Swapping out spark plug......about to commit homicide....

[bratfink]

Oh and Lou, I have run into that issue with the Ford 5.4 before. No easy fix, the head is coming off!

You will want to check all the other plug threads as well, there is a good chance you have stripped at least one of them. You may need to invest in some thread inserts.

If anyone ever asks me how to change the plugs on a 5.4 my answer is always take it to the dealer! Then they can have the fun and games of having to take the heads off!

[LouSiffer]

Its done. Called my local dealer and he had a special extractor made that had a longer tap with a pretty aggressive conial shape. He said he hasn't found one he couldn't get out with it. So lets compare spark plug changes for shits and giggles:

Any Ford 289,302,351CWM, 400, 429,460 and the other engines I missed....Spark plugs $.99 each on sale........cap and rotor are about another $10-15......spark plug wires $40.00......assuming you have tools.....Around $65.00.

The automakers claim with COP ignition, you just need to replace the plugss....which mean less maintanance cost to the owners.....sooo......

Ford 5.4 litre....spark plugs $16 each...... special extraction tool $200.00......assorted chemicals about $30.00......cost to have guy fish out 1 plug for 3 hours.....$405.00.....total cost= $763.00. Shops around herre generally charge a base of $600-800 dollars and $100 per plug that breaks. Which means your cost could hit $1600.00 for 8 spark plugs to be changed.

If the spark plugs can not be removed, the head has to come off......this means the cab has to be removed from the chassis to allow clearance for the heads. This brings the bill into the $2500.00 dollar range.

As a comparison into the opposite end of the spectrum, the cost of a tune up on a Ferarri F430 is about $2500-3000. Of course the Ferarri has a shade less than 500 HP, hits 196 MPH and looks much cooler. There is a downside to owning a Ferarri F430 though..........you have to constantly hit your wipers to remove all the vaginas that are thrown at your windshield. -Lou

[tomanyjacksons]

Hey Don, I was talking about the old Magnum engines.

[texasfury]

For future reference, are there any other engines that exhibit this sort of spark plug issue/design flaw? Also would a one piece spark plug eliminate the seizing? Would anything?

[LouSiffer]

Champion makes a 1 piece plug for these engines......but, they are Champions if ya know what I mean. Autolite makes a plug that is supposed to be improved ,but, it is still a two piece.....I also believe these are the exact same plug as the Motorcraft improved version that costs a premium. These are the only engines I can recall with this issue. -Lou

[jacksoncsplayer]

Its done. Called my local dealer and he had a special extractor made that had a longer tap with a pretty aggressive conial shape. He said he hasn't found one he couldn't get out with it. So lets compare spark plug changes for shits and giggles:

Any Ford 289,302,351CWM, 400, 429,460 and the other engines I missed....Spark plugs $.99 each on sale........cap and rotor are about another $10-15......spark plug wires $40.00......assuming you have tools.....Around $65.00.

The automakers claim with COP ignition, you just need to replace the plugss....which mean less maintanance cost to the owners.....sooo......

Ford 5.4 litre....spark plugs $16 each...... special extraction tool $200.00......assorted chemicals about $30.00......cost to have guy fish out 1 plug for 3 hours.....$405.00.....total cost= $763.00. Shops around herre generally charge a base of $600-800 dollars and $100 per plug that breaks. Which means your cost could hit $1600.00 for 8 spark plugs to be changed.

If the spark plugs can not be removed, the head has to come off......this means the cab has to be removed from the chassis to allow clearance for the heads. This brings the bill into the $2500.00 dollar range.

As a comparison into the opposite end of the spectrum, the cost of a tune up on a Ferarri F430 is about $2500-3000. Of course the Ferarri has a shade less than 500 HP, hits 196 MPH and looks much cooler. There is a downside to owning a Ferarri F430 though..........you have to constantly hit your wipers to remove all the vaginas that are thrown at your windshield. -Lou

Holy shit! Why hasn't ford done a recall on this? it seems as though if enough heads had to be pulled that they would find a fix and call the vehicles back. What a crock man, I'd be pissed. I'm glad you fot it dude, but that's crazy!

[roodyrocker]

I'm just curious, are you guys applying anti-seize compound to the spark plug threads before putting them in? Preferably high temp anti-seize compound. And, on aluminum headed engines its important to take the plugs out when the engine has cooled not when its warm. The anti-seize compound should help keep those spark plugs from siezing in the head for the next spark plug change.

[LouSiffer]

Actually, they recommed against anti-seize. The reason is, it is not the threads that stick, it is the shield. The anti-seize on the shield is exposed to the combustion chamber and interaction with carbonizing. In short, they are claiming it causes more harm than good in this issue. The only recommendation is to removed the old and replace the new with the updated version.......and it probably would not hurt to change them sooner than the 100,000 mile mark....probably closer to the 50,000 mile mark.-Lou