POP! Goes the spark plug!

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: morris
to: OVERK1LL the plug has a center electrode that is rounded, this will kill performance, mostly throttle response. most people dont know that there is LOTS of turbulence, so much that sometimes the spark has to travel as much as 1/4 inch. that causes the center electrode to wear fast.


That is the platinum "puck" that is in the centre of these plugs. Perfectly normal. they look like that new.

And the condition of the plugs seems to be the least of my worries. I'm more concerned with keeping them in the heads

 

[Ben99GT]

No need for Trick Flow heads (though I understand the desire

) as Ford redesigned the 2-valve head sometime in 2003 with the full 8-9 threads.

My 4-valve has the full thread design.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Originally Posted By: bdcardinal
Timesert time.


Nope! Believe it or not!

I think I have a horseshoe up my behind.


OOOO lucky. Actually my mom's 2000 Grand Marquis shot a plug just like that and i was able to thread the same plug back in and reuse the coil. Worked great for a year or so and then it shot out again so i had one of the techs at my work do the timesert and all is well.


Man you called it!

#4 launched again today. Very brief warning tick (like 2 minutes) and then pop.

Threads are gone.

My mechanic friend at Ford will be taking a look at it Tuesday. She'll be getting a time-sert or lock 'n stitch or whatever is the "Ford approved" procedure for this.

 

[mattd]

what a surprise.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: mattd
what a surprise.


Bloody sorry twist on an otherwise fantastic engine design. Part of me wants to pony-up and have all eight done, but the cheap part of me doesn't.

 

[mattd]

There is a procedure to have a heli-coil insert put in, ford recommended. It will be pricey though with plugs, coil boots, and any ignition coils needed. 35$+ each insert, plus labor, nearly an hour/cylinder. it will be price but you will have peace of mind. They are not too bad, i have done them before. the passenger side rear holes can be tight.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: mattd
There is a procedure to have a heli-coil insert put in, ford recommended. It will be pricey though with plugs, coil boots, and any ignition coils needed. 35$+ each insert, plus labor, nearly an hour/cylinder. it will be price but you will have peace of mind. They are not too bad, i have done them before. the passenger side rear holes can be tight.


#4 (passenger-side, furthest back) is the one that is the issue in this case.

Worst plug on the engine. Coil and boot were brand new, and still look OK. Didn't break the coil off like the last time it popped.

The dealership I deal with has a machine shop come up and install the inserts. I don't believe they are heli-coils, I think they are the "time-sert" style inserts (http://www.timesert.com/), which actually replace the entire threaded section, and completely eliminate the problem from what I understand.

I've heard it is pricey. Not something I'm too happy about

Merry Christmas to me eh?

 

[mrsilv04]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

I've heard it is pricey. Not something I'm too happy about

Merry Christmas to me eh?


Well, as the saying goes, hindsight is always 20/20.

I guess you could have traded it off, or sold it in the past month, and let someone else deal with it... Ethical, no. Does it happen? All of the time.

This is just another one of those "not if, but when" dilemmas. It's a known problem, some people get lucky, some don't.

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: mattd
There is a procedure to have a heli-coil insert put in, ford recommended. It will be pricey though with plugs, coil boots, and any ignition coils needed. 35$+ each insert, plus labor, nearly an hour/cylinder. it will be price but you will have peace of mind. They are not too bad, i have done them before. the passenger side rear holes can be tight.


+1 on Heli-core.

As long as no metal falls in the water jacket, all is good!

 

[MrCritical]

GM owners would be screaming bloody murder.

"Why isn't this a recall?"

Just another "oh, well" with Ford.

 

[morris]

in the late 60s i helped a dude with a aa/fd, it had a 392 chrysler hemi. it had the 3/4 long spark plug. we would put the plug in by useing a 3/8 speed wrench and just pop the wrench, to tighten them. they was most likely about 10 ft lbs then go out and run 200 mph, no trouble.

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: MrCritical
GM owners would be screaming bloody murder.

"Why isn't this a recall?"

Just another "oh, well" with Ford.


My Fords died of Collapsed Lifters.. led to Dropped Valve.

