Popped a plug...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by FastDEW
One point though... While I do agree with this statement, Ford Triton motors have a particular propensity to blow a plug out.
Besides the factory torque problems, if any, there is one other thing to consider in this. We've all talked about the iron/aluminum interface causing corrosion, which pushes things around and definitely loosens plugs (seen it, been there, done that).
Ever notice the Motorcraft plugs you get that replace the stockers are zinc plated? Otherwise known as galvinized? This will stop (or impede) the corrosion we talked about so many times.
And I've seen many aluminum heads with helicoils. Sure, if you don't stake them right or use a good hi-temp loctite, they will back out with the plug next time you change them. But a dealer saying they don't work? Run.
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Joined: Jun 2006
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Fun day today...
Only cost me $139 to get my truck back from Towne Ford; then the local AAA tow guy, Action Tow in Redwood City CA showed up and decided that my truck was too big to tow! Made some calls to a friend who does private towing and found Elite Towing - Duane - who showed up and made short work of hooking the truck up. Then, he made mention of the mechanic that he uses locally - Joe Atkins in Belmont CA - who told me that he's "done 9 or 10 in the last year or so". Kinda made me feel special 
So Elite towed the truck to Belmont where my truck will get all 10 plugs pulled, replaced (and lubed before insertion) by someone who definitely seems to know what's what with these motors. He services for at least 6 tow companies, all of whom use Fords, mostly psds but quite a few V-10s. I'm a happy camper right now and my truck will be back in service by Tuesday or Wed.
I'll be happy to post phone numbers for any of these guys if anyone needs help here in Nth. CA., mostly the San Francisco bay area.
And, I did pass on the web address here for all of those guys too.
Thanks again to all who've responded and helped me out on this one.
Colm
So Elite towed the truck to Belmont where my truck will get all 10 plugs pulled, replaced (and lubed before insertion) by someone who definitely seems to know what's what with these motors. He services for at least 6 tow companies, all of whom use Fords, mostly psds but quite a few V-10s. I'm a happy camper right now and my truck will be back in service by Tuesday or Wed.I'll be happy to post phone numbers for any of these guys if anyone needs help here in Nth. CA., mostly the San Francisco bay area.
And, I did pass on the web address here for all of those guys too.
Thanks again to all who've responded and helped me out on this one.
Colm
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: north west new jersey
art added a faq last night and i just added the links to the two companys making the kits and where to find the instruction sheets on the cylinder head repair of spark plugs .
spark plugs blowing! i have a 8 hp B&S in sitting in a john dere in the garage to fix today BLOWN PLUG and it gets a insert. not a new ohv cylinder head like the dealer wanted to do.
COLM
have the man do all 10 at the same time and be over with it.. a good call logging into fte man it saved you a big bundle.
spark plugs blowing! i have a 8 hp B&S in sitting in a john dere in the garage to fix today BLOWN PLUG and it gets a insert. not a new ohv cylinder head like the dealer wanted to do.
COLM
have the man do all 10 at the same time and be over with it.. a good call logging into fte man it saved you a big bundle.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 159
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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Originally Posted by Fredvon4
Ford Triton motors are installed around the world with about 3 million or more V8 and V10s in service. Multiply that by the number of plug holes and you can get a feel for the enormity of the issue. Assuming 3 million V8s you have 24 million plug holes and you know in the manufacturing process some of them are not concentric or have machine induced damaged threads, then the assembly probability of error, and any subsequent change of the plugs can have improper torque...
Industry standards for most mechanical failure are between 2 and 3 % for any or all failures... the singular plug blow is certainly catastrophic for the particular owner but as an average against all plug holes (or individule cylinder heads) in service is a very rare thing to happen
Do not believe Chevy, Dodge, Nissan or any other manufacture is immune It may not be plug blow out but there is a measurable amount of intake manifold bolts stripped out on one major manufactures motors that I know of and it is the exact same Dynamic.
BTW assuming 24 million plug holes in service the 3% equals 720,000 plug failures per year before a manufacture decides the failure rate is too high and makes an engineering change (actually this math is false because th3e 3% is against an "assembly" in this case a 4 or 5 hole aluminum cylinder head) But you get the idea that we are talking very big numbers here.
Some how I doubt we have had 720 thousand plug blow outs in V10 motors for the entire life of the design let alone in one year
Industry standards for most mechanical failure are between 2 and 3 % for any or all failures... the singular plug blow is certainly catastrophic for the particular owner but as an average against all plug holes (or individule cylinder heads) in service is a very rare thing to happen
Do not believe Chevy, Dodge, Nissan or any other manufacture is immune It may not be plug blow out but there is a measurable amount of intake manifold bolts stripped out on one major manufactures motors that I know of and it is the exact same Dynamic.
