it and we sold it. id go with warrern-check the torque on the plugs every now and then and you should be ok.

 

mine is an 02 lariat supercrew 4x4. ive got 44xxx miles on it are there any probs w/ the 5.4s in 02? no probs as of yet but after these posts i hope im ok

 

I personally have not had one blow out but I know people that have. They all had them fixed by a Blownoutsparkplug.com. They have their own style of inserts that I have not seen anywhere else. They came out and did everything right here including changing all of the other plugs and checking the treads. They even guaranty their repair. I would contact them. Their site is http://www.blownoutsparkplug.com

 

F-350 Supercrew 4x4 with the 5.4L? That has to be so underpowered. Sorry off topic...

 

I had a plug blow at about 92K. Put in a Helio-coil myself in the garage. Cost about $14 for a kit with two. I had to pay $65 for a new COP because the blown plug destroyed the COP when it exited the head. I used a Reamer to rethread the head to the Helio-coil. Then I put Loc-tite on the Helio-coil. I have changed the plugs once since then, and the engine now has 225K on it. It was the #3 plug on the passenger side. It was a b#$ch to get to, and I swore at Ford a lot. In the end, it wasn't that bad, and the truck runs fine after about 130K on the Helio-coil. I still have the kit with one Helio-coil in case I need it........

 

I'm new to the forum and haven't had time to read all of the info available here. I've been a profesional mechanic since 1968, and have worked on everything from weed whackers to Lockheed C-130's, and most machines in between. Alas, I am not knowledgeable on the 4.6/5.4 Ford engine (yet). But, I have to ask!

Why would you remove the plugs on one of these engines, unless you have a reason to? This was necessary preventive maintenance on FE or Y block engines before emissions control, but today's engines run so clean, and ignition so well controlled, I've not noted any real spark plug problems on the majority, even after 100,000 miles. Most of my customers waste money when they insist on changing the plugs (all it does is put THEIR money in MY pocket). My own 3.3L Chrysler V6 had the plugs pulled the first time at 120,000 miles, and they didn't even need to be regapped (please excuse the Chryser blastphemy on a Ford forum!).

So again I ask. Does the 4.6/5.4 really need to have the plugs pulled? Is it common that the plugs are erroded, fouled, or need regapping? If so, isn't there a better choice of plug? Every time you pull them, you increase the risk of thread failure.

Retorquing? Only as a one-time check when a loose plug is suspected! If the plug is not loose, but moves at all during retorquing, then the threads in the head have already begun to weaken. Retorquing as a preventive measure is counter-productive if the plug moves. The plug will eventually blow out, no matter what engine we're discussing. If the threads have already weakened (no way to know) retorquing can hasten the failure!

Heli-coils! I've used them for decades, but not on aluminum spark plug threads (they are a temporary fix, at best). There are two good permanent fixes for stripped spark plug threads in most aluminum heads. Have the head puddle-welded, drilled, retapped, and heat treated .... or replace the head (resurfacing is not an option on most OHC heads)! There is a product called Keensert, a type of solid bushing that is installed, then staked, but they aren't recommended for spark plug thread restoration in aluminum heads, due to cracks that can form.

Again, don't take my word on any of this! I've only just started working on modular Ford engines, and I already don't like all that I've learned about them.

 

Area

I don't know about the Helio-coil being temporary.....I have about 130K on mine......Maybe the Loc-tite helped. I changed the plugs at about 200K (they had about 125K on them since I did the first change at about 72K), and they have been in for 25K now. I am hoping that was my last plug change on this engine. It should make it to 300K on these plugs, then the motor will likely be done.

 

area904,

I wouldn't be concerning yourself with all that . I have 229,000 on my 98 5.4L. It doesn't use oil - hasn't blown a plug - although 3 & 4 loosened a little after a 10,000 miles at one time. I'm not sure if they would have blown out and I usually don't use a torque wrench on plugs. I agree with fact that Ford could have put a few more threads in the heads..

I look at it like this. My friends and acquaintances who have owned Chevy's , Dodge and other makes in the past haven't come close to the overall reliability of this Ford. It's just been dependable.

I disagree with your thoughts as far as going that long on a set of plugs. After 65,000 miles on any vehicle , economy, performance begin to suffer at that point.

Ford is that best truck made and has been for as long as I can remember.

Although I wouldn't mind an old Studebaker

 

I haven't heard of Helio -coil's not lasting as well, why would you want to temporarily fix a head anyway ?

Timecert would be the way to go..