Spark plug club
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Every so often, when these plug threads pop up, I usually post up links to the Consumer Affairs website for the OP. I might as well do it again!
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Feds Urged to Act on Ford Spark Plug Blow-Outs
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ford_spark_plugs.html
Ford Engines - Spark Plug Defect
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_spark.html
Ford Trucks Spit Spark Plugs
Ignored by Ford, Truck Owners Face Massive Repair Bills
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/01/ford_truck_engines.html
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Stewart
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Feds Urged to Act on Ford Spark Plug Blow-Outs
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ford_spark_plugs.html
Ford Engines - Spark Plug Defect
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_spark.html
Ford Trucks Spit Spark Plugs
Ignored by Ford, Truck Owners Face Massive Repair Bills
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/01/ford_truck_engines.html
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Stewart
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 24
From: Mount Royal, NJ
Stewart, I understand where you are coming from.
But then where are the threads on the heads that I put inserts on? The threads were totally gone. Blown out. Kaput.
Each one was inspected with a optical borescope before I decided it needed a insert. Not one had any threads left. I looked for any evidence of remaining threads. Nothing.
They were not cases of backed out plugs. Even that would leave some evidence of threads lower in the bore.
If there were decent threads in the bore, I would run a chaser and install the plug back in. I did this several times, on different engines and none ever backed out again. All of the engines that I did this on were 2002 and earlier 4.6 and 5.4 liter, for a total of11 engines. Some engines had repeat performances and one had to have as many as 4 of them done at different times.
But then where are the threads on the heads that I put inserts on? The threads were totally gone. Blown out. Kaput.
Each one was inspected with a optical borescope before I decided it needed a insert. Not one had any threads left. I looked for any evidence of remaining threads. Nothing.
They were not cases of backed out plugs. Even that would leave some evidence of threads lower in the bore.
If there were decent threads in the bore, I would run a chaser and install the plug back in. I did this several times, on different engines and none ever backed out again. All of the engines that I did this on were 2002 and earlier 4.6 and 5.4 liter, for a total of11 engines. Some engines had repeat performances and one had to have as many as 4 of them done at different times.
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,790
Likes: 24
From: Mount Royal, NJ
Looking over your post, Stewart, and my reply, I just did some more thinking.
I wonder if those I found without threads were cases of over torquing?
Makes more sense when you think about it.
The chilling part is that some of them that had no threads were definately factory installed OEM plugs.
I wonder if those I found without threads were cases of over torquing?
Makes more sense when you think about it.
The chilling part is that some of them that had no threads were definately factory installed OEM plugs.
Super Moderator
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 29,380
Likes: 118
From: Central Coast of CA
Originally Posted by housedad
Looking over your post, Stewart, and my reply, I just did some more thinking.
I wonder if those I found without threads were cases of over torquing?
Makes more sense when you think about it.
The chilling part is that some of them that had no threads were definately factory installed OEM plugs.
I wonder if those I found without threads were cases of over torquing?
Makes more sense when you think about it.
The chilling part is that some of them that had no threads were definately factory installed OEM plugs.
When I blew the plug on my Lightning, (number 6 cylinder) I had just enough thread left to let me know they were once there. As I tried to screw my plug back in, it just removed the remnants of threads remaining.
Before my plug popped, I too developed the ticking noise that sounded like an exhaust leak with the hood closed, sitting in the truck. I ignored it because I had just worked on my catback, so I incorrectly attributed the cause of the sound me not bolting the exhaust back correctly.
Had I checked my plugs, I know I would have averted the plug launch because I would have found the loose spark plug.
Once, when I was checking the plugs to make sure they were all tight (this was before I stopped being lazy and started torquing the plugs properly), I found two plugs barely finger tight. They were on the way to lossening to the point of being launched.
Timeserts have been the standard of quality for fixing the heads, but now Lock-n-Stitch aluminum inserts have been chosen by Ford to be the preferred manner of fixing blown plugs.
http://www.locknstitch.com/sparkpluginserts.htm
Stewart
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