Has anyone out there in the world experienced spark plug and threads blown out on the 5.4 with aluminum heads. I have and it's like someone took a drill and ran the threads right out of the head. Ford has not listed any problems with the engine but I am looking to see if anyone else has experienced this. Any comments welcome.

 

If you do a quick search in the 5.4 forum you might find your answers..JMO..

 

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I have seen many plugs blow out and according to Ford the only way to fix it is to replace the cyl head. But I have heard of people putting helicoils in them to fix it. Do a google search to find the kit.

 

Thanks for the reply. I had to pull the head. Lost compression in that cylinder unfortunately. Can't believe the amount of threads that Ford puts in the bore.Someone should get shot for that!!!!!!!!!!!

 

any ideas on how to help prevent this?

 

Not from personal experience, but I have read that the long service intervals for the plugs are part of the problem. Pull the plugs every six thousand, clean the threads and reinstall to the correct torque.

 

I've been researching the best fix for the money on this. I recently blew the #8 completely out of my 99 F150 with the 5.4 engine. I am going to remove both heads and install time-certs in all eight spark plug holes. I don't feel like paying $1800 for a set of heads that has just as few threads in them. I hear the 03 and up heads have 9 threads instead of the 5 in the previous years. The time-cert basically installs the longer threads. It works much like heli-coil. I'm also told that the repair can be done with the heads still installed. I'm just too clumsy for that and I know I'll get metal shavings in the cylinders. So, off both heads will go, very soon. If interested, I can post up exactly what I do for this.

 

Sounds good. Maybe you can post some detail pics. (?)

 

Yeah, I plan on taking a pic everytime I remove a part. One reason for putting it back together, and two to help others out if they have to do this. It may take me a week or so to get my garage in shape and get all of the parts delivered for this. I'll post up......