I'm not trying to start a flame here, just that that might be a little harder to prove than the defective tire issue a little while back.
(Just can't think of a reason an engine will fail just because a plug is frozen in the cyl head, but it's still firing and doing it's job)

 

Oh, I know, my mind was wandering to the fuel injector problem....my bad... These Fords are really irritating with all of their substandard parts failures. I guess the Unitied States has lost its ability to build anything quality....

 

EZRIDR, the current Ford TSB no longer recommends Kroil. It recommends Motorcraft carb cleaner.

 

Are you saying it recommends card cleaner for removing the plugs???
I think I will stick with my PB.

 

I heard carb cleaner is just diluted brake cleaner. anyone??

 

Bought an '05 with 85000 on it and decided to check the plugs. Not sure how much mileage was on the new plugs but they came off EASY and there was traces of anti sieze compound on them. I assume when you state "nickel" it's the gold stuff. Mine had the standard grey anti sieze compound on them. I believe the trick is to get the compound on the seat as well as the threads, and not overtighten them.

 

Nickel antiseize is silver, not gold. On the 3V engines, it goes on the electrode shield, not the threads.

 

I've never seen it gold ?? I have stuff w/coper as-well - it doesn't look much different.

 

You should have pure nickel anitseez, which is rated for 2400F, on the electrode where it prevents carbon build.

As posted by Fordtect somewhere on this forum FMC carb cleaner [PM3] breaks down carbon.

I would put a light, as in a very light coating, on the threads as it recommended for assembly of dissimilar metals.

 

I just picked up an 08 f150 w/ 5.4L engine. Now I'm reading these stories and concerned.

Is my truck new enough that this spark plug design issue shouldn't be an issue? Or should I pull them now to use anti-seize?

BTW, I don't care WHO recommends 100,000 miles for spark plug changes, I just don't see any upside [other than cost] to it. I swap plugs every 25-35K regardless, to prevent plugs from fusing/galling to the heads.


I bought my dad's Dakota with 118K on it and he bragged about never needing to replace the spark plugs. I changed them as soon as I got home. The gap was supposed to be around .42 and it was around .72.

BTW, I am a HUGE fan of PB Blaster also. I soaked all 6 plugs on the Dakota for an hour before removing and got them out fine, even though they were stuck and noisy.

BUT, should I trust the plugs I have? Should I just yank and anti-seize them on principle? or has that been done?

Thanks!

 

Your 08 may have the redesigned heads that use conventional plugs.

 

filled mine out!!!!!! I hope a lot of my Ford Buddy's do this it makes good sense.

 

IIRC, NHTSA closed that investigation a while back... Their conclusion was that it did not pose a safety hazard or risk of fire when it happens... I'll see if I can dig up the link...

 

I was mistaken... The investigation was for the ejections on the 97-03 5.4L plugs, not the '04-up plugs.

However, regardless of the data logged with the ODI, they're not going to do anything about it. It poses no safety hazard, so the NHTSA will never issue a recall for them. It's a maintenance issue that has had the root cause identified, and the solution published by Ford. It's really a closed issue at this point... They identified the problem, identified the cause, published a repair procedure to address the issue, and informed all its dealers how to deal with the problem. What more do you expect to happen?

 

I too complained just because. I can try right? lol I will be doing mine soon, within 2 week I hope. I will probably be using the champion plugs too FWIW.