My 99 F150 With the 5.4L has had many of the mainstream issues. Door cracks, leaky slider(which i am about to throw a rock through), Failing COPS and now my favorite one...the Ejection Plug. First I noticed lack of power under load, then about 300km later a slight smell, nothing to worry...like the dirty deisel smell from a truck headed up a hill. Then a slight whistle that increased as the RPM went up in all gears and relative to the load. I first put off the whistle for many reasons but now it is very apparent. It seams like in the last 150Km of light duty, a bad *** tick has developed from the engin compartment. Ive tried to isolate it but there is so much ambient noise it makes it difficult.

From what I have read here. The plug is ready to fire, am I correct to assume that? As far as I understand the whistle is exhaust gas leaking from the threads in the head. thus also causing a exhaust smell and the ticking is actually the plug rattling itself free when the Aluminum head temp is increased. Is there anything someone can add before I go ahead and rock and roll?, plugs were changed 40k ago with FORD OEM , all 8cyls. have new COPS in the last 16 mos. all FORD OEM.

Any links to good threads is much appreciated.
JEFF>

 

The first thing to do is to find out which cylinder(s) is (are) affected. Pull the plug for the cylinder and examine it. it may have been cross threaded. There are thread chasers that can be used to restore the threads. Find it now before it launches on the road. If it does launch unplug the corresponding injector and drive the truck home.

JMC