!4x4x4x4
And a very good thought
Aluminum is not as forgiving as steel !
we need more info !
From those who have had the problem!

Rich




Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville

 

>Will these newer engines pass H2o into the combustion
>chamber??
>won't the hydrogen atoms raise the pressure? when remixed
>with Oxygen


GAD!! My master's isn't in Chemistry! Man, Rich! yer gettin' all kind of scientific on me!

Okay this is far from proof as a pattern but two members here have had the SAME plug blow out. I'll be checkin' my plugs tomorrow. Driver's side 4th back...

Rich the comp. ratio is around 9.something :1. I don't know exactly. I have it here somewhere....

 

My question about water is
why did the guy put higher octane fuel in?
was he in fact having a problem with the fuel(water)
in his tank and trying clear it up with higher octane! or an additive
I had a spark plug blow out of a Mercury Marine racing outboard
it got water in the fuel and detonated made for a real mess.

We also have a V8 with this problem also !in one other post.
I've worked with Hydrogen furnaces they are pretty scary!
hydrogen and oxygen don't like to remix under pressure!
Like boooooM!!!
Rich

Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville

 

I was being lazy. Pulled up to a pump and the 87 octane nozzle was out of service. The station was having a special with all grades the same price. Rather than moving I put in the higher octane.

 

OK, another question to the ones with the stripped plug problem...when were your engines manufactured? There is a label (about 2 inches square) on the side of the valve cover on the driver's side with the date).

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 02-Apr-02 AT 12:56 PM (EST)]Can't find such a label. Mine is a 2000 Excursion purchased 11/99, so it was one the first 2000s manufactured.

One thing that I did notice is that it didn't have as much power on hills as it should have--it "rattled" before downshifting. I took it into the dealership once for this problem--they said there wasn't anything wrong. Now that the head, plug, coil and drive belt have been replaced it doesn't have the problem. What could have caused the lack of power on hills and "rattling"--bad plug or what?
Carol

>OK, another question to the ones with the stripped plug
>problem...when were your engines manufactured? There is a
>label (about 2 inches square) on the side of the valve cover
>on the driver's side with the date).

 

Maybe that rattling you were hearing was actually ping or detonation
Do you remmber what fuel (octane) being used?
has it ever happened again? the rattling loss of power?
I wonder if ford has taken a look at what types of error codes
or dtc codes were posted in the pcm after this happened.
maybe the pcm did something strange to retard or advance the timing

I just like to trouble shoot these problems !
even if I can't be at the truck or vehicle
It's just the type of person I am
Being retired gives me to much time to think!!!!!!
He He
Watch out Monsta !

Later
Rich




Ford Trucks Built Tough!
not with rocks
Watch out "X" Mayor of Truckville

 

>Maybe that rattling you were hearing was actually ping or
>detonation
>Do you remmber what fuel (octane) being used?

I normally use 87 octane. Occasionally I put in 90 octane and still heard the same noise.

> has it ever happened again? the rattling loss of power?

I haven't heard the noise since the head, plug, coil, drive belt were replaced three days ago. I drive up the same hill going home everyday, so have consistent test conditions. For the past year or so I heard the noise everytime I drove up hill.

>I wonder if ford has taken a look at what types of error
>codes or dtc codes were posted in the pcm after this happened.
>maybe the pcm did something strange to retard or advance the
>timing

They said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. I couldn't reproduce the noise for them as they didn't have a similar hill nearby.

Carol

 

>Mine was passenger side, 4th one back from the front, if I
>remember correctly.
>
>>Now for the $64,000 question! Which one blows out? Let's
>>here from you all. I want to see if there is a pattern
>>here!

So was mine! Ford replaced both heads on my engine, no charge. It had 42,000 miles on it. Don't let 'em BS you, it is a manufacturing defect.

 

Manufacturing defect sounds right to me. There is no way that putting the higher octane gasoline in could have caused that problem. "Pinging" is "normal" in a hard pull so say many. I have never liked it and always set my timing at a point just enough to prevent it. The knock sensors/computer controlled timing in late model vehicles is supposed to prevent it. The higher octane gasoline has "anti-knock" additives that will stop/help prevent "pinging".

"Detonation" on the other hand is a different matter. This is sometimes called "dieseling". Ever had your motor keep running after your turned off the key? There are several factors involved in causing detonation which happens when combustion occurs in the cylinder before it is supposed to (before the plug fires). Detonation can cause severe engine damage. I can see it blowing out a spark plug, especially in an aluminum head.

From what I have read so far, I do not think that detonation is what caused these spark plugs to blow out. I think that it was defective heads. I would sure like to hear more experiences with details.

I have never really liked aluminum heads because of problems with threaded holes, warping, and more difficult to repair some types of defects. I understand the benefit of the significant weight difference. I have had good luck in the past repairing VW aluminum heads with helicoils. It actually makes them better than new.

If my V10 heads make it to the 100,000 mile tune-up without any problems, I plan to install helicoils when I pull the plugs. From what I have been reading, I may be obliged to do it sooner.

 

rrrr,
When was your engine manufactured? There is a white label on the driver's side on the side of the valve cover. At the bottom of the label is a date.

 

The label is gone. Don't know if it was the Ford guys or my detailer. The door post sticker indicates my Excursion was built in August of '99.

The post above about run-on, or dieseling, after the engine is shut off..... The condition is almost impossible to experience with a fuel injected engine. Carbureted engines will deliver fuel through the idle circuit if air is flowing through them, there is no way to stop it. When the engine is turned off yet keeps running, it is because enouigh fuel is being ingested to be ignited, usually by red hot carbon deposits.

In a fuel injected engine, the injectors are off, and no fuel is present to support combustion, unwanted or otherwise. JMO.

Anyway, octane, preignition, detonation, hills, whatever are not causing the problem. Factory defect, make 'em cover 100% of it. They did for me.

 

Glad to have some ammunition on my side against Ford. I have a 1999 Ford F-350, V-10. At approximately 70,000 miles my Ford dealer did a tune-up for me. At approximately 80,000 miles I had the center plug on the passenger side blow out. Approx 5000 miles later the second plug back from radiator on passenger side blew out. I put heli-coils in both holes and now the one heli-coil has blown out.

My Ford dealer told me they have never heard of such a thing.

What is the best direct route to have Ford cover this??

Paul
847-878-4180

 

I was driving along in my 99 v-10 Super Duty when I heard an explosion under the hood. As it turns out a plug had blown on the left side clear in the back. The Ford dealership in my town says I have to replace the left head at a cost of $2800.00. The offered to go half with me on the cost of repairs. I am told by a Ford Parts Manager in St. Louis that they retooled the head and are now selling the new version at a cost of $2003.00 (as verses the old one at a replacement cost of $353.00). Why won't Ford admit there is a problem and do a recall? I only have 62000 miles on it and am still paying the bank every month. Does anyone know if this will happen to the other plugs as well? Do I need to tighten the plugs up occasionally? HELPPPPPP!!!!!

 

Mine was very last in back on passenger side. Truck is a 99 SD, v10, 4x4. Vettgrl