Ok..so Im guilty I owned a chevy z71 ... someone thought they wanted it more than me a stole it a couple of weeks ago. So Im on the market. I currently own a 65 ford and Im rebuilding it... so I like to keep things the same.. my wife drives a Lincoln LS sport... I have a ford truck..so I should have a ford daily driver right???
Well... I have been looking at a ford f250 with the v10..hear horror stories even here about blowing plugs like a shotgun. I dont know this is new to me? my chevy didnt spit spark plugs?? I dont want a spark plug spittin ford either... So I researched around and There are far less complaints about the 5.4 and 4.6 shooting plugs.
My question is...how big of a deal is this with the plugs..
should I consider this in my hunt for a truck? What should I look for
in my ford...and what is the best ford motor out there?
Im really wanting a 2001 to 2003 supercrew or 2000 to 2003 superduty.
with either the 5.4 or the V10
HELP!? this just all seems crazy?
I have a friend who dogs the crap out of his 99 5.4 f150...its looking at 300k!!
im pretty easy on my trucks so hopefully I wont have any issues.
I think I must have been reading the same things you have and thats actually why I am here and this is my first post. I am in the market for a 2002 F150 Harley.... then I read about the plug problem. Granted this truck is made to be quick but I don't drive like an ass anymore. I did have a 5.4 in my 99 Eddie Expedition and beat that up and didn't have a problem with close to 90k miles... My dad has had a few E150 with 5.4 and has gotten crazy with them sometimes between hauling trailers and just driving erratically and never had problems.
I have also has an 03 Eddie Expedition and a 99 Mustang GT, both with 4.6 engines and never had a problem.
I always loved the Ford Truck engines and really enjoyed the 5.4. I would assume regular maintenance and changing of spark plugs would help prevent this problem.
It happens, but to a small percentage of trucks. I have never seen it happen personally. I changed my plugs @ 72K and they were all tight and no problems. Alot of problems come from improper torquing of the plugs. They work loose and then blow out taking the rest of the threads with them. I wouldn't be scared of one. Sometime in the 2003 model year, they added more threads to the heads.
Lost my first one around 220K ('97 5.4L) I always had them changed around 60-80K miles and the one that blew had 40K on it. I wouldn't eliminate a modular engine from my search because of it but I would want to see the maintenance records and see how often and who changed the plugs. Also any modular can pop a plug it is not limited to one size, but the '03+ heads are safer since they have 8 thread heads.
ok well the truck im looking at is a 2001 and a 2002 f150 supercrew...and one v10 superduty 2000 model... all of which are at or about 120k.
now if i get 1ook out of the motor without blowing a plug or any major damage...
i can afford to spend a little ...but at my rate of 8k a year. that will be awhile.
It doesn't break the bank to get an insert put in, mine was $250. Albeit I was lucky and it was a front plug but they said a rear would probably only be around $500 but they would of had to remove the head to get to it. As cheap as good after market heads are for another $500-$800 I would rather just get 2 new heads and thats what I planned if it would have been much more.
2000 f250 v-10 171,000 miles no plug problems changed every 60,000.
2004 f150 5.4 78,000 miles no problems, changed every 60,000
2000 exp 5.4 181,000 miles no problems, changed every 60,000.
So really no problems.... get the ford forget chevy....
I had one blow at 130k, plugs were changed at 80k when I had the first one blow. Stripped the threads the second time around.cost $150 to have an insert put back.
100,000 and no problems. just changed them and all were tight. just have them replaced in whatever truck u buy and make sure they are torqued correctly and you'll be fine.
Senior; very nice truck, the ride height looks great; did you make any mods to the sound system? - Vze2sgxa (retired USNR SpecWar brother, 28 yrs)
Negative brother! only mods are the RSX shocks, no lift. I thre in some 5x8 infinity speakers. I have the Q-form kick panels but never added the speakers....didn't want to change the radio/cd unit because I love the clean look.
SpecWar.....**** hot!!!
__________________
Semper Fi,
Rob
HMCS(FMF/AW)
USNR (now)
you can put an insert in yourself. it is not hard. they sell the kit for $40 at advance auto parts. but if they are torqued right then you will not have a problem. also you do not have to remove the head to get to the back ones. i put one in a 1997 5.4 pass side last one. it was a bitch but can be done. took about 30min, and a bloody knuckle
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2001 f250 SCAB 5.4 2WD LB
Plug ?
