Been reading about the seemingly growing problem of plugs being blown out. All indications point to this being a direct result of the few threads on the head holding in the plugs.
My concern in this matter comes from the fact that I now have 15,000 on my 02 5.4. I traded it in after dropping $2500 on a new 4.2 V6 just two years ago due to a leaking intake manifold gasket filling up the #1 cylinder making it hydraulic-lock, pushing the rod thru the piston. The same problem MANY other 4.2 owners expirenced but few got ford assistance on. (I WASNT ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES) Swore I wouldnt have another ford but fell in love with the FX4 and figured that the V8 engine named one if the 10 best would have to be a good one.

How many of these "blown plugs" have come on the 02 5.4's if any?

Have they changed the thrad design any for the 02 models or are they the same as the earlier models being reported on here?

I think I will make it a habit to check the plugs for tightness prior to hearing any noises. Maybe when I do the trans flushes at 25,000 mile int.

Does anyone know of a "locktite" type of threadlocking compound that would bond that steel plug thread to the alum? It would have to be good but also breakable for futuer plug canges.

Just trying to put together some logic here and maybe head off a future problem.