(800) 853-2651
SHOP NOW

ford 5.4 plug change revisited

W

wilson ind

Well-known Member
Scheduled 200.00 plug change. Have miss pulling small grade just before transmission downshifts. Could be coil problem. Truck is 2008 250 HD, has 189,00 miles . Talked to previous owner. He had not changed plugs sense 100,00 miles. He traded because of good year on taxes as his accountant said either spend or give it to government. He did say he had considered going to dealer to buy back as extra truck. Over 3 thousand spent last year on tires front end rebuild complete verified by recites. Truck looks very good , no dents with only rust being cab corners, drives well except for the miss. It is not the luxury model as no electric windows, etc. I paid $ 7500.00 cash. In my opinion it was a good deal. First asking and window sticker was $9,900. I have known the dealer for over 50 years, therefor we both knew get down to the best price first. Reason I post this is follow up are important after asking your opinion!
 
Thanks for the update.

I think you'll do well with the truck. Our family has a home improvement company and have had several of those truck/engine combination from 2001 on. They were trouble free trucks for us except for the exhaust manifolds. On the 01 a few exhaust studs broke. On my '05, the manifold warped and pulled away from the heads. I changed both sides twice on that truck. That's also the one I replaced spark plugs on. My 08 I changed 1 set of manifolds. The only truck we never have changed manifolds or anything really is our 04 (and it's still going at 180some thousand miles). It is also the ONLY truck that had a 4.10 rear. Others all were 3.73. Our theory is the lower rear ratio let the truck work a little easier when towing and kept things cooler. We dont haul more than the trucks are rated for, but they do regularly pull trailers and all have tools and ladders hanging on them.

Anyway, my point is, I think you get the plugs changed and maybe coils and you'll be good to go.
 
Just to add to jig. Plugs and go with NGK IRIDIUM plugs. They are a one time deal. Night and day difference. Have them read the codes for coil packs. If one is out you want a Denso part. They are the best by me. Also the higher price one from NAPA is good.
 
Just read that sea foam will help remove some of the carbon build up before changing plugs. What effect if any would very high octane gasoline do to help in carbon removal? What about after driving considerable distance really opening it up . Back in the day a family member drove car only slow and around town,. Often I would take it out and drive much faster than the law would allow. Black smoke would bellow out. Then the engine would run much better, your opinions please?
 
I have a 2003 f150 with a 5.4, 180.000 miles. I had the plugs changed at 100.000. I don?t remember what brand plugs my mechanic installed but they were platinum plugs. I have not had a miss or any issues, knock on wood!
 

Misfires will be in mode $06 data and even in history in the main menu misfire history... It would pay to replace the coils on the cylinders that show an extreme amount of misfires...

If it were mine it would get a set of coils now with the spark plug change... If there is any good out of this coils have came down in price... The bad they will charge you a diagnostic fee to check misfires... Decline diagnostic use that money to buy 8 coils :wink:

Ford has added another way to diagnosis intermittent single misfires (the hard ones to catch) its call acceleration value of cylinder test its under the Absolute load PID it gives you the time the crank accelerates on each firing event... Cool :)
 
Went over to Ebay. Found Denso and NGK packs. They are about 1/2 price of local stores. Take your choice. Wouldn't buy any of those cheep ones. Long ago when they were hard to get and it was the early days of those engines, on Ebay you would see junk yards selling them out of junkers people were so desperate.
cvphoto20973.jpg


cvphoto20974.jpg
 
High octane fuel would theoretically add to the carbon buildup problem. Why? Because the higher the octane, the slower the combustion. Modern computer controlled engines are precisely timed and mixture precisely controlled for the optimum combustion using the fuel that they were designed for. Using a higher octane slower burning fuel upsets that balance and might contribute to further carbon buildup.

Running it hard will do more to help than anything that you can put in the fuel tank.
 
Saw a bumper sticker the other day. "Real trucks don't have spark plugs."

This thread and your previous one have been a real eye-opener for me, even though I don't own any Fords (aside from my tractor). But that's not to say I haven't had a few horror stories with my GM vehicles.
 
I wonder if dielectric grease on the coil boots would cure that miss. I have heard times it will.
 
