i recently talked to the service guy at my local dealership about the plug situation. he said that he did that they had only done about two trucks that needed plugs out. he said for me to wait to replace mine. he also said that i could probably find out more info than him by reading the internet, which is why i went and asked them. My '05 scab has 31k, so should i or should i not?

 

I would if you plan on keeping your truck. I would rather change them out early than have to fight the dealership if one (or more) sticks and breaks later.

 

Just trade your truck in before 100K miles and don't worry about changing the spark plugs.

 

NO...why risk breaking them early to prevent breaking them later?

It's just stupid IMO to take a potentially $4,000 or more risk.

when the truck is close to 100,000 miles, then change 'em. If they do break, you can either foot the bill to replace, or put a new engine in there for the same price. 2 birds with one stone the second way.

 

thats a damn shame.. i suspect that will hurt ford in the future they Really need to address that issue.. I wish i would replace a truck engine before a 100k.and i barely work the damn thing. and especially not 4 grand worth of repairs best believe i would NEVER own that brand again. Dodge already skrewed up.. NEVER again.

 

The $4,000 or so is because the heads are major PITA to remove while in the truck. It's easier to yank the engine.

they have. there is a anti-sieze that is used to prevent the electrode from catching. Unfortunately, the 04 and 05 guys didn't get the fix guick enough. Most 06+ should be just fine, but why take a chance?

Honestly though, how many trucks are still going strong at 100,000 miles without needing a rebuild? They may run well, but a rebuild wouldn't hurt things. Besides, the rest of the truck will show the mileage.

IMO, you're running on borrowed time once you get to 90-100k + miles. From my perspective, I don't understand your statement BigDaddy. I've bought a few vehicles with 100k+ miles and I had an engine standing by to slap in there. And usually a transmission.

 

I know a guy that saves 2 hours by removing the cab from the truck to pull the engine vs. just pulling a modular engine with the cab on the truck.

 

20 years ago, 90-100k was a realistice expectation for an engine. With today's technology, I expect to still be going strong at 200k.

 

Ok that's fine. but why would you have to pay for the repair if Ford broke them off? good to hear i'm ok then but still it will hurt ford if a person had spend 4 grand on something they new about and did nothing about.
all the one's i've owned except the dodge were/are going strong at 100K. hell i just bought an 88 with a 105K and it runs just as strong as ever. i dont' know where you get the point your running on "borrowed" time. who the hell would rebuild a motor before 250K? You do know thats when Ford and all the rest of them "RECOMMEND" (Depends on how well maintence and such was done) and i'm also glad you keep your engines on standby but since i'm leaving in a few months i won't need it as the truck willl be sitting for atleast the next 6 years probably less than 500 miles a year the rest of the time it will be on the concrete slab that we're currently building in the back yard. All these vehicles built today go past a 100K maybe in the past it was like that (dunno wasn't alive then ) but today thats expected hell my little 95 Escort went to 300 without any major trouble and especially without any rebuilds..

 

wow, you guys have had good luck. no matter what the brand, I've had my motors crap out with under 150,000. I've yet to make it past 100,000 without some major form of repair. that would be nice to make it that far.

and I'm a oil change and air filter ****. not to mention plugs/wires/cap/coil about every 12 months if needed or not. wonder if it's the way I drive.

I did have 94 F-150 with the 300 I-6 that got 127,000 before I sold it. The truck had the freeze seals pop out and ate spark plugs up, but otherwise never had an issue. The guy I sold it to drove it another 20,000 miles before the piston rings decided to go

 

I changed the spark plugs on my 97 F150 at 167k miles.

 

You must be doing something wrong. My cousin bought my last truck at 179,000 miles and it is still running good at 220,000. My last car was given to my daughter at 170,000 miles and now has 184,000 miles on it with no issues. My car has 109,000 miles on it and it has never even had plugs and my Escape has 98,000 miles on it and it has everything original except filters and they use no oil. My cousin's 05 F-150 has over 150,000 miles on it and still has everything original (even plugs and brakes). I don't consider 100,000 miles a high mileage vehicle. Today's 100,000 miles is yesterday's 50,000.

 

so just buy replacing the stock plugs and, for example, putting some motorcraft plugs in from the local parts store you can save $4 grand in the long run?

 

no. the 04 and 05 F-150 have a sticking spark plug issue. they tend to break off in the head. Hopefully the 06+ has been fixed. Jury is still out. A TSB has been issued and supposedly the production line is addressing it by putting anti-sieze on the plugs.

basically the argument is that if you change the plugs early on in engine life, you can avoid having your plugs break at the 100,000 recommended change. In theory, the early change will prevent carbon builup from accumulating.

IMO, you're risking a potential $4,000 spark plug change if you change the plugs early. The carbon build-up may have already happened enough that you'll break your plugs. You've essentially got a 50/50 chance of it going good/bad.

so why take that risk?

 

If they break the plugs they have a way of getting them out. There is a tool that they have that will take out the broken piece. I talked to my guy at the dealer and he said they havent had any problems taking them out. He knows there has been issues but nothing they couldnt get done even with one breaking. I would wait to have them replaced its just too early at 30k miles.