There will never be recall over this. Sticking spark plugs are not a safety issue. I would like to see Ford do a campaign on replacing them at no charge for existing owners once there is a definite solution for this problem. But given Ford's current financial woes, I know that is just a fantasy.

 

I haven't read all of the posts on this thread but has anyone heard or contacted motorcraft concerning this issue? It seems to me Ford is not alone when it comes to liability.

 

It's a design flaw in the heads not the spark plugs the plug hole in the head is just large enough for the plug to go thru when carbon builds up on the bottom side in the combustion chamber it won't let the plug come out and pulls it in half if it is forced out leaving half of the plug in the head.

 

i thought motorcraft WAS ford.

 

To me it would seem that under warrenty anyone but a Ford technician attempting any service to an engine other than fluids would void the warrenty. If, as an example, the owner would take out the plugs before 100,000 miles and then re -installed them without Ford's recommended anti-sieze, and possibly cross threading, over or under torquing, and a myriad of possible mistakes in the home garage, not to mention busting the plug itself in the head, then how can Ford be expected to honor the warrenty?

But, on the other hand, some posters have said that with the F150 securely in the hands of the Ford technician and he busts off a plug, the owner's warrenty is also voided?????

Would someone at a Ford dealership please clear this convoluted mess???

What's the point of warrenting anything? What's the point of re-designing the old trusted and true 260 small block if this is what the consumer ends up with???

This "progress" filters into everything today. My lawnmower now has over-head cams! To what end. The old flathead worked just fine. Later Dudes

 

I going to pull the plugs at 25,000 miles(23327 on speedo) to inspect the plugs. Mine is a 2005 5.5l 3v. I will follow the tsb for proper removal. I even purchased the proper plug socket from Mr. Jusnes.

 

Not owning one of these newer engines puts me at a slight disadvantage on here, but, I used to work at a Mercedes-Benz dealership. We occasionally had a problem with plugs breaking off when trying to remove them. One of the issues was thread profile, but that should not be a problem here. We used to use an antisieze probably similar to Ford's. We, of course, weren't running these engines 100,000 miles between changes. We would warn customers ahead of time of the possibility (usually happened when someone had installed American made plugs in them). If they wouldn't come out, we would ask if the owner wanted us to proceed or leave it alone. The bigger problem we had was actually stripping the head, usually on the early DOHC M110 engine.

 

Question: Did someone earlier mention that Ford re-designed the heads in 2004 with not 4-6 threads in the plug hole, but now 9-12? And is this a solution to plug blow out, or does it contribute to difficult removal?

2004 F150, 4.6, 3.73, 27,000 miles, runs great with a whistle below 10 F. at slight throttle opening! In fact, I played Yankee Doodle Dandy yesterday on the way to work with my right foot! Which is normal, thank you Ford.

 

I was informed by Ford a few years back that Autolite actually makes the Motorcraft plugs, they're just badged as Motorcraft. They did state there is a slight difference between the Motorcraft badged plugs and the Autolite badged plugs, but I'm not sure what.

I have an '06 and sure hope I don't have or experience this issue. Already had a problematic 99 Explorer and don't need another money pit.

 

Bob on a different note, I believe the whistle you have is a faulty alternator. Does it only happen at colder temps?? I solved the same issue on my 2004 5.4 with a new alternator.

 

It's pathetic that we need to write 8 pages on something that should be as routine as a spark plug. I have an '04 Lariat now and will definitely be test driving a Tundra when it's time to replace it.

 

Tundra ? well good luck with your Tundra, I will be getting a new f150 when then one drops dead in oh lets say about 300, 000.000 miles> probablly 2012 and I just got it, 2006 150scab 4x4 xlt loaded, oh yeah it hauls azz!!!!!!!

 

I said test drive. You must not have read anyone else's posts either. This isn't a real happy forum.

 

I sat in a Tundra at the Philadelphia International Auto Show. I have to admit, it's awefully nice! I wouldn't be very happy if I were going to be replacing my 96 F-150, because I probabbly wouldn't be buying a Ford this time around. I can't afford a Superduty, so there won't be a diesel available to me, I don't trust the 4.2L V6 (is it still available?), the 4.6 is durable, but soft on the low end, and I wouldn't touch a 5.4 with a ten foot pole. Chevy still hasn't figured out how to make the LS series engines not clack like a diesel (some end up with bad pison slap that GM swears is normal), and Dodge doesen't have a very nice wrapper for their engines. I guess it'd be down to who puts out the first 1/2 ton diesel, Ford, or Toyota. Both are rumored to be interested in Inernational's new Maxforce 5 4.5L V6 Diesel. If I were buying a 1/2 ton, I'd probably lean towards the Toyota, unless the F-150 had the Diesel, because none of he current F-150 gas engines appeal to me. Forunately my 96 is only just getting broken in now. Hopefully by the time I need another truck, Ford, or one of he oher domestics will have straightened out their act and put out an all around decent truck again.

 

Still can not understand the facination with diesel products. Trust me on this one, it's not a driving utopia nor are they user-friendly in the US. Had many diesels over the years, both good and bad ones. In fact, I have one now I would like to sell/trade, or just having it stolen would do me a big favor. The fuel savings & power benefit rarely balances against the expense & nuisance factors. Take a detailed and long look at any new diesel offering before buying. The added expense & negative effects of the '07+ emission changes will change the entire game, not for the better.