Spark plug hole and fuel injector hole.


Spark plug from cylinder 1. I had wiped it some without thinking, when my friend said we should take a picture.
I have a 2001 F150 Supercab, 5.4L Triton engine 4x4 with 211,573 miles on it. It has been sitting since January 2016 as I didn't have the cash to fix it but did not want to sell it. I finally have the money to fix it and am trying to use the Hayes manual to work on it.

The last oil change, the oil filter was over tightened. It took nearly three hours to get it off so I could replace it, along with trying 6 different wrenches before finding one that finally worked in the space I had to work in. I've changed it to a K and N oil filter, drained the old oil, and refilled it.

I have replaced the battery and she will crank over but not fire up. It takes me a while to get stuff done on it, I honestly have no clue what I'm doing but I'm trying to do it. The last car I worked on by myself was a 1996 Ford Escort and I taught myself the same way...step by step.

I've removed two spark plugs, number 5 came out pretty easily, needs to be replaced but was not in bad shape. Number 1 came out even easier but as I pulled the coil pack out, it shot water. The spark plug was covered in a watery/oil mix and there was water in the spark plug hole.

I need to know where to go from there. I used the air compressor to dry it out, after using a shop towel to mop up as much as possible. How would water get into the spark plug cylinder?

Once I have the spark plugs changed, do I need to drop the fuel tank and remove the 4 gallons that are left in the tank (shows under 1/4 of a tank)? My fuel pump seems to be working as there was fuel in my fuel injectors but I did purchase a new one just incase.

My biggest fear is doing something wrong and ruining the truck. I want to make sure I do everything possible before trying to start her again. Sorry if I was babbling, I'm just hoping to pick so brains on how to best fix my truck.

 

I think you're doing it right. Just take it one step at a time, making sure you have good spark plugs, a clean fuel filter, fresh gas in the tank, and a fully-charged battery. Once you've got all that done, you can start to trouble-shoot if need be. Maybe do a compression test while you have the plugs out.

By the looks of that engine photo, an engine shampoo might be on the to-do list too...

 

How do I do a compression test on it? She ran fine until the day I brought my Expedition home and put a for sale sign on her. Hasn't ran since.

I think I am going to clean the engine before I finish the spark plugs but the book doesn't say how to do that. I have a shark hand held steam cleaner, can I use that? All that gunk around it makes me nervous.

 

Save the engine shampoo for after the truck is back together and running. Go to the local parts store, buy some Gunk Engine Degreaser, go to the local do-it-yourself car wash, soak the motor with the degreaser, then wait a few minutes and blast it with high-pressure water.

You don't need to do a compression test, but the three things you need to make an engine run are spark, fuel, and compression (all at the right time, of course). You can just put it back together when done the initial work, and if there is an issue starting/running, then do a compression test (might need a technician friend to do it).

 

where is the center electrode on that spark plug ?

was the "water" inside the cylinder under the plug, or OUTSIDE the cylinder and around the spark plug boot ?

If inside, it should be antifreeze... NOT water ..... and a big problem

Not a good idea to pressure wash a 5.4 motor with Electronics on it...... too many potential problems will show up.

when you put the key in the ignition and turn to "ON", not RUN, the theft light comes on, then goes out after 3 seconds.. that tells you the KEY is talking to the computer... PATS...??

 

The coil pack shot it out when we pulled it out. The spark plug socket was also wet when we pulled the spark plug out.

It's completely gone, not sure if it corroded off or needed to be replaced before I parked it. There was nothing wrong with the truck until I put it up for sale. No misfires, no stalling, nothing. I was only planning on selling it as I needed an SUV and didn't want three car payments. We live in Oregon and it has been parked on a slope, I'm hoping rain just dripped into it and it can be fixed.

I can't work on it again until Tuesday as my daughter has softball games all weekend but I'm hoping it all works.

I am trying to figure out if I should replace the alternator and timing belt while I'm doing everything else but if it's not going to run, I don't want to waste more money on it.

 

So we have managed to clean the gunk in the engine, change all the plugs except 7 and 8, and replace the fuel filter. But I have no clue how to access those last plugs with that fuel rail in the way. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to remove it so that I can get those last two plugs out. I tried to read the manual but the instructions are very vague.