BTW assuming 24 million plug holes in service the 3% equals 720,000 plug failures per year before a manufacture decides the failure rate is too high and makes an engineering change (actually this math is false because th3e 3% is against an "assembly" in this case a 4 or 5 hole aluminum cylinder head) But you get the idea that we are talking very big numbers here.
Some how I doubt we have had 720 thousand plug blow outs in V10 motors for the entire life of the design let alone in one year
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Originally Posted by captchas
fast what are you pulling inside that hauler?
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 159
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From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Wow Cap... How does the V10 pull that kind of wt!??!
I like my truck, But I think I should have went to the 4.56 for a little better climb performance out of 2nd on very steep grades. The truck seems like it wants a gear between 2nd and 1st on really slow, steep, curvy roads out here in the west. I guess that is one big advantage to the 5 speed vs. the 4R100. My 4R100 has held up well though, now over 55,000 miles and it is still solid. The truck mostly pulls and rarely runs without either the 5er or the tag behind it.
Now, inside the 26' tag I am hauling an SCCA Mustang American Sedan. 400 HP road couse car !!!!
I like my truck, But I think I should have went to the 4.56 for a little better climb performance out of 2nd on very steep grades. The truck seems like it wants a gear between 2nd and 1st on really slow, steep, curvy roads out here in the west. I guess that is one big advantage to the 5 speed vs. the 4R100. My 4R100 has held up well though, now over 55,000 miles and it is still solid. The truck mostly pulls and rarely runs without either the 5er or the tag behind it.
Now, inside the 26' tag I am hauling an SCCA Mustang American Sedan. 400 HP road couse car
!!!!
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From: north west new jersey
20,500 total . the maros light at 2150 with a big block. the chevelles a bit heavier at 2870 with a 502 big block. the bb in the maro is a 576 incher bracket racer . trailer is custom built full 100% alloy with a tri axle under it.
the cars are not mine and 100% sponserd so it's just fun time being at the track for me.
the cars are not mine and 100% sponserd so it's just fun time being at the track for me.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,643
Likes: 8
From: NE Texas
Originally Posted by Colm
Thank you!!! :-) I owe you a beer or three. Awesome fix.
And now, the hard part: I have'nt worked on motors since I rallyed FIATs in Ireland in the 70s. Is this a job best left to a local mechanic?
Colm
And welcome to FTE
and thanks for the welcome mat; mine is out for you if ya make it to this neck of the woods...
And now, the hard part: I have'nt worked on motors since I rallyed FIATs in Ireland in the 70s. Is this a job best left to a local mechanic?
Colm
And welcome to FTE
and thanks for the welcome mat; mine is out for you if ya make it to this neck of the woods...
Glad it all worked out for you. And like was said, be sure to check all plugs and threads for each in the head. Look it over good and stay in touch.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 3,733
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That is too funny Art... I read it the first time as "Pooped" and and every time since them... until you just posted, and I had to go and look...sure enough it is "popped"
not pooped.. OH well....much funnier the way my mind reads it
not pooped.. OH well....much funnier the way my mind reads it
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 265
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From: Lancaster, CA
wow, an 02 motor spit a plug this time? I think I read about someone with an 03 motor doing this also, so I guess the early 99-00 heads are not the only heads which can have this happen? Anyone with 2004 ever have this happen? I am gonna keep an eye on my 01 for sure. Knock on wood, it's got all 10 holes in tact so far. Just turned over 50k miles last weekend.
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by PurerockRacing
wow, an 02 motor spit a plug this time? I think I read about someone with an 03 motor doing this also, so I guess the early 99-00 heads are not the only heads which can have this happen? Anyone with 2004 ever have this happen? I am gonna keep an eye on my 01 for sure. Knock on wood, it's got all 10 holes in tact so far. Just turned over 50k miles last weekend.
At 50K miles, I'd have changed them twice already
That goes even for the "improved" heads. Whenever that was.
Even 60K is twice longer than I'd be comfortable with, no matter WHO made the head. As long as it was aluminum.
Another thing I've been thinking about lately is the "replacement" plugs are zinc-plated. This would certainly cut down on corrosion working the plug loose.
I'd have to suggest changing out the plugs on ANY V10 where the factory ones are still in place and are not zinc-plated.
It'd be funny if that's all it was...