I have a 2004 F-150 with the 4.6 V-8 modular engine. I'm fairly certain it has the 2 valve heads.It is the new for '04 body style, not a heritage. The spark plug ejection issue's with these engines I understood to be primarily with the 5.4's and the 4.6 up to 2003. Also with the 2004 up 4.6, 5.4 with the 3 valve heads. Is this accurate? Is this an issue I need to concern myself with?
All you Ford guys
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Originally Posted By: HM12460
I have a 2004 F-150 with the 4.6 V-8 modular engine. I'm fairly certain it has the 2 valve heads.It is the new for '04 body style, not a heritage. The spark plug ejection issue's with these engines I understood to be primarily with the 5.4's and the 4.6 up to 2003. Also with the 2004 up 4.6, 5.4 with the 3 valve heads. Is this accurate? Is this an issue I need to concern myself with?
The heritage was a 2v. In 04 ford did build some 3v trucks though but I don't know if they were on both the 4.6 and 5.4.
I have a pair of 2v Romeo heads from an 03 truck that I was going to put on my mustang before I bought the 4v for it and they are still the 3 thread heads. From what Overkill told me the revised 2v head was introduced in 03 however it must have been mid-year because the pair I have are not 9 thread heads.
When you change your plugs do it shortly after driving it. It will help the plugs come out easier. You don't need anti-seize on the plugs,from my experience if it somehow gets on the tip of the plug which is very easy to do since your basically installing them blind because of them being inside the head it causes a misfire and ruins the plug. The plugs already have the threads coated in nickel which means they are already anti-seized.
Now if I were you I'd go buy the longest life plug available when you do change the plugs to eliminate having to do them often. The less often they are done,the less chance of screwing up the threads.
I think you have a 3v though because iirc the heritage has 2v heads.
If you do have a problem and it spits a plug I have a pair of heads for you in really good shape. I would put inserts in every plug hole though before installing them though. That would eliminate any possibility of a problem in the future.
These engines are built 2 last. I've seen countless examples on site with over 400k on the engines and still pulling the trailers to work.
I was a thicker is better guy but honestly if you have an oil cooler stick with the 20 grade oil. If you have a consumption issue then go up a grade.
The 4.6 feels a bit underpowered in those trucks but they get decent mileage as far as trucks go anyways. And iirc peak torque is at 2500 rpm,which is really useful when using your truck as a truck.
Message me if you encounter an issue. I've got 4.6 parts everywhere.
I have a 2004 F-150 with the 4.6 V-8 modular engine. I'm fairly certain it has the 2 valve heads.It is the new for '04 body style, not a heritage. The spark plug ejection issue's with these engines I understood to be primarily with the 5.4's and the 4.6 up to 2003. Also with the 2004 up 4.6, 5.4 with the 3 valve heads. Is this accurate? Is this an issue I need to concern myself with?
The heritage was a 2v. In 04 ford did build some 3v trucks though but I don't know if they were on both the 4.6 and 5.4.
I have a pair of 2v Romeo heads from an 03 truck that I was going to put on my mustang before I bought the 4v for it and they are still the 3 thread heads. From what Overkill told me the revised 2v head was introduced in 03 however it must have been mid-year because the pair I have are not 9 thread heads.
When you change your plugs do it shortly after driving it. It will help the plugs come out easier. You don't need anti-seize on the plugs,from my experience if it somehow gets on the tip of the plug which is very easy to do since your basically installing them blind because of them being inside the head it causes a misfire and ruins the plug. The plugs already have the threads coated in nickel which means they are already anti-seized.
Now if I were you I'd go buy the longest life plug available when you do change the plugs to eliminate having to do them often. The less often they are done,the less chance of screwing up the threads.
I think you have a 3v though because iirc the heritage has 2v heads.
If you do have a problem and it spits a plug I have a pair of heads for you in really good shape. I would put inserts in every plug hole though before installing them though. That would eliminate any possibility of a problem in the future.
These engines are built 2 last. I've seen countless examples on site with over 400k on the engines and still pulling the trailers to work.
I was a thicker is better guy but honestly if you have an oil cooler stick with the 20 grade oil. If you have a consumption issue then go up a grade.
The 4.6 feels a bit underpowered in those trucks but they get decent mileage as far as trucks go anyways. And iirc peak torque is at 2500 rpm,which is really useful when using your truck as a truck.
Message me if you encounter an issue. I've got 4.6 parts everywhere.