FYI : Buy parts off ebay at your own risk. ( or anywhere for that matter )You do not know what you get ! I got one of those "good deals" on NGK laser iridium plugs. Well it wasn't long at all before I had issues. Ended up being the little disk on the electrode disappeared and I got misfires and ruined coils. Plugs sure look like the ones I removed but must of been counterfeit or seconds or something ? I put my originals back in and will run them until I have more issues. Then I'll likely buy local ones with a lifetime warranty.
 
Exactly! Because the coils will fire the plugs until they self distruct people don't change the plugs and its false economy. Instead of needing an $8 plug they need a plug and a $50 coil. I have owned 4 different 5.4 and 6.8 f-250s since 1999 and over 600K mikes between them all. Best advise I ever got was change the plugs at 40K miles, not at the recommended interval. All those miles and trucks I have purchased exactly 2 coils.
 
I just bought a Honda Element for trips to town where parking is limited and small places to maneuver. Was at 108k and plugs had never been changed. So as I went through the "change all the fluids" thing, I hit the plugs too...Had Iridium like my 2011 Silverado (with 100 mi. change interval). Runs regular E10 or less and no additives. Popped the plugs and and it was obvious by the dirt and grime on the outside of the plug that they were OEM installed. Popped all 4 and all the insulators were solid white, tab was totally intact, and the little center pin was still the correct gap, just had sharpened up slightly. Bought replacements on ebay for a super price.

As Jeffcat has advised, I use them in my lawn mowers along with premium fuel and the results are remarkable.
 
Ford had a real bad decade in late 90's early 2000's with pickups in that time period.

The V8 and it's spark plug problems and the V6 with the leaking intake.
Turned me off Fords since then.
I hear the ecoboost is not much better.

Hopefully my 2015 Ram with the Hemi will fair better.
 
The 250 has more room under the cowl area so it is a little easier job than the 150, but still not fun. I do many of these, about 50% of the plugs will break off no matter which hot trick you try if they are the skinny 2 piece type. The extractor tool has been 100% effective for me in getting the broken ones out. Online you can get 8 Motorcraft plugs and coils in the $130 range, so far I have no issues using these. I think your miss will be due to coils.
 
The trouble I have on Fords is they don't catch or count the misfires unless severe, even in Generic mode 6. GM system is much easier for finding misses. I was unaware of the Absolute Load value, going to have to look into that, is that available on an 06 ?
 
1 of my sons likes ford pickups, he carries 2 or 3 spare coils in the glove box along with a cheap code reader. His plugs get changed at 50000 miles. He runs e15 in it, keeps the carbon build up off the plugs. Still replaces coils at rest areas, along the highways, in parking lots, etc.
 
The longer you keep that ram the more you?re going to wish you had the Ford back. That?s if you had a Ford to begin with.
 
The trick to getting the plugs out without breaking is warm the engine to operating temp. Use a 3/8 impact take 4 plugs out and replace with new by hand. . Then warm engine again and repeat on the other side. Works every time ....
Champion makes a one piece replacement but I stopped using those because the electrodes burn up. Autolite has improved the design but still two piece plugs.
 

That is what some flatrate tech dreamed up to beat the book and NO it does not work every time...

I understand it and tried it, its a crock of bull... The only thing he is accomplishing is not wasting time snapping them off...
 
I have.....had Fords, and have had Dodges, about even numbers....they can have their Fords! Last go to town trucks: '84 Dodge 318 auto bought used, new '88 Ford 5 liter auto got the paint and engine problems fixed with the Ford recall...took several months to get the truck back, 98 Dodge 360 auto, 07 Ram 4.7 auto and added an 09 Hemi auto, all new trucks, currently running 11 Silverado auto because I didn't need more than one, things in my life changed, and the Silverado dealer was closest to my farm. Only thing my Chevy goes to the dealer for is annual inspections....everything works like it did when purchased.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Engines, Ford in particular
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
Texasmark1
T
J
Calling on some Ford 7.3 Diesel guys!!!
2
Replies
32
Views
4K
rockyridgefarm
rockyridgefarm
N
Glad I don't own a Deere.........RANT and a half
2 3
Replies
43
Views
7K
buickanddeere
B
Tractor Parts Tractor Manuals

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Copyright © 1997-2024 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters
Website Accessibility Policy

Back
Top