2002 Excursion Spark Plug Threads issue ?
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2002 Excursion Spark Plug Threads issue ?
Just bought my wife a nice '02 Expedition Ltd. 4X4 with the 6.8L V-10, 75K mi., and was reading about the potential absence of a sufficient amount of threads in the heads, i.e., I read about others' problems with V-10's spitting plugs.
Given that one may only remove plugs from aluminum heads with the engine cold, I wonder whether a lot of the problems in the past were from folks who removed them while the heads were still warm, which may have damaged the threads and lead to a later failure.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of posts indicating that Ford only put something like 3 threads in the holes on early models 5.4 and 6.8 gassers. If that is the case, and Ford changed the heads at some point in time to include more threads, I'd sure like to know about that, but havn't had any luck in finding any info on it. I changed the oil/filter and trans filter on day 2 and the trans had hardly any black dust on the magnet, so I estimate it wasn't abused.
Should I keep this truck, or take it back to the dealer and get a newer one ? We're planning a long vacation for summer and I don't want to be held up by an out of town mechanic over a spark plug issue.
Thanks for your help !
V
Given that one may only remove plugs from aluminum heads with the engine cold, I wonder whether a lot of the problems in the past were from folks who removed them while the heads were still warm, which may have damaged the threads and lead to a later failure.
Nevertheless, there are a lot of posts indicating that Ford only put something like 3 threads in the holes on early models 5.4 and 6.8 gassers. If that is the case, and Ford changed the heads at some point in time to include more threads, I'd sure like to know about that, but havn't had any luck in finding any info on it. I changed the oil/filter and trans filter on day 2 and the trans had hardly any black dust on the magnet, so I estimate it wasn't abused.
Should I keep this truck, or take it back to the dealer and get a newer one ? We're planning a long vacation for summer and I don't want to be held up by an out of town mechanic over a spark plug issue.
Thanks for your help !
V
Last edited by Vulcanel; Jan 5, 2006 at 10:34 AM. Reason: keep the price out
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From: WARRINGTON, PA
use a torque wrench. remove the plugs and just torque them to specs. you should be fine. OH, you said 02 EXPEDITION LIMITED? the v10 is only available in the EXCURSION. was this a type o or what. i have an 01 excursion limited 4x4 v103.73 lsd, 65000 miles. never in the shop once. no problems EVER. i love the truck..
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Thanks ! Yeah, it was a typo - should have read "Excursion". I'll change it.
Had an 88 Olds Quat 4 (aluminum head), and it blew the head gasket in Ohio during January snow. Dealer wanted $ 2k to fix, so I bought the Kent-moore tools and did it myself for about $ 400 plus 2 days in the icy garage. Pulled a plug out of that head while the engine was hot and stripped the thread - later learned that plugs are only to come out of al. heads when cold. Fix was easy since head was off car already, to swap the gasket, but it was a lesson I'll never forget. I was surprised that the torque spec on the plug was only about 30 ft lbs, but I followed it anyway.
6 months later, I get a letter from Olds saying that if my head gasket ever fails, they would pay for the local dealer to repair it. Of course, being the special person I am, they would only reimburse me for the receipts I was able to show, and I had to argue to even get that. Kinda gave me an attitude.
I would guess the torque spec on a triton 6.8 is about 30 ft lbs also, but I can't (embarassingly) even see the spark plug wires or the plugs. Where'd they hide 'em ? under the valve covers ?
Had an 88 Olds Quat 4 (aluminum head), and it blew the head gasket in Ohio during January snow. Dealer wanted $ 2k to fix, so I bought the Kent-moore tools and did it myself for about $ 400 plus 2 days in the icy garage. Pulled a plug out of that head while the engine was hot and stripped the thread - later learned that plugs are only to come out of al. heads when cold. Fix was easy since head was off car already, to swap the gasket, but it was a lesson I'll never forget. I was surprised that the torque spec on the plug was only about 30 ft lbs, but I followed it anyway.
6 months later, I get a letter from Olds saying that if my head gasket ever fails, they would pay for the local dealer to repair it. Of course, being the special person I am, they would only reimburse me for the receipts I was able to show, and I had to argue to even get that. Kinda gave me an attitude.
I would guess the torque spec on a triton 6.8 is about 30 ft lbs also, but I can't (embarassingly) even see the spark plug wires or the plugs. Where'd they hide 'em ? under the valve covers ?
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From: WARRINGTON, PA
honestly, i dont know. i never saw mine yet either. i was wondering if they even had them. lol. i am going to do mine next week. i'll keep up the posts. oh, sorry, i cant resist. it's QUAD 4. sorry again.
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Thanks
Thanks, I found them. At first the wires feeding those black things didn't look like they were set up to handle hi-voltage. Look pretty easy to get to.
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2002 model year should be revised to the new head. I have a 2001 built in 2000 and it has new heads.
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Spark Plug Torque is 14 ft/lbs or 168 inch/lbs. Search the V10 forum for a couple of specific spark plug changing threads for tips and more info.
The Ford V10 uses industry leading Coil On Plug ignition or COPS for short. The two small wires ber coil provide the signal to initiate the spark; the high voltage is fully self contained within the coil itself.
At first the wires feeding those black things didn't look like they were set up to handle hi-voltage.