Truck Buyers Beware

NoBozo · 03-03-2010, 02:39 PM

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.

jmen24 · 03-03-2010, 03:14 PM

In the case of the two plugs for us last year, the plug blew out of the threaded hole with the head threads still firmly attached to the plug threads, nothing left in the head, while driving, both at the same time on almost polar opposite cylinders. Required tapping new threads and a hela-coil. Grapone quoted us at $5400.00, said they had to pull the engine to repair, had it done at my friends garage (professional shop in Loudon) for $700.00, no need to pull the motor out.

When my wife and I were first dating this same thing happened to her 1990 Ford Escort.

I would have no doubt that inserting a new plug with to much torque could start this problem. Our plugs were a little over 50K since the last tune up, so they held for quite a while if this was the case. Hard telling not knowing.

This appears to be a fairly Triton specific issue.

That would be one really large list of poor mechanics if it was a simple case of stripping the threads during removal.

Anyway, no real dog in the fight, could care less what brand of vehicle one drives, I select based on options required or wanted vs. value to get them.

Just thought I would add the information for any potential shoppers out there.

NoBozo · 03-03-2010, 03:34 PM

Thanks Jmen: The threads in an aluminum head can be stripped out during routine plug removal if the plugs have been in there awhile. I think I'm going to take my own advice and pull the plugs on both my Toyotas ('05 and '07) and apply the Anti Seize Compound to the plug threads ASAP.

I've never had them out yet since new because the mileage is low. Around 21k miles on the '07 Tacoma. NB

robmac · 03-03-2010, 05:15 PM

Another thing to remember manufacturers recommend removal after engine cool down period. Most failures I have repaired come from the quicky tune-up places that just pop open the hood and try and remove them. Knock on wood I have never had that problem but any good tech can repair it fairly easily.

03-03-2010, 03:14 PM	#2
jmen24 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 1,139 Thanks: 223 Thanked 319 Times in 181 Posts	In the case of the two plugs for us last year, the plug blew out of the threaded hole with the head threads still firmly attached to the plug threads, nothing left in the head, while driving, both at the same time on almost polar opposite cylinders. Required tapping new threads and a hela-coil. Grapone quoted us at $5400.00, said they had to pull the engine to repair, had it done at my friends garage (professional shop in Loudon) for $700.00, no need to pull the motor out. When my wife and I were first dating this same thing happened to her 1990 Ford Escort. I would have no doubt that inserting a new plug with to much torque could start this problem. Our plugs were a little over 50K since the last tune up, so they held for quite a while if this was the case. Hard telling not knowing. This appears to be a fairly Triton specific issue. That would be one really large list of poor mechanics if it was a simple case of stripping the threads during removal. Anyway, no real dog in the fight, could care less what brand of vehicle one drives, I select based on options required or wanted vs. value to get them. Just thought I would add the information for any potential shoppers out there.

03-03-2010, 03:34 PM	#3
NoBozo Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Portsmouth. RI Posts: 2,231 Thanks: 400 Thanked 460 Times in 308 Posts	Thanks Jmen: The threads in an aluminum head can be stripped out during routine plug removal if the plugs have been in there awhile. I think I'm going to take my own advice and pull the plugs on both my Toyotas ('05 and '07) and apply the Anti Seize Compound to the plug threads ASAP. I've never had them out yet since new because the mileage is low. Around 21k miles on the '07 Tacoma. NB

03-03-2010, 05:15 PM	#4
robmac Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Nashua,Meredith Posts: 951 Thanks: 213 Thanked 106 Times in 81 Posts	Another thing to remember manufacturers recommend removal after engine cool down period. Most failures I have repaired come from the quicky tune-up places that just pop open the hood and try and remove them. Knock on wood I have never had that problem but any good tech can repair it fairly easily.