MitchF150 wrote:
Sport45 wrote:
Note to self: If you ever buy a 3-valve Triton new, pull the plugs and apply the special anti-seize before it's too late.
That still is no guarantee it'll make a difference.. It's the threads that are exposed in the cylinder that get carbon'd up and form a 'bond' between the plug and the top of the head.. Think of the carbon as being a lock nut on the end of a bolt and until that's loosened up, you can't turn the bolt..
I waited and waited until they didn't offer the 3v 5.4 anymore! ;)
I loved my 97 F150 with the 5.4 in it, but hated changing the plugs!
Mitch
With the introduction of the 3valve head, the tail of plug sticks way down into the combustion chamber through a snug-fitting tube. The actual threads are over an inch above. It's the fit between the extended tube and the sparkplug tail that causes the problem on the 3 valves. With the extra valve, surface area to accomodate the plug was not sufficient to allow the extra diameter of the thread, so they extended the tail of the plug with it's smaller diameter down into the chamber with the actual threads high above. Not a terrible idea, just a poor execution. Whenever your combustion chamber is taken up with valves as your surface area, space for spark plugs comes at a premium. Actually, with four valves, the valves can be smaller and fitting them in isn't as critical, depending on the shape of the chamber. With three, your options are more limited within the geometry of valvetrain. I'm getting out of what I know into speculation at this point. Doesn't matter, just need to get the plugs out. The milk is already spilled.
