I have to say, though I don't have near the experience as some of the people posting in this thread, I have witnessed complaints of spark plugs being ejected on other aluminum head motors, one of which is the Chevy 3.1 (something I have a fair amount of experience with.) Often this is combined with someone doing a recent plug change after the plugs haven't been touched for 100s of thousands of miles.

One thing that is fairly unique about the Ford mod motors is, as Krewat mentioned, the plug is in a contained area where moisture doesn't really have anywhere to go.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I don't understand why the Marquis wouldn't have the same problem (if it's the same design, I don't know much about that model), but I did hear that there were several other models affected, including some rather severe ones with the TownCar and TownCar Limo. Again, it's a pretty narrow user base, but should obviously be addressed. It'd be one thing if it were a fluke, but it's a design flaw that's easily fixed, that's why I can't understand Ford's stand on the issues.

Also, just to clarify again, I'm not here to bash Fords. I love Fords, and will continue to own nothing but Fords. It was NOT my intent to start fights or hurt feelings here (except the fanboys), I'm just disappointed with recent news of massive plant shutdowns and layoffs when they could've taken a different route long ago and fostered a diehard fanbase rather than ignore and deny quality issues.

I guess bottom line is this; the problem exists, Ford needs to fix it, even if it is just a small percentage of vehicles that experience the problems. If it was something like a windshield wiper motor that went out or something miniscule like that, it'd be no big deal and I'd be the last to b*tch about it. But when it's a $3K-$5 problem, or one in which somebody loses their life, there shouldn't even be a discussion. Ford should bend over backwards to fix the issue before it happens again.

 

For the record, what I"ve heard on the news today and read on news sites, is it affects all models.

The problem is, the federal safety standards say "50 MPH, no leaks" ... the CV/Grand Marquis and Lincolns all surpass the standard. The ones that have caught fire have been rear-ended at speeds at or greater than 60MPH.

So Ford, in a way, is right not to bother.

The limo was hit from behind at 60+. Trooper's cars too, usually hit at higher than 60MPH.

Not sure about the 35MPH one someone here reported, haven't heard anything about that.

 

I doubt would sell many F-150's if part of the annual maintenance was too re-tighten 50,000 mile sparkplugs every 20,000 miles.

Engineers vs marketing people.

 

A little anti-seize and proper torque mantainance will go a long way. While I don't have any fear of a blow out with the aluminum heads on my truck, the plugs do need to be re-torqued periodically and I've found this to be needed more when I run it hard at higher temps. I've done a lot of reading on the 5.4's and when I bought my Expedition two weeks ago that was the first thing on my list to do (no, I haven't done it yet . . . I'm a procrastinator ). I'll be hitting them all up with anti-seize and making sure everything is to spec.

 

come oe guys! stop blameing ford for the deep seat threads. chevy started useing this spark plug design in 1961 on the nova and later on the 140 I4. the 194 I6, 230 250 and 292 motors .the only difference is chevy used a cast iron head.
you can not over torqe or under torqe a alloy head cylinder head in any way form or way. a steel plug in alloy heats up and reacts different then in a cast iron head.

the real problem here is improper maintinace. and not useing the proper tools on a replacment of the plugs.

as to the types of plugs i have seen blown out they all were in alloy heads.of almost every brand i have worked on includeing a out board motor were the plug blew out and went right though the fiberglass cover on a 3 clyinder 70hp johnson, i have even seen a plug blow out of a lawn mower 2.5 hp motor. the big problem is 2 dissemular metals.
want to blame some one? blame the company that came out with these pos platium plugs that cut back on normal maintinace of replacing plugs every 30k and less

 

How many times have you heard the 100K tuneup interval being advertised? Especially in print, and especially back in the mid 90's.

Blame the marketing weenies from all brands for that one.

I"ll stand by this one: I haven't seen a ford Modular (2 4.6L's and the V10) that didn't immediately respond to a spark plug change, at intervals as low as 20K miles. Better throttle response when cold, and slightly better MPG (hand calculated).

I've also just removed them and cleaned them, and they woke up the motor just as much as brand-new ones.

