Scary Plug Change (Full Version)

Mustang Forums >> Ford Mustang Tech >> 2005 - 2008 Mustangs >> 4.6L V8 Specific

Scary Plug Change

  

Goldenpony -> Scary Plug Change (2/12/2008 7:23:48 PM)

Well, after reading all the horror stories, I'm going to pull & replace the plugs in my '06 GT with 38K miles.  I have a new set of HT1 plugs, my socket, Permatex nickel anti-sieze and Aerokroil.  I am nervous as heck but I figure I've already waited longer than I should have. I am so angry at Ford for this horrible design flaw.  I love my Mustang, but I shouldn't have to fear changing the damn plugs. I'd love to see a class action law suit over this, Ford should bleed.

  
hammeron -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/12/2008 7:51:13 PM)

good luck golden, let us know how it
turns out



nineinchnail1024 -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/12/2008 7:56:30 PM)

Good luck. Mine were difficult with only 7K miles...

mystang68/05 -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 12:44:37 AM)

I have experienced this first hand.  I broke the first plug on the left bank when I made this jump.  You may want to look up TSB 06-15-2.  I have it but cant attach PDF here for some reason.

Advice:

1.  Get some PB buster or a good penetrate.

2.  Get your engine up to operating temperature first THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. When you get up to temp drive it a few More miles to let it heat soak.

3.  Pull all of the coils, as you do squirt some penitent in the hole. 

4.  Use a torque wrench to remove the plugs do not exceed 25 ft lbs of torque while removing.  If you do stop use more penitent. 



Goldenpony -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 2:27:12 AM)

Mystang,
                  I'm surprised this job should be done with the engine heated up. I always read with aluminum heads  the plugs should be removed with the engine dead cold.

GidyupGo -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 5:06:56 AM)

It's the least of 2 evils. The carbon-soot will be softer when warm. You don't want the engine REAL hot. Just warm. Let it run for a few m inutes is all. Note that the engine will cool down as you struggle to get them out so allow for some cool down time or just restart to warm back up.

mattsimonton -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 11:15:08 AM)

whats the problem?  I have never heard of anything happening with the plugs?  will they break or something?  I would like to know. 

GidyupGo -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 11:17:56 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mattsimonton

whats the problem?  I have never heard of anything happening with the plugs?  will they break or something?  I would like to know. 





Yes, they wil break. It is common. Carbon cements them into the head. 

Goldenpony -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 2:53:36 PM)

I talked to the dealership service dept. today. He said yes, he had heard of this problem, but that it is much more common in the 5.4L in the trucks.  God, I hope this is so.

GidyupGo -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 2:56:52 PM)

He's lame. We have the same heads. Same design. Same problem.

mystang68/05 -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/13/2008 11:53:56 PM)

In case any of you are in doubt here is the pictures of the plug and the tool I made to remove it.  Also you need to get the engine up to operating temperature.  The attached broken plug is the result of not heading that warning in the TSB.  When the engine was hot enough all of the rest of the plugs came out with out any problems, however I did use the penetrating oil on all of them. 

[image]local://upfiles/89247/03194D3F854F42249250C6041FBF85CD.jpg[/image]

[image]local://upfiles/89247/FB4EBC1CCEF14CF39462F5A4DFB93BEA.jpg[/image]

moosestang -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/14/2008 5:40:22 AM)

I pulled my plugs at 10k miles.  Engine was cold, no penetrating oil, no problems.  I used my torque wrench to remove them and set it on 25 ft lbs.  I removed them again at 12,000 miles when I added the whipple and HTO's.  I had very little carbon build up after 10k miles. 

ski -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/14/2008 10:56:37 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mattsimonton

whats the problem?  I have never heard of anything happening with the plugs?  will they break or something?  I would like to know. 

Here's a video tutorial. Click on #26:
http://www.flatratetech.com/index.php?categoryid=4

racin4christ -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/14/2008 1:18:44 PM)

wow I never encountered this problem but I always pulled the plugs when the car was warm.  I had not even heard of this problem. I have changed my plugs 3 times. The first time I replaced the stocks @ 60,000 miles and put in HT1's and after 5,000 miles the car would stutter @ 5500 RPM's and above in 3rd and 4th gear no matter what I did.  I then replaced the plugs with stocks and the car ran perfect and felt like it picked up 20HP. I will never use the HT1's again.

Goldenpony -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/16/2008 2:19:00 PM)

Well, I'm screwed. Absolutely went by the letter of the TSB, did everything just as directed and the second plug broke off-in the worst way, the porcelain stayed in the lower part of the plug. I just threw in the towel, called AAA and had the POS trucked to the dealership where I bought it.

I am so  depressed right now I could just croak.  This car only has 38K miles (of course, 2 K past warranty) on the clock and God knows how much it will cost to fix it, and if it will ever be the same. This is the first car I ever ordered from the factory and was my retirement gift to myself.  At this point, I doubt I'll ever buy another Ford product. I wish to heaven I had taken it in to the dealer before the warranty expired-but I didn't.  If you have a Ford vehicle with the 3V heads, I would trade it before you need new plugs.  Good luck to you, brothers.

hammeron -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/16/2008 2:33:15 PM)

sorry to hear it pony....i hope the dealership
does a decent job for a decent price.

some day this will just be a bad memory and
you'll once again be enjoying the stang...

hang in there

ziperhead -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/16/2008 2:45:32 PM)

Hang in there Goldenpony. I bet the dealer gets the plug out .

I am wondering if the factory put nickel anti seize on or was this a after thought? I actually changed mine and did not being ignorant of the TSB. I am considering changing them again before they get loaded up. Only been 2k miles  .

Goldenpony -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/16/2008 2:53:59 PM)

Thanks guys.  I don't think the factory put anything on the plugs at assembly, didn't appear to be anything on the one plug I got out. I think the nickel anti-sieze is a response to this problem. Funny thing was, there wasn't even much carbon on the one plug I successfully got out.

I was chatting with the service advisor at the dealer. He expects, sometime down the road, a class action law suit over this. I hope the engineer that designed this head is now working at Subway.

Wilsonman02 -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/16/2008 4:08:31 PM)

How much does the dealer charge to change out plugs? Cause i'd rather pay a few extra bucks for them to do it then to risk breaking one off.

Goldenpony -> RE: Scary Plug Change (2/16/2008 4:13:39 PM)

The dealer quoted me $250 - $300, I assume that included the plugs which run about $100 a set.

  

Page: [1] 2 3 4 5   next >   >>

Return to Mustang Forums home page or view the Full Version of this page.