It's a 2V. F-150s didn't get the 3V 4.6 until 2009. They did get the 3V 5.4 starting in 04 though.
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
It's a 2V. F-150s didn't get the 3V 4.6 until 2009. They did get the 3V 5.4 starting in 04 though.
Thank you. I wasn't sure when the 4.6 got a 3v head.
Do you know when the 2v became 9 thread for plugs?
Thanks
It's a 2V. F-150s didn't get the 3V 4.6 until 2009. They did get the 3V 5.4 starting in 04 though.
Thank you. I wasn't sure when the 4.6 got a 3v head.
Do you know when the 2v became 9 thread for plugs?
Thanks
Originally Posted By: ECUpirate
I don't think the F-150 got the 3 valve 4.6 until 2009. The Mustang got it first in 2005. The F-150 did get the 3v 5.4 in the 2005 model.
Kdoaxs is right. The 5.4 got a 3v in 04 not 05. The heritage was a 2v in both engine trims.
I don't think the F-150 got the 3 valve 4.6 until 2009. The Mustang got it first in 2005. The F-150 did get the 3v 5.4 in the 2005 model.
Kdoaxs is right. The 5.4 got a 3v in 04 not 05. The heritage was a 2v in both engine trims.
F-150s got the 3V 5.4 in 04, Super Duty didn't get the 3V engines (5.4 and V-10) until 05.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
It's a 2V. F-150s didn't get the 3V 4.6 until 2009. They did get the 3V 5.4 starting in 04 though.
Thank you. I wasn't sure when the 4.6 got a 3v head.
Do you know when the 2v became 9 thread for plugs?
Thanks
I believe sometime in 2003.
Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
It's a 2V. F-150s didn't get the 3V 4.6 until 2009. They did get the 3V 5.4 starting in 04 though.
Thank you. I wasn't sure when the 4.6 got a 3v head.
Do you know when the 2v became 9 thread for plugs?
Thanks
I believe sometime in 2003.
Gentlemen, thank you for your comments. Guess I'll keep the old toad.
The biggest issue that caused flying spark plugs was improper tightening. Many people insist they have a calibrated arm and "know" exactly how tight to make them without a torque wrench.
A lot of the vehicles with that issue were ex-police or taxi use and were worked on by monkeys who didn't care and either over-tightened, which damaged the threads, or under-tightened, which could allow the plug to work itself loose, especially on the older heads with only a few threads.
Tips:
1.) Change the plugs when the engine is cold.
2.) If you use anti-seize, use it very sparingly and reduce the setting on your torque wrench by 10%.
3.) Use a torque wrench.
A lot of the vehicles with that issue were ex-police or taxi use and were worked on by monkeys who didn't care and either over-tightened, which damaged the threads, or under-tightened, which could allow the plug to work itself loose, especially on the older heads with only a few threads.
Tips:
1.) Change the plugs when the engine is cold.
2.) If you use anti-seize, use it very sparingly and reduce the setting on your torque wrench by 10%.
3.) Use a torque wrench.
Originally Posted By: HM12460
I have a 2004 F-150 with the 4.6 V-8 modular engine. I'm fairly certain it has the 2 valve heads.It is the new for '04 body style, not a heritage. The spark plug ejection issue's with these engines I understood to be primarily with the 5.4's and the 4.6 up to 2003. Also with the 2004 up 4.6, 5.4 with the 3 valve heads. Is this accurate? Is this an issue I need to concern myself with?
This is really another case of "Internet Amplification". The overwhelming majority of these motors do not have many issues at all.
My son has had several Lincolns with the 4.6 as well as a Grand marquis and a CVPI. Not a one had the plug ejection issue ever in many miles of HARD driving. I think this is a great design, albeit a little weak in stock form as far as power.
My BIL claims this is purely the fault of the plug installer, and strongly recommends anti seize and a torque wrench as per above!
I have a 2004 F-150 with the 4.6 V-8 modular engine. I'm fairly certain it has the 2 valve heads.It is the new for '04 body style, not a heritage. The spark plug ejection issue's with these engines I understood to be primarily with the 5.4's and the 4.6 up to 2003. Also with the 2004 up 4.6, 5.4 with the 3 valve heads. Is this accurate? Is this an issue I need to concern myself with?
This is really another case of "Internet Amplification". The overwhelming majority of these motors do not have many issues at all.
My son has had several Lincolns with the 4.6 as well as a Grand marquis and a CVPI. Not a one had the plug ejection issue ever in many miles of HARD driving. I think this is a great design, albeit a little weak in stock form as far as power.