So, while the plugs do not need to be REPLACED until 100K miles, they could certainly use a cleaning and re-gap every 20K.

 

thank you art. imm the platium plug is as worthless as cow dung. i have seen them put in motors that never had them and had running problems after. bosch or who ever came up with them i would like to say some words to.
also i stand to correct my self .chevy started useing this short thread long body plug on the 348/409 in 1958 , and later on the above. never saw a plug blow out of one either.
42 years fixing vw's thats where i first saw plugs blow out , in the 25 hp bettle.
alloy heads most be rechecked and when replaceing them never siezed and torqe wrenched in.

 

Just an update on the gas tank fires on Crown Vics. Grand Marquies an Lincoln Towncars. A report on CNN tonight said the new police crown vics have protection between the gas tank an the rear axle. But the non police cars dont have this protection. For $150.00 a kit is installed that protects the gas tank from rupturing. But Ford did not install this on reg cars. an lots off dealers know about this kit. Polar do you have any information about this?

 

The same report also said that the punctures were from tools, or other heavy sharp objects, unsecured, that were carried in the trunk. That's a problem with the car?

This gas tank thing is a typical case of going after the deep pockets when something bad happens. When did Ford ever advertise their cars as being demolition derby cars?

 

Well, this is straight out of Ford's website for the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor:

Tested in 75-mph rear-end crash - No other car in the world is tested to this standard!

 

OK, lets take this one step at a time. The additional protection is a plastic shield in the trunk. Patrol cars carry many hundreds of pounds of computer equipment, tools, arms, etc, in the trunk. They are routinely positioned as shields during traffic stops?- making them more vulnerable to rear-enders (do the police need to revisit a safe method of issuing speeding tickets- this really is a problem).

Example- recently on I-84 headed into Portland, a Multnomah County Sheriff pulled over an Explorer for a routine speeding ticket at about 9:30 at night. A woman driving a Dodge Ram Diesel fell asleep at the wheel and rear-ended the Vic at approximately 65-70 mph, launching the Vic into the corner of the Explorer, and off into the embankment. The officer narrowly escaped with his life (he was standing next to the Explorer).

The fuel tank of the Vic was punctured in the crash- with the new barrier in place, probably by a large, heavy piece of communications equipment not secured in the trunk (the car did not catch fire though). Last I read in the Oregonian, the woman driving the Explorer is suing Multnomah County for negligence- unnecessarily putting her life at risk during a non-essential traffic stop.

Also of note- Ford has won a number of lawsuits over this. The CV meets/exceeds all current safety standards. Statistically, it's still one of the safest cars on the road.

According to the IIHS, the Crown Vic/Grand Marquis score mid-pack in the large sedan category in rear-enders. Ahead of GM and Toyota competitors (Avalon/LaCrosse), behind the large Chryslers and the class leader- the Ford 500. Of note, the cars that scored better are recent designs- the Panther platform dates back into the Dinosaur age. In the luxury Class, the Lincoln is even with the large Lexus, Infinity, Acura, and is outscored by only a small number of high-dollar European competitors.

That's competitive with the best- in both categories.

 

Your right the Crown Vics an Grand Marquis are great an safe cars. I was thinking off buying one in the near future. Have a 88 an its a been a great car so time to update. The safety shielding goes directly on the axle itself shielding the axle from the gas tank. The report was on CNN. I wish you could have seen it. Very interesting. Said dealers they contacted knew nothing about it. 3 did an 3 didnt. I thought that was odd. Odd they would show this on this particular day. Sorry for getting off topic here but I just wanted to get some more info.. Off course CNN doesnt tell you all the equipment in the trunk off a police car.

 

The shield is standard equipment on the newer cars,and can be easily retrofitted to the older ones. The real problem has been heavy objects piercing the sheet metal (that deep well) and the tank, as I understand it. In any event, I have Mrs. Bear in a Grand Marquis, and feel quite good about having her and the kids riding around in it. We're on our second one, and they've been exceptional cars.

 

krewat it is very possible you have the PI heads. Look for PI on the engine sticker on the drivers side valve cover. there is a member here who compared the PI to non PI heads the difference was easy to spot