My 04 V10 F550 has only 600 miles thus far. I'm going to double check the plug torque as a precaution. I believe this engine has the PI heads (9 or 10 threads for the spark plug). I'm not sure if PI only applies to the 5.4L.

If I remove each plug and use an artists paint brush to ever so lightly apply some never seize to the threads only...will this cause an overtorque or will it cause a problem in the ignition? I didn't know if never seize messes up the grounding of the plug to the engine.

I believe 7-14 ft lbs is still correct for the 04's plugs. I'm going to use my new click torque wrench to go for 168 in-lbs...or 14 even.

So...is never seize actually OK (ultra sparingly of course) and will 14 ft-lbs do the job? Thanks!

 

In my opinion anti-seize is the only real way of getting the proper torque.

And I just took the tube, put a dab on the threads (a good little dab) and spread it with my finger. No problems - '99 model just under 100K.

 

You still have 35400 miles left on the warranty so why mess with the plugs, a lot of the plug problem that I have read about is from someone changing the plugs and then they blow out. They are good for 100K, I have 80K on my work truck and the plugs are fine and will not replace them until they start to give me trouble plus if you do have a problem and Ford finds out that you screwed with the plugs guess where your warranty is. JMO

Just get in and drive it you will love it.
Denny

 

When I first started hearing about plug blow out I already had over 12,000 on my 2001 2 valve V10.

I have experiances plug blow out before once on a Briggs and Stratton 3.5hp lawn mower and I have the scar on my right shin to remember it. I have blown plugs out of my aluminum Harley Davidson heads. And I blew a plug out of the 300ZX twin Turbo over in Germany.

I guess you could say I am a little experianced in the grief this event can cause or the expense to repair it.

So when I heard abou it I quickly set about learning how all ten of these plugs gotta re removed and replaced. My low milage plugs were good to go but I did note two of them were very noticably looser on removal than the others.

I always use anti sieze compounds on mixed metal fasteners, especially aluminum. With plugs the only concern is to NOT use a dielectric grease of anti sieze compound.

The ones usualy are for sale do NOT have dielectric (insulator) qualities so you will be OK, but be sure to pay attenition because such a thing as dielectric anitsieze compounds do exist.

I torque fasteners with anitsieze in two stages , leting the first torque stage take a set, relax, allow some time for the antisieze to squish around and all. Then I go back and torque to the final setting. In this case max torque is 14 footlbs and do not think that 15 or 16 is better...it is not.

Yes this is overly **** !

No your 2004 V10 powered F550 with 600 miles is not one of the engine series to be greatly concerned with.

Millions of V10s since they started production and all millions of the 4.6, 5.4 modular engines on the roads.....Lots of MILLIONS of these motors and that means 6, 8, or 10 times more plugs are out there... when one blows it is a rare event!