Don't prejudge a new plug design simply by who makes it. For all we know, these Champions may outperform and outlast the Motorcrafts.

 

Problem is, you risk damaging the head/threads anytime you go changing out these plugs. It's been told that plugs have broke with only a few hundred to thousand miles on them. I'm not saying you're wrong but I, like many, have come to see that there is more risk by trying to change them early than waiting until when Ford recommends. Who knows, by then something may come along to solve the problem better or completely. Early preventative maintance may end up being early unintended "have-to-fix". There's not enough benefit, IMO, to justify screwing around with plugs that are this risky. I think the antisieze on the electrode shield after 40+k is futile. Yes, it can withstand high temps but the longevity of it is the question. If there were more people on here saying how all their plugs came out fine at 40K, then I might buy into it. All I seem to hear lately are people complaining saying they tried to change them at 30-40k and still had to end up getting the dealership to remove the broken fragments b/c they snapped them. That's not awe-inspiring to get many motivated to attempt it early.... To me, it sounds like asking for trouble.

 

I don't recall seeing any claims of this. Do you have any references?

 

I've never heard of any breaking with a few hundred to a thousand miles.

One of the dealers I go to said they have not had a single problem with them as longs as the milage was not more than 50-60k miles. I'm at 33k miles and plan on changing them out ASAP, hopefully with either the brisk or champ plugs.

Besides breaking these plugs they should not be ran to 100k miles. There have been posts on here and Mike Troyer listed gap sizes being very large at 40-50k miles. Think it was mentioned that the gaps was almost double(I would search to verify but I'm lazy).

Don't worry there are going to be alot of people that wait to 100k miles before a change cause that's what Ford recommends and have no clue about breaking plugs. I have a feeling that sooner or later there will be a class action over this unless the Ford techs get really good at removing stock plugs at 100k miles so that the customer does not incur any additional costs.

 

My dealer says that they have not had any problems as long as they are done before 60K! After that it gets quite risky, I'm gonna do mine sometime between 45-50K, & stay with that change interval for the duration of the truck!...........The Champion Plug is a huge + for us, especially since a major plug company came up with this design, people should in no way knock their efforts for offering a good option with this matter!.........

 

Check my thread out on broken plugs, injectors, COP, etc. at 30k.

My 2005 lariat has 31k miles. The dealer has changed all 8 plugs and of those they broke 3.

Two were so severe that they had to replace a head.

 

Sure there will be different experiences from different Techs.......some are much better & more skilled & careful than others........A techs skill & ability is a variable that we do not have any control over, unless you request to have the most skilled tech who has the most experience with plug changes for the 5.4 3v...........

 

How sad, first of all nine times out of ten they will tell you they have their best tech on it, whether it be true or not. But I am happy about the move to a one piece plug. Shame after over a hundred years Ford came up with this piece of crap.

 

davewvu86 is one example of low mileage breakage and I'm sure I've read of others in the many, many, threads on it. Another reason I don't see looking for trouble is, like someone just mentioned, many techs aren't experienced on changing the dang things. I don't want to be a guinea pig for some tech that hasn't had experience with changing them(does anyone else). Like I've said, I don't say those who want to play with them early is wrong, but there's not enough convincing support to warrant me looking for trouble.

 

I have 64,000 on mine and had every intention of going to about 90,000 before changing. Now my dealer is saying to change at 60,000. Really getting tired of the stress this is causing, as well as the hassle of taking it in for the service. Not sure what I should do.

 

Well peace be with you

I was going to do the same game plan and wait and see if Ford actually does something about this, hell I might not have the truck for 100k miles(I plan on keeping it longer but things change). But I've changed my mind since the plug gap would be awful in 100k miles and it would be almost guaranteed that they will break if you wait that long. So I've decided to get them changed early while still under warranty since the service manger assured me that they should have no issues at my mileage, 33k miles. Also he said if they break while under warranty that he would step up to the plate and make sure that I would not be charged any extra money. So I plan on trying the Champion plugs if they are out in time, if not I'll probably just stick Motorcraft back in for the time being. I just don't have the warm & fuzzy feeling on the brisk's yet. I have 3k miles until the warranty is up which is about 3 months for me, so well see what happens.

 

At your milage I would be on the fence too. I would ask my self how much longer am I going to keep this truck. If not much longer than 100K miles I would probably just keep the stockers in there and leave it to the next owner. I would usually never pass the buck like this but in this situation I think I would. If you plan on keeping well past 100k I would take to a competent dealer now. I would have a long conversation with the service manager or owner before they do any work and come up with some kind of agreement on what will happen and who is responsible if any break and require extensive work. Get something in writing.

 

I may add that your situation may only be replicated in that paticular dealership.

You have to admit, they have a bunch of 2nd grader mechanics working in that dealership. I have read your post and sympathise with you, but, there is a difference in a stealer and a dealer.

I do not see any problem in the preventive maint. If you take into account, back in the old days, we were changing plugs every 10k to 20k miles. Yes, apples and oranges comparing design, but, if you KNOW what you are doing taking out a plug and putting it back is as elementary as taking a crap! ( I would have said as elementary as spelling your name, but, some people still have trouble with that one)

Those of us that want to perform preventive maint on our new trucks are the same people that do not trust just anyone turning a wrench under our hoods but ourselves. I for one will be ordering the new design plug and replacing them as soon as my 08 gets here!

Take it or leave it but that is just my thoughts on the matter!

 

FYI, I belive it is that engines built after 10/7/07 that the heads and plugs have been redesigned to fix this problem. I there is a somewhat recent either in the "engine's or 05-present" sections about this. So you might not have anything to worry about with your 08 I don't know if there is a good way to check this when you get your truck with out pulling a plug. The new design should have the traditional tip that you can adjust the gap instead of the basket design.

 

Thanks for the info. I have not investigated too much about it thus far. I hope you are right. I guess the skepticism I am practicing here is that they redesigned the 05 too and it still has the screw ups. They have been beating the design to death one extream to the other. First the plugs were blowing out and then they go to where monkey **** and dynomite won't get them out.

At least there is a new design being made to remedy this problem now! It is about time!