Dang, I guess I'm lucky, 145,000 miles and not a single spark plug issue. Never even changed them. I do have a pretty good spark knock though.

 

Oh, forgot to mention, I drive a diesel.

 

nevermind i found the right tap at advance auto for 30 bucks and had it done in about an hour

 

zx250, thats why you are lucky. you dont have spark plugs...but you already knew that. i now have 109,000 on my v10. i would probably get better mileage out of my X if i changed them but i dont care. ill most likely never change them.

 

Yep! that's just a little less than was on mine before it launched #3 plug.
If you don't change em, just check the torque on them to be on the safe side. Darnned if I want to go through that again.
Cheers

 

I would like to thank everyone who has posted on this thread. I recently got a 99 f250sd with a 5.4 triton. It had some hesitation or surging under full throttle. After searching, this thread prompted me to change my plugs and boots. Anyone considering this job just follow the tips from someone whose done it.

My plugs were obviously original, 77,000 on the truck and the gaps had opened up to about 75 thousandths. The boots each had several cracks in the rubber at the very bottom (near the plug wrench faces) After changing the plugs i would say the best tip i found is to lower the front of the truck. I took the front wheels off and lowered the truck til the rotors were almost on the ground. I am 6ft with a long reach and couldn't imagine doing the job without lowering the rig.

I luckily happened to have a nice inch pound torque wrench with an anolog dial. I can sure see why people over torque these plugs....13 ft lbs or 156 inch lbs on my wrench felt like the plugs should go in another half turn (thanks to those who posted the correct torque).

I hope being careful of the torque and using never seize will save me from "Spark Plug Hell" Thanks again for those who did the job before me and posted their experience.

BTW i used OEM Motorcraft plugs and the job took about 3 hrs total.

Robby

 

Oh yeah....the surging under load was completely gone after changing plugs and boots.

Robby

 

I got a 1999 f250 with 200k miles and she blew a plug on the #3 cylinder i took it to the stealer ship and they said they put an insert in it but it blew it right back out less than 500 miles later and the plug looked like the jus put jb weld on it and stuck it back in the cylinder... The pi heads dont hav this problem and they did fix this plug flyin problem as far as i know i thank the 2005 is a safe year!!!! I was told to do plug changes with a warm engine and i dont know the torque.

 

03'-04' PI heads have extra threads. Blowing plugs is a lack of maint plain and simple. Change the plugs every 50k miles and keep them torqued to spec. (The Ford recommended 100k interval is a joke) My neighbor blew two plugs on his 5.4l but he never maintained it properly. 10+ years with modular motors and I never had a plug issue.(04' and earlier)

2005-2007 3V modulars had plug removal problems. The extended grounding collar would seize up and break off in the head. Ford has a special kit and TSB out on it. For 2008 3V Ford redesigned the spark plug and holes to eliminate the previous issues.