Quote:
Originally Posted by jmen24
Wish I could tell you that it is mileage related, but the first one popped at around 20K the other two last year at over 150K. It is a 2002.
Has more to do with the head material and whether your number is up, have friends with Ford's that have never had an issue, well into the 200K range.
When I first looked into the issue last year (I was not around for the first one) I was blown away when I started reading those entries (300+ pages worth  ).
It seems to be new and old, basically anything with that head on the Triton. You don't hear much on the news regarding this issue that has been going on for years, granted I do not think anyone has died because of it, but some of the failures have been fairly catastophic from the posts. |
Reading the first few pages of comments leads me to believe that either the spark plug hole threads in the heads are stripping out..OR... in a couple of cases the plugs Broke Off, leaving the threaded portion of the plug still in the head during removal.
If the head material is aluminum, stripping the threads out when removing the the plugs can be avoided by always useing
"Anti Seize Compound" on the spark plug threads when screwing them in will Solve that problem. I do this every time I remove or replace the plugs, even in the more common cast iron heads.
If stripping is occuring, I can see why Ford is ignoring it. A good mechanic WILL use the compond, and the threads won't strip. It's just good practice to use it and Ford can't be held responsible for mechanics poor workmanship. Aluminum IS very tender and can be stripped if you're not careful.
Now, many people reported the plugs were actually "blowing out" of the head. Is that a "correct" description of what's going on or is that just what the laymen owner was told..? Does Ford make their own spark plugs..?
Anywho: If the plug actually strips out the threads in the head, the solution is relatively easy to fix. Remove the heads (not that expensive) and Drill, Tap, and Insert
Heli Coils in the plug holes. "Heli Coil" provides the special tools for their inserts, and any good mechanic has them. Do ALL the plug holes at the same time. That way you only have to remove the heads once.
Always use
"Anti Seize Compound". Permatex makes it and it comes in a little tube that can be found at any NAPA or Bennys, etc
It's probably a good idea to remove all your plugs early in the life of the car and apply the compound as soon as you can. A little
Perventive Maintenance. 
NB
BTW: If yhe plugs are actually breaking off in the hole.. leaving the threaded part of the plug in the hole....That will be expensive because there is nothing left to get a hold of to screw the broken piece out. Sometimes an "
Easy Out" tool works but I've never had any luck with them. .....AND....if you break off the "hardened" steel
Easy Out in the hole in the broken plug..you are REALLY screwed then.