Ever heard an Engine sound like a Spray Paint can while you are shaking it, and not making any power (take foot off gas, car dies?) .. Ford.

Now, before that "Valve Defect" (1993-1995 HEAD on 1.9L, known issue, "WEAK HEADS" id STILL buy the car its EASY to work on..) ... was about nicest car I had! Went like a Jetta. Go, go, go!

 

[sciphi]

Originally Posted By: HangerHarley
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
GM owners would be screaming bloody murder.

"Why isn't this a recall?"

Just another "oh, well" with Ford.


My Fords died of Collapsed Lifters.. led to Dropped Valve.

Ever heard an Engine sound like a Spray Paint can while you are shaking it, and not making any power (take foot off gas, car dies?) .. Ford.

Now, before that "Valve Defect" (1993-1995 HEAD on 1.9L, known issue, "WEAK HEADS" id STILL buy the car its EASY to work on..) ... was about nicest car I had! Went like a Jetta. Go, go, go!


Had a 1995 Escort die like that. That was the icing on the cake for that rolling pile.

And how few threads were in the head?

 

[HangerHarley]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Originally Posted By: HangerHarley
Originally Posted By: MrCritical
GM owners would be screaming bloody murder.

"Why isn't this a recall?"

Just another "oh, well" with Ford.


My Fords died of Collapsed Lifters.. led to Dropped Valve.

Ever heard an Engine sound like a Spray Paint can while you are shaking it, and not making any power (take foot off gas, car dies?) .. Ford.

Now, before that "Valve Defect" (1993-1995 HEAD on 1.9L, known issue, "WEAK HEADS" id STILL buy the car its EASY to work on..) ... was about nicest car I had! Went like a Jetta. Go, go, go!


Had a 1995 Escort die like that. That was the icing on the cake for that rolling pile.

And how few threads were in the head?

Mine was a 95.

I liked the car... but oooof, what a way to go. Stupid "Weak Heads."

Had -4- Escorts go like that. And i would buy a 5th..

Seems we cant fix THAT with oil.

As to threads.. it was barely holdin on! LOL

 

[tig1]

Overk1ll,
Has Ford corrected the problem. If so, what year was the correction made? My son has a 05 F150 and a 07 Expy, both with the 5.4. No problems yet.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Overk1ll,
Has Ford corrected the problem. If so, what year was the correction made? My son has a 05 F150 and a 07 Expy, both with the 5.4. No problems yet.


they added more threads on the 2v motors in I wanna say 2002-2003MY, somewhere around there.

If those year trucks you mentioned have the 5.4 3v motor Ford completely fixes the plugs blowing out problem to the other extreme. Those motors the plugs will break off when you take them out and there is a TSB giving a removal procedure. Ive done plugs on them and if you follow the steps you will be fine.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: mrsilv04
Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

I've heard it is pricey. Not something I'm too happy about

Merry Christmas to me eh?


Well, as the saying goes, hindsight is always 20/20.

I guess you could have traded it off, or sold it in the past month, and let someone else deal with it... Ethical, no. Does it happen? All of the time.

This is just another one of those "not if, but when" dilemmas. It's a known problem, some people get lucky, some don't.


I wouldn't trade it over something this stupid. We've owned three of these trucks, this is the only one that has had the issue. And I drive it pretty hard.

It'll be a few hundred bucks, on an engine that uses no oil, gets decent mileage, and makes no funny noises. In a truck that has been well maintained, with a great interior, new tires, new suspension, strong tranny, good 4x4 and a healthy LSD. I'd be retarded to deal it over something like this.

 

[OVERKILL]

Originally Posted By: tig1
Overk1ll,
Has Ford corrected the problem. If so, what year was the correction made? My son has a 05 F150 and a 07 Expy, both with the 5.4. No problems yet.


AFAIK, it was fixed in '03. This is an '02.

 

[Merkava_4]

Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL

The dealership I deal with has a machine shop come up and install the inserts.


Are they able to install the timeserts with the heads still bolted to the engine block?

 

[Trav]

Yes.That's one of the kits big selling points.
They are really not bad to install once you get stuff out way,the only one i hate doing is the last plug on the passengers side when the truck has rear heat and air.