This couldn't happen to a nicer guy

punomatic wrote:
Well, I finally have experienced the Triton V10 spark plug spit out in the PU in my signature below. Traveling up US101 yesterday near Coos Bay, OR and pulling a long grade, we heard a loud bang followed by a pop-pop-pop. At the first opportunity, I pulled over, opened the hood and could feel poof-poof-poof near the #10 cylinder.

Called GSRA, and although they had a little trouble finding an available tow service, we ended up at LTM Truck and RV repair in Coos Bay. These are wonderful people who immediately went to work on the truck. In three hours' time, we were on the road again. By then it was dark, cold and raining. DW suggested getting a motel, and since I was chilled to the bone, I didn't argue. After dinner in a restaurant and a long hot shower, life is good.

Question for you fellow Triton V10 owners: #10 cylinder is the one that spit the plug, and I seem to recall reading this is the one that usually goes. Is that correct? Can I trust this engine? It purrs like a kitten and has 128K miles, no fluid leaks. I love this truck, but this has me a little spooked.

BTW, I don't want to hear from all of you Ram, Chevy, Diesel or other owners telling me how bad Ford is or how bad gassers are. I'm looking for input from Triton V10 owners. Thanks.
Tom

Tom,

I once felt your spook.

I once lost #5 (passenger rear) on my Excursion V-10. I had it heli-coiled and was satisfied with the result. I did a lot of posting on another thread some time ago, details (here).

Although other repairs work, I would recommend use of the Timesert brand repair since it is thee one single repair Ford recommends. I think others may work, but since the Timesert brand is hardened aluminum, the aluminum provides identical spark plug heat range contact characteristics, and Ford may have felt it was the best official way to comply with EPA regs that demand any modified engine still comply. The other advantage is that the affected cylinder remains normal and transparent in every other way, such as plug fit etc.

Since your repair was so quick (as Turtle n Peeps mentioned), you either found a real expert in thread repair... or the tech merely turned a new plug into damaged threads and replaced the shattered coil. The latter is not recommended, but may work in some rare instances. Usually the steel plug has been vibrating in it's hole for a bit before the aluminum threads finally all strip, not like the good ol' cast iron heads.

I heartily also recommend the Triton V-10. For my testimony, because the Ford chassis are so good, I eventually found it advantageous to actually replace my engine with a new V-10 Ford longblock over an unusual, unrelated failure. The V-10 is a great powerplant, the equal or better of any. Note Ford continues to supply this durable engine in it's heaviest duty gas trucks.

Liked your blog page by the way.

Good luck and pleasant journeys to you and yours.

Wes
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