5.4 3V Plug Change
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 781
Likes: 18
From: East Texas
5.4 3V Plug Change
2005 SuperCrew with ~75,000 miles. Had the plugs changed at the local Ford dealer yesterday. None broke.
I have owned the truck since new, and probably 95% of the times I have filled up, I have purchased Tier 1 (Chevron, Texaco, Exxon, Conoco, Phillips 66, etc.) gasoline. And I tried to use Chevron as much as possible. I also carried Techron concentrate to add periodically.
I think that the quality of gas we use may contribute to the carbon formation and, broken plugs. Thought I would pass it along, FWIW.
I have owned the truck since new, and probably 95% of the times I have filled up, I have purchased Tier 1 (Chevron, Texaco, Exxon, Conoco, Phillips 66, etc.) gasoline. And I tried to use Chevron as much as possible. I also carried Techron concentrate to add periodically.
I think that the quality of gas we use may contribute to the carbon formation and, broken plugs. Thought I would pass it along, FWIW.
Tuned
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 492
Likes: 0
From: Louisville
Congratts! 
I took my 06 to a Goodyear place and they broke 6 of 8 plugs and then could not get the broken ones out. Ended up having the truck towed to a Ford dealer and got all of them but one out. They had to drop a valve to get the last one out as a last ditch effort before sending the head to a machine shop. I got soaked for $1900! 
I am happy the guy got the last plug out, if he had not, I would have been soaked for $3300!
I took my 06 to a Goodyear place and they broke 6 of 8 plugs and then could not get the broken ones out. Ended up having the truck towed to a Ford dealer and got all of them but one out. They had to drop a valve to get the last one out as a last ditch effort before sending the head to a machine shop. I got soaked for $1900! I am happy the guy got the last plug out, if he had not, I would have been soaked for $3300!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,083
Likes: 32
From: San Antonio, Texas
??????????? Say What ??. Are you saying they had to pull a head, and even so I can't imagine what "dropping a valve" would have to do with it, or that they would have done all that for $1900.00. Sounds like they may have been giving you a line of BS to justify their charges. (which weren't completely out of the ballpark for using the extractor tool on six plugs.)
One other question. If the plugs holes had enough carbon buildup to be seized that bad - do you know if the mechanics "cleaned the carbon" out of the plug holes before installing new plugs?
That is an important question I have about this problem. See 5.4L 3V Spark Plugs Engine Build Dates before 10/09/07 - Page 86 - Ford F150 Forum - Community of Ford Truck Fans
Sorry for your unpleasant experience
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 11,931
Likes: 180
The original plugs are two piece and prone to snapping in half when removed. How you take them out, if you use penetrating oil, how many miles you have, and how "stuck" the sides of the plug are in the bore all make a difference. I doubt the type gas you use is a major contributing factor.
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