Need thoughts V10 plug spit
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Jamestown
Need thoughts V10 plug spit
#6 good
#8 bad looks weird down there. But so does # 6.
Ok so two days ago we drove several hours to pick up a 2002 E450 minibus for our gospel/bluegrass group. Has the 6.8 V10 motor with 80k. Upon returning we had a check engine light which pointed to misfire at number eight cylinder. When I looked at the COP I noticed it was unplugged. And broken at the mount. I plugged it back in and the vehicle ran like a top. Drove it half mile down the road and it spit out the number eight spark plug.
I’m assuming it has done this in the past which is why the coil pack was broken. Now my question is have they tried to helicoil this at some point because the hole to me looks a little larger so might be a spit out the Helicoil if that’s what. This is a bummer! Especially When we had a budget. It was a private party sale so this will be our problem I’d say. We drove it 400 miles home. I tried to thread a plug into it and no go. I think the hole is too large? Is there a way to tellif it’s already had an insert. Posting pics. One pic is the good number 6 hole. Other is the bad #8. Any help appreciated. Especially since I’m the one who thought we should get this one. Lol. Ive has this happen in a 2000 5.4 but luckily threaded back in.
Good #6 cylinder
Bad #8 cylinder
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2016
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Right now the only thing I could suggest is to get a spark plug thread chaser from a parts house and see if you can clean up the threads on #8. I doubt it will help you but it's worth trying. If not you could put a heli-coil in there but in a bus that will be a pita if you can't get to it very well. If you haven't done anything like that before then I suggest you bite the bullet and spend the couple of hundred $$ that a shop should charge to do it.
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Freshman User
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From: Jamestown
I can actually get to that one ok I’m pretty sure. Actually have some room. Over that one. It’s halfway back. My main concern as shown in the pic. Is there something in that cylinder???but like I say the good cylinder looks odd also. Hoping a previous insert hasn’t fell in there. Surely it blew out.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2009
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From: Fort Smith, Arkansas
It looks to me like you are guessing correctly, that it has had a repair insert fail and eject the plug still screwed into the insert. You might find the spark plug laying on the intake or in the valley somewhere or it may have hit the road.
What you are seeing in the cylinders is probably open valves or the top of the piston.
I Would get an inspection camera inside it to scope it before and during the repair at each step.
I used TimeSert on my ejected spark plug.
This thread should answer all your questions.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...th-photos.html
What you are seeing in the cylinders is probably open valves or the top of the piston.
I Would get an inspection camera inside it to scope it before and during the repair at each step.
I used TimeSert on my ejected spark plug.
This thread should answer all your questions.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...th-photos.html
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Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Jamestown
It looks to me like you are guessing correctly, that it has had a repair insert fail and eject the plug still screwed into the insert. You might find the spark plug laying on the intake or in the valley somewhere or it may have hit the road.
What you are seeing in the cylinders is probably open valves or the top of the piston.
I Would get an inspection camera inside it to scope it before and during the repair at each step.
I used TimeSert on my ejected spark plug.
This thread should answer all your questions.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...th-photos.html
What you are seeing in the cylinders is probably open valves or the top of the piston.
I Would get an inspection camera inside it to scope it before and during the repair at each step.
I used TimeSert on my ejected spark plug.
This thread should answer all your questions.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/9...th-photos.html
Im just hoping I’m seeing a lot of shadows in there and that it is a valve I’m seeing.
I’m hoping I’m seeing a lot of shadows in there. And that is a valve.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2016
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I had the same thing happen and the dealer service shop put in a HeliCoil. They mechanic told me if the HeliCoil ever faults, the head will need to be replaced. There's no fixing a HeliCoil a second time.
The problem was due to only 4 threads holding the spark plug in. Aluminum heads did not work with only 4 threads on the plug holding it in. The Ford fix was to increase the amount of spark plug threads in future releases.
The previous owner or previous owner to that knew there was a HeliCoil repair done. It's a temporary band-aide and put in to last just long enough (maybe) to get it sold.
The problem was due to only 4 threads holding the spark plug in. Aluminum heads did not work with only 4 threads on the plug holding it in. The Ford fix was to increase the amount of spark plug threads in future releases.
The previous owner or previous owner to that knew there was a HeliCoil repair done. It's a temporary band-aide and put in to last just long enough (maybe) to get it sold.
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Freshman User
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From: Jamestown
Evidently according to Timesert they have oversized inserts that will repair failed helicoils.
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Freshman User
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From: Jamestown
After a few passes down the highway. I found the plug. All intact. And already has an insert. Helicoil I’m figuring. Thankfully at least it all went up and not down! Fixing to scope.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: California Desert
Back to the OP's found plug: that looks like a CTA plug repair kit. That kit doesn't use an insert with a shoulder that really seats against the head. HOPEFULLY it just backed itself out and didn't damage the threads. You may be able to work a new Time-Sert in there, but I wouldn't be 100% certain it won't fail again having another repair already back out.