Hey Tylus (or anyone else for that matter). Tylus..I see you have a RoushCharger. On Roush's web site, they quote addition 112 hp and 112 lb-ft of torque at the flywheel. Are these real-world gains or "labroratory" gains? The reason I ask is that I can score one for $4,000 NEW and I want to know if this is worth it.

 

that would be up to you!! But there are NO one piece plugs for the 2004 5.4 V-8
Autolite plugs are $11.00 apiece for that engine, they last 100,000 miles. If you just want to take them out and reinstall them to knock off the carbon build up thats a lot of work. I'm oing to run some cleaner through the engine and then do like someone else said ......brake'm loose and spray some kind of carbon cleaner or sofener and let it weep down into the cycl. head.......wait a day and then go after it!

 

Hey roadside, When I do tackle this next week I am going with the Champion plugs. They are one piece. I have heard good and bad about them, but it looks like the only option for a one piece plug, except for the Brisk plugs. But those are supposed to be for engines that have been modified. Or at least that is what I have read.

 

just an fyi.....i got my plugs (champion) from rockauto.com.....but i got them from one of their auctions on ebay as they were like a buck cheaper a plug on their then their website....

 

champion makes one
they are colder heat range plugs...for applications like mine and FTE Ken



I paid $2,750 from Roush themselves

the 112 HP/TQ is mostly real world...it's a different beast

 

sorry, I guess that a one piece plug is out there. I just haven't seen one. All the time and trouble it takes to change them I think I'll stay with the 100,000 milers. Mine is stock anyway. If maybe I was 50 years younger and richer I may go for the hot rod stuff....LOL. Now I go for looks, ride and gas milage. I like to make the tires smoke every now and again, but only after dark so no one can see an old fart acting like a 17 year old.

 

Forgive the dumb question - but is this something I need to worry about with a 2004 4.6L or is it limited to the 5.4L engines??

 

It is limited to the 5.4L

 

Sorry in advance for a dumb question - but why would you change spark plugs on a truck so early. Don't they last for 100,000 miles?

 

the stock plugs get carbon and rust build up and get broken off in the head, so...by replacing them with 1 piece plugs, or anti-siezing them (cheap and not as good fix) you avoid them breaking down the road and costing you thousands of dollars and hours of headache

 

Use Seafoam regularly and it will keep the carbon down a lot. I have a 3 year old Merc 90 4 stroke and I keep Seafoam in my fuel. I can pull the plugs and the pistons are clean on top


Is this a problem only on that year motor or is it a problem on them all?

 

avoid the Seafoam. Ford specifically says to not use and additives or additional cleaners


and you should see the Seafoam horror stories that have been posted on this forum and F150online. The stuff works great on carb'd vehicles...but you don't want that stuff messing with the sensitive electronics that are in these trucks

 

True, Seafome Is For General Marine Application And Carbed Engines (like He Said). Being That Your Merc Is A 4 Stroke Its Not Gonna Get That Dirty Anyways. Most Of Time That Stuff Is Used On 2 Stroke Power To Remove The Massive Amount Of Carbon Build Up From The Engine. Johnson Pretty Much Keeps That Company Afloat. Do.....not......use.......on.......injected Ford Engines. Z Max Is The Way To Go.

 

Interesting...I have been using MMO for years in everything; vehicles, mowers, 2-cycle... My current 'mix' is 1 oz Marine Sta-Bil for ethanol and 4 oz MMO for every 10 gallons of fuel. Everything always runs smooth and clean. Catalytic converters stay 'sweet' like a new car. I don't have the 5.4L engine with this problem but there are plenty of other reasons for using fuel additives these days. My son was just complaining of a mysterious 'miss' in his 2000 F-250 on cold start the other day. I told him to use some MMO in the oil and gas to see if it may have been sticking valves or injectors.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I never thought about how injected vs. Carbed.
On the plugs breaking off though is this a problem on all 5.4's or certain years?