Only if they had like a automatic ratchet.... Just set it to the max torque and it does the rest and u just leave it there till it comes undone...

Its like braces for your teeth, You dont just pull the tooth instantly where you want it to go, you have to put a constant amount of force and the tooth will move on its own.

I wonder if it will work with a ratchet, pulley and and weight? Grab a beer while your plugs come undone..might take a long time so go buy some more beers


(I dunno where all that came from , im bored)

 

Yeah, I'm beginning to think I'm a freaking nut being so concerned about this. The horror stories are everywhere and in just about every Ford related Forum. I get my mind set to just bite the bullet and have them changed for the Champion plugs to later say what the hell, I'll wait and see what FMC does to rectify the situation. I've been searching this and many other websites for years now trying to see what's the most reasonable thing to do. I've called many to most all the Ford Dealerships in Georgia to see what's being recommended(and I get every answer under the sun). Worst case thoughts have got me checking out other brands to see about just dumping it and trading for something else but to be honest, there's no other gas truck I've found as appealing as this truck for what I need it for. Ford has done nothing to make me or anybody else feel "comfortable" about owning this engine for the next 5 years. Every month I feel my payment to FMC is being dishonestly obtained b/c I'm paying for a truck with issues that are known by FMC and has been swept under the rug for years. This truck has been one of the best trucks I've owned so far but it has given me the most concern of any truck I've ever owned b/c of all the issues with injectors, plugs, phasers, tensioners, e-brakes, etc., etc., etc.. This plug problem has and continues to be a "dam-ed if you do, dam-ed if you don't scenario". Do I play the fool now by testing my luck or wait until 100k and try. It's crazy being FMC has pumped these engines out for 4 years not giving a rat's butt what the end result will be. Part of me wants to wait until 100k just to follow Ford's advice. At least that way, when I go in to have them changed and something does happen, I'll have the most right to rattle the heck out of the dealers cage not to mention personally running FMC in the ground with any and everybody I encounter. I know, threats mean nothing but it makes me feel better tonight. I'm in one of those moods.

 

I agree Tom. My truck has had none of the major problems some seem to have, yet I have had all the concerns. I do think that running a detergent fuel is a factor with the plugs coming out. My dealer said thaey followed the TSB and had done 9 or 10 plug jobs with only one plug breaking and they retrieved it. That one that broke was on an oil field truck that spent the day idleing and with the odemeter showing just under 100,000, they said it had the equivalent of about 120,000. Their recommendatio was to run a good fuel and change at about 90,000.

 

Well I just got my 99 F150 rough run looked after thanks to all you good folks. Now I am looking at my 2004 5.4 F150 and have heard about plugs blowing out and the like. I have about 75000 KM on it now. Some say not to take the risk of replaceing the original ones since you run the risk of plug blow out. What's the thought???

 

If the plugs break, you have to remove the heads to get them out of the cylinders and then put it back together correct?

 

04+ trucks dont have the plug blow out issue.

 

The plugs do not blow out of the 2004 and up, the problem is getting them out without them breaking.

 

Knowing that 04's are safe from blowouts is a big relief. I can live with the "tough to get out" problem rather than the "come out by themselves" problem. Thanks

 

glc, are you really a Canadian? I think so!

 

heck i replace mine at LEAST once a year... i get bored, i change the plugs....

so far though i haven't had ANY problems.. knock on wood though.

 

glc you might be older than me. I also remember 1000 mile oil changes.
also remember taking an hour to change points plugs, set the dwell( not gap) and timing

 

Yeah. Having owned a 94 Ranger, for the most part, there is no performance to notice in them.

The newer 2.3L and the SOHC 4.0L, sure, but not the Lima 2.3L, not the 3.slow v6, and the pushrod 4.0L was not usually a speed demon.

 

Incorrect, there is a removal tool available if one breaks off in the head, and others have made removal tools themselves.

 

I'd personally rather them blow out than have them stuck like in the 3v engines. A broken plug likely means a cylinder head removal, while a blown plug only requires a time-sert and a few hours of work.

Edit: I guess there is a tool to help remove the broken plugs, but it looks like much more of a pain than a time-sert.