Is this problem also with the V10 6.8 three valve or just the 5.4's ? I have an 05 F250 with a V10 with 14500 miles on it.

 

This problem also does exist with the 3v 6.8L, due to the head design

 

Man I hate to hear that. I love my Ford truck but have been considering a new GM truck with the 6.0 Vortec Max with active fuel management for better fuel economy but hearing this about the plug issue may have made up my mind for me. These trucks cost to much money to have to worry about something as simple as spark plug changes that could end up costing thousands of dollars for new heads and labor. We just bought an 07 Mercury Milan a couple of months ago with a V6, I sure hope it dosen't have the same issues !

 

CMOS: Thanks for the info. I think if a guy takes his time and soaks it for a couple hours, and is super careful, it should be okay at every 30k miles or less.
I'm so sick of people talking about other brands on here. I'm an ex-Chevy guy myself. If you want to go buy a GM truck, go for it, but don't come crying when you're on the side of the road in the middle of no-where with a bad fuel pump which will set you back just under a grand plus the tow, and the labor if you don't to it yourself.

 

Krazymatt, if you don't want to hear about other brands then maybe you shouldn't belong to a public forum. As you see in my post I have 2 ford products and did not bash them in any way. I simply stated that I was considering a new GM truck and your remarks about coming back on here crying when the fuel pump gose out has nothing to do with the spark plug issue. I work at a manufacturer that makes parts for Ford and Gm so I would own and have owned both brands. I am just now hearing about this plug issue and do not want to be stuck with a big bill in the future replacing heads especially when Ford says the plugs will go 100000 miles and people on here are saying change them at 20 to 30 thousand miles and are still breaking them off.

 

Customer service is the key to buisness. I liked my Dodge but they jerked me around on warranty work. I liked my Chevy too, but the same thing, didn't want to do service covered by warranty. I also like my Ford, on my second one, I keep very good maintenance on it, but there are things covered the by warranty that you expect to be repaired promptly and properly, and if you don't you lose costumers. Loyalty can only get you so far, and it can't get you to work!

 

CMOS: Did those new plugs look nickel plated on the ground sheild I have read another thread and it appears the new ones are plated????

 

Lineman,

Hard to tell if they're nickel plated. They did look fairly shiney but appearacnes can be deceiving. I have never seen a new plus that wasn't nickel plated so I have no reference for comparrison. Sorry I can't be of more help.

CMOS

 

Dont be sorry! You didn't strike a nerve, they did, when I worked for 'em. I was just adding my perspective, because you are more than a little right! I was just adding a bit of spice to the sauce, if you catch my drift!

Don't count them out. Every sucess they have had is by dissecting our technology, improving it (I.E. making it like the American Engineers wanted to, but the bean counters nixed), and returning it to market. Toyota is bringing to marked a truck that should be giving the Ford and GM design teams nightmares. Toyota is one of the biggest truck manufacturers worldwide, so don't think that they don't know what they are doing. They are playing this one out. Toyota has a reputaion as being a "green" company, and they don't want to upset the applecart. They have been putting out these lighter duty trucks because it suited their needs at the time, with the non gas guzzling and the save the planet crap. They now have a legitimate 1/2 ton coming to market, built in America, and to make matters worse, the ink is allegedly drying on a deal for diesel engines from none other than Caterpillar for a yet to be released 3/4 and 1 ton model. Nissan may be less of a threat, but Toyota is the real deal. Don't get me wrong, I don't like it, but I'm not going to sugar coat the fact either. Take a look at how this market has turned. There was a time when an American car was the standard of the world. Now, with the possible exception of a few Icons, like Mustangs, Chargers, Corvettes, and of course our trucks, the Japaneese own our market. They have the best mid size sedans ( yes I know the Fusion is a great car, but did you know it's a Mazda 6 in Ford trim?) the best compact sedans (the modern European Ford focus is sold by Mazda in the US, and the antique, inferior Focus is sold here in America by Ford, and the Cobalt/Aveo are jokes). They make better compact trucks too (I probably made a few enemies with that statement...sorry ), and it doesn' have to be that way. The problem is that our American Industries are investor driven, and investors in America are interested in short term gain, not long term growth. They will sacrifice the company's future for a quick buck now. That's why the design is always about cutting corners and reducing costs for development, design, and manufacture, and telling the customers that it is what they want, instead ofasking the customers what they want. Well, I am sorry to hijack the thread, I will get down off my soap box and refrain from further comment about anything not spark plug related in this thread. . I'd be glad to in another thread, if we want to start one. But please understand, that there are no hard feelings, I totally get your point, I just had some steam to let off about this whole issue, which I find downright revolting.

By the way, how's the job going for you?

 

BCNU2004, No need to get excited here. I am aware it is a public forum, but last time I looked at the web address, it is https://www.ford-trucks.com. There's plenty of forums out there in which you can research GM trucks.
Go ahead and buy a GM, I'm just trying to say that don't expect it to be the one miracle vehicle with no problems. The problem with all these companies, is, they try and re-invent the wheel with many of these parts.

 

Argo, I agree with you 100%. Back in the day when Toyota took over the sedan market back in the 80's, it was the same as now with trucks. I guess they gotta start somewhere. I was reading about that Tundra in todays paper here. If it becomes proven reliable in the near future, and they build a Cat Diesel 3/4 ton, the big three better watch out. I've owned Chevy, Dodge, and Ford, and they all have some problem areas.

 

And the worst part is that our domesic industry has the skill and tallent to be vastly superior, yet they flat out refuse. I think it's a conspiracy, but then, I always think that.

 

It's the whole thing about making a quick buck, what money is there in building something that is built to last.

 

Hey all,

The guys down in V10 land have been talking about the same thing. Check out this thread:"05 Or 06's Anyone Lost A Plug", from what they are saying the engine should be warm to remove the plugs, it will loosen up any crud that may help bind the plug. Not sure if anyone up here has heard this. Remember warm not operating temperature.

 

The TSB states the same not a hot engine but wam engine.