paintman

Hi all...So I'm looking at a weekend family hauler and found an absolute mint 1 owner 01expediton only 60k Miles.
Doing some reading and I'm learning about a spark plug issues.. Blowing right out of head .

Anyone have any feedback on this- should I stay away or is there a fix now??
Thx

ben

iTrader: (1)

Not a huge issue, I wouldn't hesitate to buy it. I had a 5.4 with over 210xxx miles and never had an issue with spark plugs.

Keith Atlanta

I sold my Triton about a year ago so my numbers might be off. You are right at the limit of it being easy. Has the guy recently changed them? I think its 60K or 80K miles. If he did it you are golden. If he didnt, they are easier to do now than later. Have them changed and you are good for another 100K

paintman

Beauty. Thx lads

RSCHAP1

2001 5.4 should be just a 2 valve motor.
Those are less troublesome than the newer 3 valves even.
I have done both and been lucky enough to not have any issues.
I replaced coils at same times.
Takes a little bit of work and finagling to get at everything but no reason to pass a good deal.
Even my 3 valve motor was less than 2 hours to change all coils and plugs.
I always borrowed a plug removal tool and kept on hand in case the worst happened.
The 3 valve motors use a goofy extended tip plug that can get carbon coated and stuck in the head.
I had read up and learned a few tricks to help make things easier.
Some say that you can suck a can of Sea Foam in through the pvc to loosen and clean deposits.
Helps the odds of getting plugs out in one piece.
Other issue is to not over tighten and over torque the new plugs.
Crank them in too tight and that is when they shoot out of the heads.
Enjoy the Expedition

Z06 FAN

same here...no problems 2002 f150 triton

Sydwayz

iTrader: (1)

There are a couple of issues depending on year, use, and application.
Some vehicles had spark plugs blow right out of the heads.
Many, many other vehicles have had issues with replacing them, as their odd long shape induces a lot of them to crack. So much so, that there are special tools for removal. Be sure to watch a couple YouTube videos on 5.4 Spark Plug broken/change, etc. etc.

But the bigger question is, what are you trying to tow? The 5.4 was a solid fleet vehicle power plant. They were never power houses. I know of a member who towed a 37 Active Thunder with one in an F250, but it wasn't pleasant. I wouldn't want to tow anything over 6000 lbs, total with one regularly.

sonicss42

Always replace spark plugs on those motors when stone cold. There is a repair for blown out plugs called "Lock-N-Stitch. That is the only repair method approved by Ford Motor Corp. The thread inserts in those kits are made of the same alloy as the factory heads and will shrink and swell at the same rate which makes the repair permanent. A cheap heli-coil repair will fail.

offshore312

I tend to put lots on miles on my vehicles, and put 245k on my 1999 expedition 5.4 triton. Did the plugs @ 100k & again @ 200k. I also used never seize on the threads both times. I also replaced all of the coils at 200k with the plugs, due to a misfire that I though was plugs, but was in fact the coils. Neither are terrible jobs to do. I also have a Dodge Ram 1500 5.7 hemi that has 16 plugs, I have changed them at the same intervals as I did on the expedition. No issues with those either. BTW, the Dodge has 216k on it, and still runs strong.

TWIN-SPINS

Do a search,,,it's been talked about before on oso