5 days ago my '02 F250 with a 5.4 , 6 spd manual and only 97300 km (60500 miles) ejected its #8 cylinder spark plug. This truck has had a good life, well maintained and never abused. All major required work done by a very reputable dealer whom I wish sold something other than Fords. Because I was concerned about plug spitting....I'd read that there was concern about plug cross threading due to mis-allignment on the production line, I had the plugs done at 37000 miles to make sure all would be ok. Well obviously not. So it came out of the shop today $700 later. It's not the money....it's the disappointment and let down that the Triton motors are. The rest of the truck is "bullet proof" I know and it's a pity the Tritons are junk. So I'm gone to Hemi land, never to buy another Ford. To those of you still with Tritons, I say, good bye and good luck.

 

Sorry about your luck, my Dad's 4.6 has 400,xxx on it now, all original.....I've been around a lot of trucks, all in all, Ford will usually come out on top. I did use my AAA card to get a tow(bad starter already) for my friends Ram1500 traveling through Bend OR, he had 700 miles on it......Your truck is a nice find and will make someones day when they get it....

 

Ones man junk is another mans treasure! That may be the last problem that engine ever has. Just because you took it to a dealer, doesn't mean the plugs were installed correctly.

Triton engines are a very reliable series of engines. I'm sorry you had "bad luck" with yours. Good luck on the hemi.

 

You might as well just admit you wanted a Dodge, saying the Triton engine is junk because you had to spend only 700$ on a 12+ year old truck doesn't make it junk...... The plugs only eject if they weren't torqued down sufficiently and were not rechecked after driving in my experience, was this done?
Regardless good luck with your hemi....

 

Cos THOSE never have problems right?

 

Not wanting to belabor the issue too much but just a few more points
1) The service dept at my dealer is (was) #1. I sat down with the technical service advisor and the service manager and explained my concern prior to them doing the work and was guaranteed by them that the work would be done by the book (ie. a cold motor etc.) and by their best Triton man. I have never seen any reference for the need of a a retorque anywhere except in some forums here. After all Ford does recommend, what was it, 100,000 km (mile ?) plug changes with no reference for the need of a rertorque afterwards (or before).
2) Head gasket oil leaks, passenger side back end drivers side front...lots of $'s to fix that one when it happens...another design flaw.
3) It was #8 cylinder that went....#3 is still "waiting" in the wings...
4) Exhaust manifold bolts corroding and letting go and I've heard some talk about the manifolds cracking. My manifold bolts are all severely corroded....$1000 to replace.
This is on a truck that's only worth $5000.
5) If I had of waited till 2003 I could have got the 3 valve 5.4 with its "stuck" sparkplugs and bad cam phasers.


I have, since new, an '89 Mustang with the 5.0. The engine with lots of miles on it, has never been touched, strong as ever and purrs like a kitten...Ford can make good engines....I know.

 

retorquing the plugs is well, "common knowledge" within the mechanic community..................

 

OK....
new plugs were installed at 60000 Kilometers and the #8 plug blew at 96000. So your telling me that sometime in that interval I was supposed to take it back in and have them strip off the coil packs etc. and do a retorque!
No mention was made of this and if it had of been I certainly would have done it and it would have been in their best interests to tell me so. Remember Ford says plug replacement at 100000 km. That means it comes from the factory and you drive it for a 100000 km and then take it in for new plugs. No mention anywhere about a retorque in the owners manual etc. I'm calling foul on this.
PS sorry about the kilometer references....I'm Canadian

 

well the way I see it you REALLY don't want to go. Your first post on this subject was 4 days ago and you keep coming back! hemi?

 

I could pick apart every argument you have against the Triton engines and also point out every problem you are likely to encounter with your Hemi truck but I will stick to..... What exactly did you get and pictures would be cool even if it isn't a Ford.

 

No I don't really want to go......I'm going to miss you guys! I would have liked to keep the 250 too....she is in great shape, still looks great....but she let me down....gotta move on....

 

I'm factory ordering the Ram. Will be here in 2 months

 

they all break eventually........... and the rams rust just from getting wet!

 

6.4 Hemi? I do have to admit I'm kind of curious about that particular engine.

 

Ok, go ahead, cry foul....but..

just like if you were to order an engine from any mfg or build an engine yourself, there isn't a mechanic or machine shop who would not advise.......at 50-100 miles, re-torque every bolt on that engine...

Heck, befor I pull my 1960's classic car out for the summer, I crawl underneath and on top checking every single bolt, screw, etc.