My BIL claims this is purely the fault of the plug installer, and strongly recommends anti seize and a torque wrench as per above!
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
The biggest issue that caused flying spark plugs was improper tightening. Many people insist they have a calibrated arm and "know" exactly how tight to make them without a torque wrench.
A lot of the vehicles with that issue were ex-police or taxi use and were worked on by monkeys who didn't care and either over-tightened, which damaged the threads, or under-tightened, which could allow the plug to work itself loose, especially on the older heads with only a few threads.
Tips:
1.) Change the plugs when the engine is cold.
2.) If you use anti-seize, use it very sparingly and reduce the setting on your torque wrench by 10%.
3.) Use a torque wrench.
I did all of the above and still launched #4 FWIW. They are a three thread hole. I'm guessing the threads got slightly galled when pulling the old plug out and this resulted in the failure. It now has the Lock-n-stitch full-thread insert in that hole.
The biggest issue that caused flying spark plugs was improper tightening. Many people insist they have a calibrated arm and "know" exactly how tight to make them without a torque wrench.
A lot of the vehicles with that issue were ex-police or taxi use and were worked on by monkeys who didn't care and either over-tightened, which damaged the threads, or under-tightened, which could allow the plug to work itself loose, especially on the older heads with only a few threads.
Tips:
1.) Change the plugs when the engine is cold.
2.) If you use anti-seize, use it very sparingly and reduce the setting on your torque wrench by 10%.
3.) Use a torque wrench.
I did all of the above and still launched #4 FWIW. They are a three thread hole. I'm guessing the threads got slightly galled when pulling the old plug out and this resulted in the failure. It now has the Lock-n-stitch full-thread insert in that hole.
Originally Posted By: OVERKILL
I did all of the above and still launched #4 FWIW. They are a three thread hole. I'm guessing the threads got slightly galled when pulling the old plug out and this resulted in the failure. It now has the Lock-n-stitch full-thread insert in that hole.
Did you use the old lower torque recommendation or the new 28 ft/lbs rec?
I did all of the above and still launched #4 FWIW. They are a three thread hole. I'm guessing the threads got slightly galled when pulling the old plug out and this resulted in the failure. It now has the Lock-n-stitch full-thread insert in that hole.
Did you use the old lower torque recommendation or the new 28 ft/lbs rec?
OVERKILL
$100 Site Donor 2021
Originally Posted By: msmoke00
Did you use the old lower torque recommendation or the new 28 ft/lbs rec?
Was the older rec, IIRC, like 15ft-lbs?
Did you use the old lower torque recommendation or the new 28 ft/lbs rec?
Was the older rec, IIRC, like 15ft-lbs?
Kestas
Staff member
Originally Posted By: RF Overlord
The biggest issue that caused flying spark plugs was improper tightening. Many people insist they have a calibrated arm and "know" exactly how tight to make them without a torque wrench.
A lot of the vehicles with that issue were ex-police or taxi use and were worked on by monkeys who didn't care and either over-tightened, which damaged the threads, or under-tightened, which could allow the plug to work itself loose, especially on the older heads with only a few threads.
Actually, the problem was the few threads engaging the spark plug allowed a number of spark plug threads to extend into the chamber. These threads collected carbon when the engine was operated. When the mechanic removed these plugs, the carbon damaged the aluminum threads in the head. New plugs were installed in compromised holes that barely held the plug. With use, these new spark plugs popped out from combustion pressures.
The biggest issue that caused flying spark plugs was improper tightening. Many people insist they have a calibrated arm and "know" exactly how tight to make them without a torque wrench.
A lot of the vehicles with that issue were ex-police or taxi use and were worked on by monkeys who didn't care and either over-tightened, which damaged the threads, or under-tightened, which could allow the plug to work itself loose, especially on the older heads with only a few threads.
Actually, the problem was the few threads engaging the spark plug allowed a number of spark plug threads to extend into the chamber. These threads collected carbon when the engine was operated. When the mechanic removed these plugs, the carbon damaged the aluminum threads in the head. New plugs were installed in compromised holes that barely held the plug. With use, these new spark plugs popped out from combustion pressures.
Originally Posted By: msmoke00
Did you use the old lower torque recommendation or the new 28 ft/lbs rec?
What new 28 ft/lb rec? First time I've heard of this...
Did you use the old lower torque recommendation or the new 28 ft/lbs rec?
What new 28 ft/lb rec? First time I've heard of this...
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