Blown Spark Plug
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Blown Spark Plug
Has anybodys Excursion ever blown a spark plug, at the beginning of the summer mine blew a spark plug. I have a 2000 Excursion with the 5.4. Wondering if I'm the only one that a spark plug blew on an Excursion, or are there other peopl on the band wagon.
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Joined: Mar 2007
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Try doing a search - this is a well known issue. I'm no expert, but it seems that Ford's original design for the heads (in several engines) had only about 4 threads for the spark plug. Later models upped the thread count.
It seems that concern about "over-torquing" the spark plugs lead to them being "under-torqued" in some cases even from the factory IIRC.
So, tightening them too much weakened the aluminum head, too little allowed them to rattle loose - both with the same result: destroyed threads in the head and a spark plug that got launched.
Many seem to have fixed the issue on the cylinder in question with a product called "heli-coil" or another, the name of which I can't recall right now. I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.
One question would be "why now?" Did you get the plugs serviced recently? With the age of your vehicle, it would seem that if anything was going to happen it would have already, unless something changed.
It seems that concern about "over-torquing" the spark plugs lead to them being "under-torqued" in some cases even from the factory IIRC.
So, tightening them too much weakened the aluminum head, too little allowed them to rattle loose - both with the same result: destroyed threads in the head and a spark plug that got launched.
Many seem to have fixed the issue on the cylinder in question with a product called "heli-coil" or another, the name of which I can't recall right now. I'm sure others will chime in with suggestions.
One question would be "why now?" Did you get the plugs serviced recently? With the age of your vehicle, it would seem that if anything was going to happen it would have already, unless something changed.
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Joined: May 2007
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I have an 98 E-350 with the 5.4. I have blown two spark plugs. The attached link is for a tool kit and bushing to make repairs to the head. The repair can be made without removing the head. I have over 150,000 on the repaired spark plugs with Big Sert. I have been told that the heli coil will not last.
www.timesert.com/html/triton_repair2.html
www.timesert.com/html/triton_repair2.html
Last edited by badger00; Sep 9, 2007 at 01:38 PM. Reason: Better link.
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Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
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From: Central Coast of CA
Everytime someone unfamiliar with this very well known problem posts, I point them to these website.
Feds Urged to Act on Ford Spark Plug Blow-Outs
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...ark_plugs.html
Ford Engines - Spark Plug Defect
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...ord_spark.html
Ford Trucks Spit Spark Plugs
Ignored by Ford, Truck Owners Face Massive Repair Bills
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...k_engines.html
Stewart
Feds Urged to Act on Ford Spark Plug Blow-Outs
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...ark_plugs.html
Ford Engines - Spark Plug Defect
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/autom...ord_spark.html
Ford Trucks Spit Spark Plugs
Ignored by Ford, Truck Owners Face Massive Repair Bills
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news0...k_engines.html
Stewart
