Blown out Spark Plug!

[dohc324ci]

Spoke to the installer today and found out what happened to my motor! I had a spark plug blow out that took out #4 cylinder:mad2:

I guess it is a common problem, according to the tech. Here are some interesting threads on this issue.

Links:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_spark.html

http://www.svtperformance.com/forums/2nd-generation-22/505917-blown-out-spark-plugs.html

[Got_1]

very common in 4.6/5.4/6.8

[O's Fan Rich]

That's another reason I liked the Aluminator LB..... new designed heads with the 9 thread plug holes!

[ImpalaSlayer]

arnt 04 heads 9 thread?

[offroadkarter]

arnt 04 heads 9 thread?


I believe so, I think this was fixed in the revised head.

[FastMerc]

Yes there is a post way back about it,have to dig for it.

[Mach1Marauder]

Sorry to hear your luck, but I've never seen a spark plug blow out on a properly maintained 4.6 DOHC vehicle.

This means several things for proper maintenance.
1. Changing plugs well before the stupid 100K that ford calls for.
2. Changing plugs on a COLD engine. Changing them on a hot engine will just gall the aluminum threads.
3 Using proper anti-sieze on the spark plugs. Copper based is fine if you change plugs often, but nickel seems to work better for me.
4 Properly torqued spark plugs are a must
5 Properly tuned vehicle with proper range plugs if you've deviated from stock.

[Brian H]

6.8?????????????????? what - up wit dat? what do those come in and will the 4v heads fit?

[dohc324ci]

So I have an 03" that doesn't have the revised head? Great...

[FordNut]

6.8?????????????????? what - up wit dat? what do those come in and will the 4v heads fit?

It's a v10 so no, the 4v heads are a bit too short.

[FordNut]

Spoke to the installer today and found out what happened to my motor! I had a spark plug blow out that took out #4 cylinder:mad2:



So all you really needed was the set of heads I had for sale instead of the bb/s, cams, etc, etc... Sorry...

[FordNut]

Sorry to hear your luck, but I've never seen a spark plug blow out on a properly maintained 4.6 DOHC vehicle.

This means several things for proper maintenance.
1. Changing plugs well before the stupid 100K that ford calls for.
2. Changing plugs on a COLD engine. Changing them on a hot engine will just gall the aluminum threads.
3 Using proper anti-sieze on the spark plugs. Copper based is fine if you change plugs often, but nickel seems to work better for me.
4 Properly torqued spark plugs are a must
5 Properly tuned vehicle with proper range plugs if you've deviated from stock.

Absolutely. The most common cause of problems is improperly torqued plugs.

I use a graphite-based thread lubricant called Neo-Lube. It is graphite dissolved in acetone, you apply a thin coating and the acetone dissolves leaving an even graphite coating without having to mess with the graphite powder all over the place.

[RoyLPita]

We had a member here change a head on his MM because of this problem.

[1of327]

i just had my #4 plug go rocket like last month...took out the coil and sounded like s@!t... HAd to go to a specific shop near me that has some kit that FORD puts out to re thread my head....all is fine $180 later.

[FordNut]

Timeserts thread inserts?

[Paul T. Casey]

We had a member here change a head on his MM because of this problem.

I did a long time ago. My feeling was the difference in size of the Denso's was the root cause of the problem I had.

[dohc324ci]

So all you really needed was the set of heads I had for sale instead of the bb/s, cams, etc, etc... Sorry...

Yeah...but now I have a BB/S, cams etc....:lol:

[dohc324ci]

More and more I think this to be a design problem.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ford_spark_plugs.html

http://www.timesert.com/html/triton_repair.html

[bob6364]

More and more I think this to be a design problem.

http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2005/ford_spark_plugs.html


You are right and you are 10 years to late....this has been going on since 1998 or so,common problem for many years.

[Mach1Marauder]

Yup........lack of maintenance is a common problem. ;)

[dohc324ci]

Yup........lack of maintenance is a common problem. ;)


Yeah I get it.....:) I am not a 4v tech demon like you:bows:

Never heard of using anti seize when installing plugs? Swapped at 95K blew at 115k....so maybe #4 wasnt torqued to 13lbs; I thought I tripled checked but....what can I say. Still Ive swapped out my plugs in my Stang no probs....and the amount of people reporting this issue is hard to ignore.

[dohc324ci]

You are right and you are 10 years to late....this has been going on since 1998 or so,common problem for many years.


Ive only had this car since November 2007 so maybe 2 years too late:D

[RR|Suki]

I guess it's a good thing I change my plugs every few thousand miles :eek:

[dohc324ci]

I guess it's a good thing I change my plugs every few thousand miles :eek:


I am going to be so paranoid now...I've read that you should now check and torque the plugs to 13lbs if necessary every time you change the oil:confused:

[RR|Suki]

I am going to be so paranoid now...I've read that you should now check and torque the plugs to 13lbs if necessary every time you change the oil:confused:

I've never put a tq wrench on a spark plug. My builder told me to put anti seize on em and snug them. I do that every time and all has been well on heads that have never not seen boost... Then again I do put in new plugs every 7K or so miles probly, at $2 a pop I can't resist

[dohc324ci]

I've never put a tq wrench on a spark plug. My builder told me to put anti seize on em and snug them. I do that every time and all has been well on heads that have never not seen boost... Then again I do put in new plugs every 7K or so miles probly, at $2 a pop I can't resist


Thats funny I have a link to another thread were they say not to put anti seize on the plugs or to use very little? Goes to show you that old addage is so true "if you ask 50 people for an opinion be ready for 50 different opinions"...:D So every 7k....that's some serious OCD...I thought I had it bad LOL.

Yeah it only took me 45 minutes triple checked to make sure it was torqued down....too hard to ignore what comes up when you google "Ford blown out spark plug".

[RR|Suki]

Thats funny I have a link to another thread were they say not to put anti seize on the plugs or to use very little? Goes to show you that old addage is so true "if you ask 50 people for an opinion be ready for 50 different opinions"...:D So every 7k....that's some serious OCD...I thought I had it bad LOL.

Yeah it only took me 45 minutes triple checked to make sure it was torqued down....too hard to ignore what comes up when you google "Ford blown out spark plug".

No anti seize? that's quite interesting indeed, a little goes a long way certainly, but none seems like a good way to get a plug stuck in there and killing the few threads that are in there :confused:

[Marauderjack]

I use silicone dielectric grease as an anti-seize and change my plugs every 10K miles (every other oil change) and never have I used a torque wrench......205,7xx miles with ZERO problems!!:beer:

[RoyLPita]

I did a long time ago. My feeling was the difference in size of the Denso's was the root cause of the problem I had.

Actually, it was another member here but thanx for posting.