Blown Spark Plug

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Aug 15, 2004 | 11:16 AM

#16

hays

New User

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Blown plugs on 99 450/550 trucks

I have a fleet of 99-00 450/550 delivery vans/trucks with the V-10 engine. At around 100,000 miles we can almost expect to have either a plug blow out, or a head gasket go. The only real fix is to change out the engine as these are commercial delivery vehicles. The cost of a new head for these is about $3500. The cost of a new engine is about $5000. You have to remove the engine on the 450 vans to change the head which adds to the labor costs. Who wants to put that kind of money into an engine where the other side could go? We have taken to just changing the engine. Repairing the threads on the head is not an acceptable option due to reliability concerns. <!In the mean time, I have about four trucks that do not run for sale >

Aug 15, 2004 | 08:26 PM

#17

simmran1

New User

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 1

Likes: 0

Blown spark plug - it happens

Was that an Autolite part #103 or the platinum plug -AGSxxx?
This same thing happened to a friend of mine and the dealer replaced all with the AGS platinum plug.

Aug 16, 2004 | 03:16 AM

#18

MisterCMK

Fleet Owner

Joined: Mar 2003

Posts: 24,724

Likes: 74

From: Blue Hill Township

Quote:

Originally Posted by V10_X

I have scanned the forums for blown plugs, and it seems to be the OEM Ford plugs blowing out and plugs installed from the factory. I may have missed posts about other plugs, but seems to be only OEM plugs. Just my 2 cents. BTW, most warranties require parts that meet or exceed manufacturer recommendations, not OEM parts only. I understand and appreciate your position on the issue though - the path of least resistance.....

Jeff

I had AutoLite Platinum plugs in my Expedition for about 2000 miles, all torqued correctly, and they blew out on a road trip. So, it is not just the OEM plugs.

Aug 16, 2004 | 03:57 AM

#19

Monsta

Sit. Stay.

Joined: Oct 2001

Posts: 18,308

Likes: 20

From: Washington State

Quote:

Originally Posted by hays

Repairing the threads on the head is not an acceptable option due to reliability concerns.

Seems to me that "timeserting" the heads would create a more reliable head and save your company money to boot.

Why you would swap out an entire engine is beyond me, really...

If the first engine did it, then the second could. Timeserts have proven themselves stronger than stock.