I just recently purchased a used '07 F150 with a 5.4L engine and 34,000 mi. on the odometer. After reading the horror stories in this forum about the spark plugs I decided I would replace them early with Champions. Using a heat gun to warm the sparks plugs, and surrounding metal, and then spraying with JB's Blaster I let it set for 24 hrs and then removed all of the plugs without problems. Six of the plugs came out with carbon buildup on the sleeve near the ground electrode but the front two plugs on the passenger side had no carbon but rust in the same area. My first thought was perhaps a bad head gasket but I thought I'd ask for the expert opinions from forum members. I have only driven the truck a few hundred miles and I have not had to had cooling fluid, but even with a blown head gasket I wouldn't anticipate adding fluid would be necessary.
Thank you.

 

That rusty looking stuff is probably carbon.

HYPO

 

I changed mine in my 06' f-150 had 69K on the clock and they were very rusty. I tried to upload the pics to no avail but mine look similar to the one Bridge posted from his two 5.4s. ( https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...-insanity.html ). Mine look real similar to those posted. Either way I think that this must be common enough to set your mind at ease about the Head Gasket, especialy with no coolant loss.

 

if you don't drive the truck much, condensation gets inside the motor and will go to work.

You would know if you had a head leaking. i'ts probably just from the truck sitting for a while when it was for sale...and most likely that "rust" is just carbon

 

Thanks, I won't worry about the rust on the plugs unless I start needing to add coolant.