04-06 Plug Warning
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 137
Likes: 11
Anyone been able to find the 9/16" spark plug socket with the rubber insert at a local auto parts store?
For those that are using the autolite plugs as replacements, any performance issues after you installed? I tried autolites on my previous Expedition 4.6L(substituted for motorcraft brand), was not compatible. CEL light and ran rough. Had to go back to the motorcraft brand, it ran fine after that. Not sure if these 5.4L are as finnicking as the previous engine designs.
CMOS, thanks for all the great info you have provided, greatly appreciated.
For those that are using the autolite plugs as replacements, any performance issues after you installed? I tried autolites on my previous Expedition 4.6L(substituted for motorcraft brand), was not compatible. CEL light and ran rough. Had to go back to the motorcraft brand, it ran fine after that. Not sure if these 5.4L are as finnicking as the previous engine designs.
CMOS, thanks for all the great info you have provided, greatly appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 332
Likes: 2
coils
Originally Posted by CMOS
New User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
After reading all of this stuff from you guys concerning something as simple as a spark plug....I am afraid i made a mistake buying the first Ford I have in twenty years. Will trade my 06 asap and hope I get a few dollars over crap for it.
ED
ED
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Your 06 may be OK think they used a little different plug nickel plated, otherwise just run it until warranty is up then dump it!!
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Senior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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One of the guys I work with has an 05 5.4L3v with 38,000 miles on it and he took it in to the dealership and asked them to change the plugs in it. They protested and said it didn't need it and told him they had never heard of this problem and that it would cost him $400.00 to change them. He told them to do it anyway and they got all 8 of his out without breaking them. I'll be pulling mine at 25k just for my own peace of mind.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 30
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Have owned several vehicles (non-Ford) with deepset plugs into aluminum heads. Never had a problem but ALL were designed where the plug holes were machined deeper and the sparkplug threads were cut immediately adjacent to the combustion chamber. Judging from the pic's, this isn't the brightest engineering I've seen but it appears to be managable with a little PM.
Personally intrigued by the too inconvenient to pull the plugs for inspection every 30K miles attitude. Also find it ironic that the Neversieze trick is used as I use the stuff in quanity (or threadlock) anytime I put steel screws into aluminum (incl sparkplugs) simply to mitegate the electrolysis. Even paint the backside of aluminum wheels with neversieze before mounting on the hubs and use it on disc brake caliper pins if they are unsealed. I would trade this issue for the maintenance nightmare I have with my Liberty diesel any day and think many are overreacting to a managable situation.
Personally intrigued by the too inconvenient to pull the plugs for inspection every 30K miles attitude. Also find it ironic that the Neversieze trick is used as I use the stuff in quanity (or threadlock) anytime I put steel screws into aluminum (incl sparkplugs) simply to mitegate the electrolysis. Even paint the backside of aluminum wheels with neversieze before mounting on the hubs and use it on disc brake caliper pins if they are unsealed. I would trade this issue for the maintenance nightmare I have with my Liberty diesel any day and think many are overreacting to a managable situation.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 611
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by kd4crs
One of the guys I work with has an 05 5.4L3v with 38,000 miles on it and he took it in to the dealership and asked them to change the plugs in it. They protested and said it didn't need it and told him they had never heard of this problem and that it would cost him $400.00 to change them. He told them to do it anyway and they got all 8 of his out without breaking them. I'll be pulling mine at 25k just for my own peace of mind.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by disgruntledJeeper
Personally intrigued by the too inconvenient to pull the plugs for inspection every 30K miles attitude.
Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by RickyRocket
There's another group of us nuts out here too that would also expect Ford to take responsibility for this design problem and not cause any grief or expense to the consumer. We're called the consumer. Taking care of us could determine the future of Ford.