5.4 striped spark plug hole?
 

Is there a easy fix? Do they make a over sized plug made just for this? Thanks,Randy

yes, they make thread inserts. One of the better one is the Timesert kit, i think someone is selling (or was selling) that kit in the classified section.

I JUST had this done. The dealer, Landers Ford in Collierville TN, screwed up and misdiagnosed a ticking sound in my engine last month as a lifter problem. Turns out it was the number 8 plug...it blew one month later.

The dealer told me I'd have to replace the head for $3,300 or buy a new engine for $5,000.

Some very helpful folks here on the forum turned me on to Time-Sert.

Dyno-Speed in Memphis TN did the job in 4 hours for $371. I have the truck back...runs like a top and no more ticking. Long live Time-Sert! Long live Dyno-Speed!

It might help to find a shop that has done these type of jobs in the past....they've already got the kit. The kit itself costs more than they charged me to do the work.

If you need to buy the kit Time-Sert has a list of authorized dealers on their website.

http://www.timesert.com/

Good luck....keep us posted.

Just went through this.

Usually occurs after a plug change. The problem is well documented but Ford is so broke they won't acknowledge the problem. Google "Triton Engine Spitting Spark Plugs" are you will see more than you want to see.

Many opinions about the topic. Careful removal (Carbon hurting threads), cleanliness, anti-seize and 13-15lbs torque. Some folks suggest not changing the plugs ever......

Timesert kit came in friday. Took about 3 to 4 hrs to fix was a little nervous took my time. My daily drive is a f250 7.3 not only do I get great advice there. I came get it here to. thanks, Randy

If you dont mind me asking, how much did it cost you?

is the number eight plug on the pass. side??my truck sounds like it has an exhaust leak and now im wondering if its a plug??

Its not cheap.$371.00 but worth every penny.I could have done it in half the time. It was the number 6 cyl.

Yeah its not that expensive, esp. considering how much a head is!

What's it consist of ? Is it a self-threading Keensert ?

We had a Ford Dealer "Fix" it in Utah (2000 Excursion) but I never looked at what the repair was all about.

I think it consist of: the new thread tap, the timeserts (peice of metal that is threaded on the inside for the spark plug and the outside for the tap that comes with the kit) tools to install the timeserts, and a small amount of grease(that way when your tapping into the spark plug hole the grease catches the shavings)

how many inserts are there. How many spark plug holes can be repaired with the kit?

Mike

the kit comes with 5 inserts.

02 f150 spark plug blowout
 

I just had a blowout on my 02 f150 which has only 42k on it. i was only going 20 mph when it happened. the ford dealer said they charge $500 to fix it. i found a good local mechanic who did it for a little less. they recommend not even changing the spark plugs if you can help it. the carbon build up on the bottom threads may strip the holes if you take them out. ford needs to do something about this. its too bad, cause i love the pickup.

I wonder if anyone has tried using kroil, and just break the plugs free a little bit and let the kroil creep down and dissolve some carbon. That is what we did on the new 5.4L 3 valve.

Just another price here, I had #2 pop and it was $250, they said it would be $500 or more if it was one of the back ones since they remove the head to get to them. That quote from the dealer for a head and an engine is ridiculous. You can get a set of patriot heads for around $1200 and could have a good mechanic put them on for another $1K or less, Ford needs to get their heads out of their rears on their shop rates. I'd gladly have Ford do repairs if they were anywhere near reasonable on their prices.

Ford dealer shop rates are high because they have all the necessary tools and ecm readers to service any car or truck that ford makes, plus pretty much any other brand of vehicle. I had the #4 cylinder plug blow this past summer and i put an insert in myself. I used a self tapping insert. I made a sleeve to fit the spark plug bore so i could drill the old threads out nice and straight. I also turned down a length of i believe it is 3/4 hex stock with the threads of a stock spark plug to use as a driver for the self-tapping insert. I used a 90 degree air drill to get in under the wiper cowl. Disconnecting some vacuum lines and the chassis ground strap and removing the hoses to the heater core let me get back in there without having to remove the head.

Amazing......