Just bought a 2002 150 fx4 with the 5.4 engine. The truck has 128,000 miles on it, just became a member on this site, a lot of good information. I am reading a lot about plug blowouts and plugs braking off in the heads.? Is this really as big of a problem as everyone here makes it sound? Did I buy myself a big headache? I have never had this problem with any other vehicle I have owned.

 

Ive never had a issue, changed my plugs at 80,000 miles with autolites and 35,000 miles later no issues at all. Some people have issues and some dont.

 

People who dont use anti seize and who torque the plugs to 28 lbs do not have blow outs for the most part.

 

I have two f150's, 97 & 98 both with 4.6s. change plugs every 50k never had any problems. one truck 3 times one truck 2 times. just 1 thread worth of antisieze and TORQUE it to what ever a 5.4 is. Engine cold ! Havent had any problems.

 

Again 28 LBS NO anti seize on 2v 5.4 engines!

 

i have only seen 2 blowouts with my own eyes. one truck had 160000 miles on the original plugs. didnt even need any inserts for that one the threads were perfectly fine just cleaned them up a little. the other well the guy just tuned it up himself about 1000 miles before and he used a tad bit of antiseize and none of the plugs were tightened properly. its not the most common issue out there but it does happen more than it should. basically ignore the stock torque spec and do as everyone else has said above. and ford says to not use antiseize.

 

I've had 2.5 blowouts on the motor I've got now. I say 2.5 because the last one was a blowout from the cylinder I installed the time-sert in (or rather a friend did), and because of a casting defect in the head, the insert cracked the head but never fully ejected, instead it dug itself deeper and made some pretty sweet marks on the piston. A cylinder head + piston later and it's back on the road. Just be careful, keep an ear out for any ticking you may hear, and torque the plugs to the right spec. FYI if you do ever want to replace the cylinder heads for ones with more threads, look for heads off an 03 - 04 (heritage) F1/2/350 (the one head I'm running now was off an 03 F350 w/ a 5.4 oddly enough), it's pretty obvious by looking at the head (when off the truck) which has 4 threads and which has 8 threads.

 

#1 you didn't pay much atention as you read since the early 3 valve motors have the breakage and the 2 valve motors spit the plugs


#2 as jethat has cleary specified, NO anti-sieze and 28 # of torque and you'll be fine, in fact Im running over 100k on stokc '01 4 thread heads with way too much boost anmd no issues for me

 

What's a blowout?

I agree, = NO Anti seize (none!) & 28' lbs.

 

Thanks for the help guys. I've had and worked on plenty of Ford engines, I have a 1950 Ford custom that I have installed a 302 and a C-4 trans. But this is the first triton engine I have had.So the plugs can be torqued to 28 lbs. in the aluminum head without pulling the threads? Again thanks I appreciate the help.

 

this is good info......

 

Lots of intelligent people here, and some funny sarcasm as well!