Ford Triton spark plug issues??
 

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

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.

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

Beauty. Thx lads

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

same here...no problems 2002 f150 triton

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.

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.

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.

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

2 piece spark plug - Ford lost a class action lawsuit over this - some shops wont touch them, local Ford dealer was charging some ridiculous amount to change them. They can break in a couple different ways upon removal, and there are different kits to extract pieces depending on how plug breaks. I believe book time is some where around three hours. Do not use the Champion 1 piece replacement plug.

And that's my worry..It's a mint truck - just physically had a look at it this afternoon...I dealt with owner's son so he wasnt sure on the maintenance..They bought it new as a family hauler and has been a garage Queen for most of it's life.

I wouldn't be hauling much with it at all..Just be a family hauler for us as well

my 01 Ex w 5.4 could barley tow 2 SeaDoos lol

Always shifting. Comfortable truck tho.

At only 60K miles you are fine. When you get up closer to 100k the plug change gets to be a little more sketchy. You have to do the plugs sooner or later. Sooner has a higher liklihood of success.

+1

The modular two valve V motors used normal looking spark plugs. There were two head designs. Either type had a potential to expel a spark plug. There are several conditions that can lead to this but the main cause it the head design in the thread area. The other concern is the two cylinders right under the hood to cowl seam. They can fill with water and rust out the spark plug. This is the biggest pain to repair. The best tool and insert to permanently repair these heads are from "Time-sert" and it is the one I use. I have tried others including Ford's, my son (Ford tech) uses mine as well. Food for thought.

Had an 01 5.4, no problems changing plugs. The main issue with broken plugs is in the 04-up 5.4 3-valve motors, different motor than the 01. Buy it and replace the plugs right away, with 60k you won't have a problem.

OK ..You guys made me by in lol...And last question..The battery was dead so they boosted it and it blew the fuse that controls window and dash lights..Was it just to much juice for whatever reason or is there another issue. Truck was sitting for a bit hence the dead battery. Thanks fellas

Put a fuse in and make sure the windows and dash lights still work. The earlier fords had a GEM module that controlled those things. I think around that time they made the instrument cluster control all the other electronics in the cab. I have my 03 F250 instrument cluster getting serviced right now. https://circuitboardmedics.com/2002-...luster-repair/ Not a huge deal, but something to keep in mind.

Soak PB Blaster around the plug seats overnite than change.

You will need an APE arms to get to the back ones....

Not sure how the fuse for the windows and dash lights are affected by jump starting the car. There should only be current going through the fuse if the window or lights are operating. Even then, when starting the car, the starter has priority so those items should be getting less power when cranking. Either way, the first thing is to replace the fuse and see if everything works and if it blows the fuse again. If it blows the fuse again, then theres a lot more investigating that needs to be done.

Maybe you need a truck without spark plugs.

And...... Now you need an alternator too.

Lol...That would be a Tesla?? But I've heard they have waaayyyyyy to many issues...Biggest thing I heard was loose muffler belts



QUOTE=Pol83x;4521481]Maybe you need a truck without spark plugs.[/QUOTE]

No that would be a diesel

And once you get the plugs changed.....

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My dad has a 2000, 220k miles on a 4.6L. Make sure you do a fuel induction service before you change the plugs, it brakes up the carbon in the heads, thats what causes the spark plugs to seize up and break.

Back in the day of carburetors we used to take a quart of warm water, hold throttle wide open and dump it in fast as she would take it to clean up the chambers. Actually worked pretty good.

Glow plugs spark plugs same thing...

The dash and window fuse probably blew before the jumpers were attached. Low voltage, amperage went up, someone tried more than one window at once and pop goes the fuse. No biggie. I've had 6 or 7 super duty trucks. Great platform, 5.4 is no powerhouse but it won't let you down either.

Dad bought a brand new 2000 F250 v-10. In 2006 at 54k Miles motor blew, #1 piston, wrist pin and top of rod was laying in the valley under the intake. Bottom half of rod went through outside of block and through the a/c compressor. Ford said o that's to bad. No help whatsoever. I put a motor in it for him and still cost him 5k in parts. He just traded it in last month for a 2017 gas Titan. Only had 73k on it.

Is this a similar issue where the plugs would break off in the block when changing them... ugh I can't keep up w/all the issues :)