I've been doing alot of reading lately after I recently discovered the problems surrounding the 5.4L sparkplug Removal-Blowout etc. If Im getting the information correctly, the motor was changed around 2003-2004 from a 3-4 thread head to a 8 thread head to prevent plugs from looosening then blowing out...Since the threads were increased another problem is occurring with the steel sparkplug threads fusing with the aluminum head...My understanding is the 5.4L 3 valve 300hp motor tends to have more sparkplug issues then the 260hp 2 valve but can't varify this information...All this boils down to a huge repair bill when the plug breaks in the head during removal. Ford developed a tool to assist with this however it has its limits..

My question is how many of you have had this problem and how many miles did you go before changing your plugs? Have you decided not to change plugs at all and just drive it?

 

i just hit 75,000 on my 04 and i changed plugs at 40,000 didnt use anti seize, then read on it about the seizing issue so at about 66-67 thousand i changed again and this time i used anti seize. one thing i should have done is used a torque wrench but i didnt, havent had any issues and i checked them a while ago all were tight. this summer ill loosen them and torque them wwith a torque wrench. i always read and heard that the early 5.4 spit plugs. im not sure about the new 3valve trucks. if mine ever spit im going to trick flow and buying their top end kit, new redesigned heads cam and intake. should make my little 5.4 into a fire breather

 

The 3 valve 5.4 is the one that the plugs break off in. They came out in 2004. The 2 valve 5.4 is the engine that the spark plugs blow out of. The spark plug issue is a much larger deal in the 3 valve than the 2 valve.

 

i put ever mile on my truck, i tow a little, off road even smaller, and i do drive it very hard im letting up allot now and never had an issue. i kknow allot of people who have these motors and never had a problem. a buddy of mine works a shop and he says at least once a week they get a 5.4 with a blown plug never seen it my self and hes a chevy guy so what do you believe. i would change your plugs dont listen to frd who says 100,000 is good thats crap, buy new ones ant seize them and torque them with the rght tools and youll be good

 

I have nearly 55K on my 2003 5.4 2 valve and I do tow a boat. It hasn't spit any plugs yet, knock on wood...I'll be inspecting the plugs very soon.

Darrenigel, Thanks for the clarification I got them mixed up.

 

I've got 30,000 and haven't even thought about it. As a matter of fact, what ARE spark plugs anyway?

Oops - I'd better go back to the Powerstroke area - sorry!

 

Keep in mind their are literally MILLIONS of these engines that never spit a plug... You only hear about the small percentage that did.
And I will STILL argue that the vast majority that did spit were due to improper torquing. So far, I've only heard of one verifiable case of factory installed plug spitting out.... All others, there definitely was or likely was a plug installation by someone that did not follow specs for whatever reason.

So... I say change every 75K miles or if every 4 years, whichever come first. And NEVER EXCEED specified torque while installing! Do it even once and threads are damaged and will eventually fail.

Then drive and enjoy the truck.

 

I currently have almost 125,000 miles on mine. I got it with 30,000. I changed the plugs at 105,000. Truck was still running good, but just felt the need to change 'em. Ran better, picked up about 1.5mpg afterwards. No broken plugs, no blowouts, no problems. I used the same Motorcraft plugs that came out and have not had any problems. I torqued 'em down 14ftlbs as recommended. If you can find my thread where I changed them, you'll see a little more.

Oh, I also tow a 26' travel trailer, and have a 4100 pound boat I pull. So, there's my story. Real world stuff.

 

Edjunior, Do you have the 2 valve (260hp) motor?

 

Don't get your undies in a bundle about the spark plugs.

The early modular engines had issues. The later 2V engines were an improvement. The repair bill isn't huge. It doesn't happen to most trucks. Follow R&R procedures and you should be fine.

3V engines can have broken plugs if you don't follow R&R procedures. Newer 1 piece plugs prevent that.

It may sound like all Triton engines have issues, based on the posts here, but no one ever posts that their spark plugs didn't blow out or their spark plugs didn't break.

 

Uh, c'mon Redford...I just did that in post #8!

MWH615...yes, I have the 2V...a 2003. I'll see if I can find my plug changing post and link it here.

 

Here's the link...started out as a gas smell and ended up with the tune-up.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...gas-smell.html

 

Thanks for the link I'll check it out.

 

Now you've heard of two cases ....... my '02 2V 5.4 spit factory installed plug out of cylinder #2 at about 60,000 miles.

 

Finally had my plugs changed at 170,000 miles. Started missing a little under load. Was still getting my best MPG. 2000 5.4 SC SB. I tow my tractor around a bit and pull a 30' 5th wheel back and forth to AZ. What a great truck. But, I found an 08 V-10 that I'm liking a lot.