spark plug shooters

[jax4bangin]

the 4.6 and 5.4 have had problems blowing plugs out of the heads.. did ford ever make changes to the heads to prevent this??

[85_Ranger4x4]

In 2004 they completely redesigned the 5.4 cylinder heads to make them have 3 valves, the 3V 4.6 in the Explorer and Mustang and now F-150 are also immune to it. The late 03's were supposed to have more threads to hold the plugs in but they are hard to differentiate.

It is unheard of in the Romeo built 4.6's and 5.4's. The Windsor built 4.6's and 5.4's are more common about it with the V-10's being by far and away the worst at it.

My brother has a 1997 F-150 with a Romeo 4.6, never had a blow out.

I have a 2002 F-150 with a Windsor 5.4 and have knocking wood never had a problem with it.

[Loud Ranger]

never had a problem with either of my 4.6s. user error is a big cause of it. when you change the plugs make sure there cold and dont use antisieze which acts as a lube and makes it easy to overtighten and strip out, if you change em cold and dry youll be fine

[85_Ranger4x4]

never had a problem with either of my 4.6s. user error is a big cause of it. when you change the plugs make sure there cold and dont use antisieze which acts as a lube and makes it easy to overtighten and strip out, if you change em cold and dry youll be fine

Torque is also very important, too loose and the work the threads until the plugs come out... too tight and the threads strip out and they work them until they pop out.

[low_five]

I had a blowout on my 01 lightning. thank god it was under warranty

[Wicked_Sludge]

In 2004 they completely redesigned the 5.4 cylinder heads to make them have 3 valves

ya, now your lucky if you can get the spark plugs out when you want to...the 3 valve is a shit design.

[85_Ranger4x4]

ya, now your lucky if you can get the spark plugs out when you want to...the 3 valve is a shit design.

Well most of the plug will come out for sure, but maybe not all of it. Now they have a new plug that is all one peice without the crimped on neck that gets stuck in the head. Following the TSB when changing plugs greatly reduces the risk if it still has the old style plug in it (likely).

Changing them sooner than recomended to the new style is a good idea too, it is carbon buildup that wedges the thing in there.

[Wicked_Sludge]

Well most of the plug will come out for sure, but maybe not all of it.

you guys must have some kind of miracle gas there. its been my experience that they break off more often than not.

[85_Ranger4x4]

you guys must have some kind of miracle gas there. its been my experience that they break off more often than not.

My brother hasn't broken one yet, and he works at a Ford dealership. :dntknw:

[Wicked_Sludge]

i worked at the local dealership for over a year...all the other techs and myself were breaking them left and right.

[85_Ranger4x4]

i worked at the local dealership for over a year...all the other techs and myself were breaking them left and right.

Dunno what the diff is, I asked him when I found out about it and he said it isn't a big deal.

A lot of guys run 10% ethonal around here, maybe it doesn't leave as much carbon as straight gas? E85 is available too but I don't think many run it.

[Wicked_Sludge]

could be. ethanol isnt very big in this area...but im not sure what grades have what content 'round here.

we had to pull the head off one after the customer tried to change his own plugs and drove a chunk of porcelain into the chamber while trying to remove the snapped-off plug. those 3 valve valve stems are tiny.

but yeah, everyone in the shop became best friends with the 5.4 spark plug extraction kit.

[jax4bangin]

crazzyy.. so the 4.6 2 valve is still a plugg popper?

[Wicked_Sludge]

there is no 2 valve anymore.

[Bent Bolt]

i worked at the local dealership for over a year...all the other techs and myself were breaking them left and right.

Aero-Kroil does wonders. Let it soak for as long as possible.

[jax4bangin]

really? i thought they dropped the 4.2 v6 and the now available options are the original 4.6, and a 3 valve 4.6 that u can get with a six speed like the 5.4:icon_confused:

[jax4bangin]

yea jus looked the 4.6 2 valve is now the standard engine in the f150.. wat a crock of shit.. ppl are blowin plugs out all the time and ford does nothing

gah bring back the 300 I6 and the 302 and the 460! the 302 was rated at better epa fuel economy than the plug shootin 4.6.. pull ur head out ford!!:annoyed:

[Sevensecondsuv]

I've never heard of a 4.6 shooting plugs. Now 5.4's on the other hand...

