Just wanted to share my spark plug changing experience.
My truck (2007 F-150 Screw 4x4 5.4 Flex) has 106,000 miles on it and I decided to change the plugs. I bought 8 MC SP515 plugs, OTC6900 socket, and the Lisle 65600 tool just in case.
Removed the air intake tube, ECM, and COPs. Poured 10ML SuperTech carb cleaner in each hole and cracked each plug 1/4 turn with my torque wrench set at 30 ft lbs. Let them sit for 1 hour and 15 minutes them torqued them back to 25 ft lbs. Then loosened them back 1/4 turn. I did this 3 times. Then went to 1/2 turn. By this time the plugs were creaking and getting easier to turn. after going to 1/2 turn 3 times I sucked the carb cleaner out and switched to a standard 3/8 ratchet and tightened/loosened each plug until they came out. The passengers side rear turned very hard so I let it soak for an extra 1/2 hour turned out 1/2 and then loosened/tightened it until it loosened and came out like the other 7. It was very black from carbon build up, more than the others. I had to order nickel ant-seize so I will get the new ones installed tuesday.
Anyone apprehensive about doing this yourself need not worry. Use patience and follow the TSB and things will work out. Do have the Lisle tool on hand just in case, though.
Phone calls to 3 dealers netted 3 quotes:
$143.00 labor, $30.00 for each broken plug, $28.00 for each plug. Plus tax.
$195.00 labor, $150.00 for each broken plug, $25.89 for each plug. Plus tax.
$525.00 for parts, labor, and tax out the door plus $50.00 for each broken plug.
My plugs were $9.00 from Rockauto, the socket was $25.00 locally, and the lisle tool was $68.00 from Rockauto. I'm going to sell the tool and start changing them every 50,000 following the TSB.

 

Contrats on the plug change. I have 48,000 miles on my 06 and have been contemplating changing plugs this summer.

 

Had mine done at 42K just to avoid plugs breaking. It was worth it to me having the 2 piece plugs gone (put in Champions and they're working great for me).

 

Champions are what I'll go with. I just did a couple of tune ups on our daily drivers (02 Taurus and 01 Sable w/ 3.0-24V) at 100K miles and after looking at the Motorcraft Platinum plugs that came out I won't run plugs that long again.

 

Update:
Installed the SP515 plugs this morning. Fired right up and runs very smooth.

 

New update. My truck has just rolled over 179,000 with the second set of plugs. It developed a slight miss (73,000 miles on these plugs) so I changed them. I used a 3/8" drive ratchet, extensions, and my OTC spark plug socket to remove the plugs. They came out with no muss or fuss. I installed new MC SP515 plugs. It fired right up and runs great.
Here is a pic of the plugs. From left to right: New SP515, used SP515 with 73,000 miles on it, original plug with 106,000 miles on it.

 

Wow, did not have such luck. I let my plugs soak over night and three still broke off. 68k miles. At least it works out for some folks!

 

Hi, I am getting together the tools, parts and nerves to do this on my new-to-me 2004 with 52k miles. What I don't get is how the liquid seeps in when you loosen the plus, I guess there is the minutest of space? Thanks for posting the quotes, I am going to call around too.

 

When you initially loosen them 1/4 turn it unseats the taper seal between the plug and the head. Time and gravity let the carb cleaner seep down to the carbon and soften it up.

 

Ah, thanks for that information.

 

Has anyone tried heating up the engine and using an air gun on the plugs? I saw several YouTube videos where they did that without breaking any plugs. Engine had to be hot though.

 

People had me scared with talk of the impact gun screwing up the plug hole threads, but it looks like it works?

 

I recently changed my plugs for the first time. 2004 with 96,000 miles. Warm engine, cracked open plugs and let carb cleaner sit for 15 minutes or so. My 18v 3/8" drive impact gun could only reach the front 6 plugs. So I would give the back plug a 1/4 turn or so and if it felt like it was starting to get harder I just stopped and moved on to one of the front plugs, then would come back to the rear after completing the easy to reach plug. All eight came out with no breaking. My original plugs looked just like Thousand Mile's, very large gap worn in and similar carbon. new plugs went in with nickel anti seize on body of electrode and threads. Taking my time I think it was about 2.5 hour job. I'll admit, I was a little nervous hitting the trigger on the impact for the first plug.

 

Ya I really want to try it but I am scared

Did you find a good video on what to remove to get plug access, and how to remove it?

 

I like FordTechMakuloco's videos:

This is the first video I saw that showed the impact gun method:

I don't know if either details all the things to take off. going from memory, the air cleaner and a couple of clip on hoses on the left side and on the right there was a clip on hose and I completely removed the ECM and bracket from the firewall.