V10 spark plug issues?

westend wrote:
I believe the modular Ford did have problems with the plugs but, IIRC, those went away in 2004. I have a '03 5.4 and haven't changed plugs yet. I'll probably let Ford handle that fairly soon.

I have been very fortunate, had '97,2003, 2006 trucks all with 5.4 that never spit out any plugs. Changed the plugs in the '97 myself and said that is stupid with the deep spark plug wells and the back two you almost needed to hire a small child to get to..

2003 I had the dealer replace the plugs with no problems..

Our 2006 however had the dealer change the plugs due to the two piece design which IS notorious for the plugs breaking off..

Well let me tell you.. If you take it to the dealer you BETTER pull the COPS after you get home AND CHECK to make sure they torqued EVERY plug..

Shortly after the dealer changed the plugs ($600) we started smelling RAW GAS in the cab.. The engine started missing and the CEL light started to flash occasionally.

Took it back to dealer.. They could not smell or find and fuel leaks but they claimed the bank two cat was clogged at 84K miles mind you) $300 repair (they sent it out to a aftermarket shop or it would have cost $800).

Final straw was a couple of weeks later the engine was missing worse and the CEL was flashing again..

I decides to buy after market COPS for $60 and change them in the hopes that it was the COPS giving me all this trouble..

Started on the drivers side.. when I got to plug number 7 I found oil/fuel all over the COP boot.. (Bank TWO) Could it be? I asked myself..

Grabbed a sparkplug socket and taped an extension to it and plunged it into the abyss of the plug well..

Well I was dumbfounded to find that this newly installed plug was a HALF turn LOOSE! :E :M

Yep, those dealer clowns I was depending on (and paid through the nose) almost cost me a $1000 repair (Timesert repair)... Not to mention the replacement CAT repair which they caused since the non firing plug filled the cat with raw fuel..

Moral of the story.. if you have a dealer change them, CHECK THE PLUGS after you drive it for a few miles...

I would have been far cheaper to DIY the repairs and had less risk all the while parking it under a shade tree..

I do feel the spitting plug thing has been blown out of proportion by mechanics (or DIY folks) who DIDN'T properly torque the plugs..

Trust me, after this experience I can't see how anyone could possibly drive a vehicle with a loose plug and NOT SMELL RAW FUEL, it was that bad..