And yes there is still a 2 valve 4.6. It is now the base engine in the F-150. It is also the only engine used in the panthers (crown vic, grand marquis).

Having owned a few, I really like the 4.6 in crown vics. It's the perfect engine for that car. However, like the 302 before it, they don't really belong in a truck.

As for the base F-150 engines, replacing the 300 with the 4.2 is the single absolute most stupid thing Ford ever did. I can understand needing a modern engine for emissions reasons, but the replacement should be at half as good as the engine it is replacing. My parents have 99 with the 4.2. I do all the maintenance on it. What a worthless POS engine. Not only is everything on it a poor design, but it's painfully slow throughout the RPM range, can't pull a trailer worth a crap, and on top of that can't manage to get more than 16 mpg in a 2wd 5-spd truck.

As for the 5.4 vs. 351, I think it's a fair replacement. It's got all the torque in the same RPM range plus more HP to boot. They do spit plugs, but I've still seen plenty with over 200000 miles on them running fine.

[85_Ranger4x4]

My brother's '97 4.6 with 3.55 gears vs my '02 5.4 with 3.31 gears and the same tires (255/70-16)... I wouldn't want to put any money on who could outrun who unloaded, I think it would be pretty close.

For a run around town, haul stuff in the bed truck the 4.6 is great, the only time the 5.4 really shines (IMO) is when you tow. To date, my brother doesn't tow much (we only have one bumper pull trailer for tractor pulls, I nab it and he sneaks his on the gooseneck with dad's) but I do look forward to seeing how it would do.

[jax4bangin]

it seems that the trucks that were poppin plugs were from 97-03 range. has the 2 valve 4.6 changed since then?

i really wuddnt mind buyin a new f150 regular cab short bed(i like em alot) as long as i could be guarenteed some bullshit like a plug flyin out dont happen

[Bent Bolt]

I guarantee you the spark plugs won't blow out of the 3V 4.6/5.4 now. Instead , they won't come out in one piece. They usually break off in the head and you need a special tool to retrieve the stuck piece.

[Will]

Best thing to do is never change the plugs. As clean as modern engines run, and as hot as the spark is I know first hand they will make 200,000 before you notice your fuel economy decline. The risk to reward isn't there. I used to change them on our Prizm but I was taking out new looking plugs and putting in new plugs and the only reward was the risk of dropping shit in the hole or grrrrr'ing the threads. So I gave up the habit.

[jax4bangin]

alrighty.. but how bout the 2 valve? im concerned with the 2 valve because they will be super common with a standard cab work truck(cheapest option:icon_thumby:)

are they the same heads that shot plugs?

[86ford]

Best thing to do is never change the plugs. As clean as modern engines run, and as hot as the spark is I know first hand they will make 200,000 before you notice your fuel economy decline. The risk to reward isn't there. I used to change them on our Prizm but I was taking out new looking plugs and putting in new plugs and the only reward was the risk of dropping shit in the hole or grrrrr'ing the threads. So I gave up the habit.

You and I think alike....

I had to pull the b2s heads when one of the freeze plugs took a crap and started pissing all over the trans. Funny part is I still am yet to replace, or even remove the spark plugs!

86

[jax4bangin]

k guys is the 2 valve 4.6 still a plug shooter????????:dunno:

[85_Ranger4x4]

it seems that the trucks that were poppin plugs were from 97-03 range. has the 2 valve 4.6 changed since then?

i really wuddnt mind buyin a new f150 regular cab short bed(i like em alot) as long as i could be guarenteed some bullshit like a plug flyin out dont happen

No, they added more threads in the heads. 4.6's were never notorious for it anyway.

Best thing to do is never change the plugs. As clean as modern engines run, and as hot as the spark is I know first hand they will make 200,000 before you notice your fuel economy decline. The risk to reward isn't there. I used to change them on our Prizm but I was taking out new looking plugs and putting in new plugs and the only reward was the risk of dropping shit in the hole or grrrrr'ing the threads. So I gave up the habit.

Usually at 80-90k you notice a difference in power with new plugs. You wouldn't know it wasn't optimum unless you put new plugs in though.

[jax4bangin]

No, they added more threads in the heads. 4.6's were never notorious for it anyway.



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thank u!!! thats all that iv wanted to know this whole time! i love u.:icon_cheers: hahah