shoot my 03 just blew #4 and now I have only 15psi in the cylinder, did an engine swap and got the wrong 4.6 different timing cover just swapped them hopefully it works.

 

Yes, my 02 blew one this summer. 85k on the clock. I did a plug replacement a year and a half previous. Sure enough, AFTER I blew the plug I rechecked the torque on the others, 3 had lost torque and had to re-torque. I will check them at least yearly now.

 

Haven't had a problem with my '98 4.6L. 136k miles on her and on the way to Denver. Hope my bro never has problems with the plugs. I'll have to remind him to use anti-seize compound and a torque wrench every time.

 

i maintain a fleet of 5 vans and 2 box trucks all with 5.4's only 1blew a plug it was a 99 e-350 van repaired it and no problems since

 

Ford says it's not a problem, so dont worry about it!

 

just blew one today on my way home. Dang it!!!

 

I just blew cylinder 2 yesterday. A friend of mine is the service manager at the local gmc dealer who also owns the local ford dealer. They told me it looked like the plug backed out and pulled out 4 out 9 threads. They said I had 5 good threads and they chased it anyway to make sure they were clean of anything. I have an 01 f350 with the 5.4. It's odd i would have 5 threads left and earlier in a post someone said they only had 4 from the factory. 76k miles until first eruption. I'm checking the rest of them.

 

BUMP - anyone who hasn't voted in the poll, please do.

thanks!

 

We had this happen on our work van recently, and have heard there was a place in town that could fix it for $250 using something other than a helicoil. Any ideas on how they are doing it, and where i can buy the tool they are using?

 

i cant vote in the poll, but my wifes '01 mustang (4.6) blew #2 yesterday....NO THREADS LEFT!

 

I just done a plug and boot change on my 2000 5.4L expedition. Its got 152K miles now and the old plugs had a .075-.080 gap. It runs great now. There is a nice heli coil kit for this problem. If I blow one, then I will do all of them. $540 for the kit.

 

93k on my '02 F250 with the 5.4L and I just blew #3 today. Can I put a helicoil in with the head still on or do I need to pull the head to do this?

 

Krewat, you may be onto something....Maybe with the pre 03's having only the 4 thread count, they are easily being crossthreaded and that may be the cause of the blowouts?? Afterall, the plugs are quite deep down in the hole and you really can't see down there.. I have 94k on my 01 and I bought it used, so I BELIEVE they are the original plugs, so I think I may just leave them in there until I start having a problem.
Rich

 

Ford definitely thought it was cross-threading or torque-related initially. I don't have any other information that what I already posted, but they did try to address the issue in about three different ways.

Cross-threading at the factory, incorrect torque at the factory, and the number of threads holding the plugs in.

 

My uncle just had one blow out on his '99 mercury marque 4.6L. 165K on it, blew the #3 cylinder, Tech said it took the head gasket with it. $1500 to repair. He traded the car in same day.