Well today I decided to take the plunge and change my plugs. I soaked over night and still broke 3 plugs. Two of the three broke with the porcelin and the center electrode still in place. The remaining the porcelin broke but the electrode came out with the plug.
The sounds these things make while attempting to get them out will disturb you or at least they did me. One observation I will make, is the 3 the broke were the only one's I decided to turn out a little and then turn back in. I'm thinking I should have just kept going and not turned back in.
Ah, I don't frigin know. What I do know is I'm not sure how the heck to get these dam things out. I have given up for today and left these three soaking in Kroil.
What the heck can I do, other then use my AAA and have it towed to my local dealership. Is it possible to use some thing like a long handled awl and break away the porcelin without causing the plug tips to end up in the cylinder?
I'm hoping someone has a great suggestion so I can get these dam things out.
(I posted this over on F150online, I'm looking for all the help I can get)
The Lisle tool works the best. If the electrode is broken flush the tool will work on it as well. If it is protruding above the porcelain you should be able to work it out or break it off flush with needle-nosed visegrips. Good luck.
When I was going to change the plugs I called Ford to see how much the special tools was and if I remember correctly it was about $200. It takes a few days to get too.
Thankfully this BS is OVER.... I was able to track down a pair of super long reach pliers that allowed me to pull out the center electrodes. I tried to pull them using the threaded rod loctited (648) and cured for almost 2 hours. Dam threaded rod pulled right out of the porcelin. So, out came a sharp pointed drift and a hammer. A couple hours later the remains of my 3 broken plugs were OUT!!!!
I was thrilled as I was putting my new plugs, Motorcrafts by the way, in. My truck now idles like new.
Thanks one and all for your help and all.
FYI, my truck is an 07 with 64K on the clock. I've not measured the gaps on the plugs that came out but they were huge, probably twice the new plugs. (come to think of it, I didn't check the new ones, ah hell, guess what ever Motorcraft set them at will be just fine.)
(come to think of it, I didn't check the new ones, ah hell, guess what ever Motorcraft set them at will be just fine.)
I was browsing my owners manual this morning and came across a little note that said, spark plug gap is not adjustable on, I think it said, the 5.4 engine.
__________________ 2007 F150 XLT SCREW 4 X 4, 5.4, 3.73 LIMITED SLIP, TOW PACKAGE. CHROME DOOR HANDLES TRUXEDO TONNEAU COVER, TTT TOW MIRRORS.
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