Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

[Manipulator]

I hear changing the spark plugs on one of these is a real challenge. I have a guy I know who is a mechanic, he recommends replacing the plugs long before the recommended 100K recommendation. He mentions that he has changed a few around 75K and many times the plugs become seized and the threads come out with the plug. It seems that Ford had a known defect in their cylinder heads where only 4 threads are holding the plugs in. Many people have had problems with plugs blowing right out of the cylinders and trashing the head and coil pack above. I have a 2003 expedition so I’m not sure if this defect was corrected by then. It is a costly repair if this happens. Anyway, I have about 55K on mine and was looking to change them around 60K. It seems to be tough getting to these plugs, especially the ones in back under the firewall. Any thoughts?

 

[jimr]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

get a swivel and a deep plug socket or a regular one and locking extension. also at least a 12 pack 8) . you will need to be some what of a contorsionest to get the back 2 on the pass. side. when putting them back in DON'T over tighten them that is what trashes most of the threads. when you are doing it use motorcraft plugs and replace the plug boots they are cheap. I have been lucky and haven't had any blow out on me.

 

[xtraham]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

when you remove the coils, blow out the holes before you remove the plugs with compressed air,
there will be some gunk around the plugs, (so it dosen't fall in the cylinder)
sometimes you need to dig around the outside of the plugs to get the socket on them.......
you will need a 7mm 1/4" drive socket with a u-joint
a 5/8" spark plug socket, 4" locking extention,
takes about 1/2 hour..........

 

[i386]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

I had to learn my lesson the hard way. I am now a big fan of putting anti-seize on my plugs when I replace them.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Thanks for the info guys. What about the anti-seize on the threads. I have heard good and bad.

 

[xtraham]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

if OEM doesn't recommend it I don't do it, never had a problem other than the crud around the outside of them

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

some if the dealerships recomend removing them and reinstalling them every 20,000 klm.Number 4 cylender is the hardest to remove and as xtraham said use lots of compresed air becouse one little rock falling down the plug hole is a verry frustrating thing to get out.

 

[Skinnywater]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Oil on the threads is better than anti-sieze. Undertorqued sparks are more likely to ruin threads than over-torqued ones. Torque them to factory spec's.
Replace all the boots and lube them with di-electric grease at both ends.
The thermostat gasket is prone to seep into the front left sparkplug hole.

The job isn't that bad if you have a variety of extensions and a flex-joint for the socket.

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Well l finally buckled down and did the plugs today. It was a PITA and took 3-4 hours with multiple beer breaks. The back one on the right and the left, real pain. Overall all not too complicated. Just take your time and yes, use plenty of extensions. I changed them out at 69K and they needed it. They would probably make it to 100K but they did show plenty of wear. I would say 70-75K is a good time to change. 100K absolute limit if you ask me. I used anti seize on mine. I don't think the factory did. They were in there good and tight and the threads looked to be corroded on the plugs. Could tell the threads were dry coming out. The third cylinder on the left looked like water must have got in as the plug was rusty. How it got in there is beyond me. Anyway, glad to have it done. I used the OEM platinum replacements (motorcraft).

 

[JB]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

My son had a Triton blow spark plugs twice. Very expensive, but in all fairness the truck had over 250K on it before that happened. He went to a Tundra this time.

DJ knows Ford trucks like nobody else. Maybe he will weigh in on this.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Took ya a whole year and a half huh?

 

[JCF350]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Oil on the threads is better than anti-sieze. Undertorqued sparks are more likely to ruin threads than over-torqued ones. Torque them to factory spec's.
Replace all the boots and lube them with di-electric grease at both ends.
The thermostat gasket is prone to seep into the front left sparkplug hole.

The job isn't that bad if you have a variety of extensions and a flex-joint for the socket.

Oil on threads= overtorqued spark plugs. Which is just as hard on the threads (especially if you don't have many threads to begin with).
Oil on any thread will increase the amount of force even if the torque wrench reads the same value. The turning resistance of the unoiled thread isn't there.

Torquing oiled threads is mostly involved with the "turn the bolt so many degrees method" (note: Torque to yeild is similar).

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

test

 

[JCF350]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Test confirmed

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Test confirmed

Thanks. I was playing with posting quotes and did not realize I could not delete my original post.

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Test confirmed

One more time...

 

[JCF350]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Test confirmed

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Took ya a whole year and a half huh?

Let's see the average labor rate on a truck is between $65-$80 per hour and it took over a year and a half....... Will that be cash or charge? How long does an oil change take?

 

[Manipulator]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Yep.....it took over a year to build up enough courage to tackle this lol....actually I only had 55K on it at the time...thought I would wait a little longer.

 

[ValricoJoe]

Re: Ford 5.4L Triton V-8 spark plug change

Replace the back four first, they will take the most time. Swivels and extensions will make your life easier. This is a beautiful engine, yet, the engineers should be made to change the spark plugs, they would be clueless.