I think you should go ahead and do it ASAP. Mine had 72K last month and I had them done. One broke. $300 plus less than $50 per broken plug is the going rate down here. Shop around to see if you can get that deal.

 

Changing plugs on the 5.4 is more difficult than the 4.6. They have different heads. Still with proper preparation and considering the expectations are set for breaking the plugs, the job is the job.
This is not a 1970's engine that was easy to work on, but then the maintenance level back then was a lot higher, like full tune ups (plugs, points, condenser, & etc.) every 20-30 K miles.
There is no point in whining to Ford or about Ford; you will not get an egg in your beer or a cup of coffee.
Sorry for the rant, I broke 3 or 4 plugs and the removal tool worked as advertised during scheduled maintenance cycle. In the end the whole process is just a minor inconvenience. Current operating cost from day 1 including all costs, purchase, maintenance, insurance, fuel, upgrades, special tools, & etc. is an average 54 cents per mile on a ’04 with 135K miles.
I keep a full Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) spread sheet on all my vehicles. Just something I do to help me judge when to get a replacement. My vehicles have a job to do and when the cost benifet starts to go down, they are replaced.

 

is it worth tackeling it yourself? or just pay the big $$$$ and have it done?

 

Im just trying to educate myslef on the issue before it does (or doesn't) happen. This is a few years down the road for me anyways.

 

I thought that it would help doing it at 50,000 miles, even using head cleaner, gas antifreeze, soaked them with lubricant, still had one broke, of course they could have taken the electrode out at the dealer and charge me for the "machine shop" yeah, but they would not do that, right?

 

Ford will not change your plugs under warranty, plug life supossed to be 100K, my FX4 is close to 80K now, called my buddy, Hey let's change the plugs again, he goes, "take it to the dealer", he suffered more from the issue than me and I had pour the cash.

 

how much was it? did they break any?

 

my local stealership wants $650 to do the plugs and $85 for everyone they break

 

I just went over 60k on my 04 Screw and took it into a local repair shop to have the maintenance done as well as get the plugs changed. After they did the maintenance they called and said that they were not "comfortable" changing the plugs because they did not have the removal tool and that they may have cracked two already. I had the truck towed to the dealer where they told me it would be $130.00 + plug cost and an additional $50.00 a plug if they broke any. Reluctantly I agreed and got a call two hours later that they were done and did not break any! I did use the Champion 7989 as the replacements and so far no issues.

 

I just did a plug change on a 80,000 mile '06 5.4 3V, the original plugs came out just fine. There was corrosion on the plug ends, but very little carbon. They definitely screeched (loudly) the whole way out but none of them broke.

 

I just did a plug change on a 80,000 mile '06 5.4 3V, the original plugs came out just fine. There was corrosion on the plug ends, but very little carbon. They definitely screeched (loudly) the whole way out but none of them broke.

The 5.4 3Vs are easier to change plugs on than the old 4.6 2Vs as long as the plugs don't break, they are pretty wide open.

 

use any penitrateing oil?

 

You should read the label and make sure the one you choose is rated to breakdown carbon. I believe that the current (and there are a few) TSB that covers the plug removal calls for the motorcraft.....carb cleaner? I always have used a good penetrating fluid, but then again, I broke a couple plugs at 100K.

 

Just one, but at the time I had not bought the Rotunda tool, dealer charged $2600+ including machine shop, so they say.

 

Nope, just a back and forth motion on a semi-warm engine until I got them moving okay then I wrenched them out. #4 was tightest and I think it came close to breaking, and that would have sucked because it's the hardest plug to get to.