Triton engine owners - have you actually had spark plug problems?

[MrNoodly]

So, the rap against Ford's Triton engines is that the spark plug threads on some years were inadequate, and that on other years the plugs would sieze in the engine and snap off when you tried to change them. That's something to worry about when your van is your home — <em><strong>IF</strong></em> it's likely to happen. There are a crapload of Triton engined Fords out there, so it makes me wonder how often there are <strong><em>actual</em></strong> problems. Sure, the people who had problems are most likely to complain on the various Ford owner forums. But do they represent only a tiny minority.<br><br>(Insert someone's tangental praise for Ford's 300CI straight 6. Yeah, okay, moving on...)<br><br>Ford says to change the spark plugs at 100k miles. The vans most of us are shopping for have more miles than that. So, does that mean the plugs have been changed on those vans and we're good to go — for a while? Or does it mean they never bothered changing the plugs because, A) they're careless about maintenance; or B) there had been no need?<br><br>I've avoided shopping for Fords because of this problem. The pre-Triton vans I've seen have been beaten to death in other ways. But there are twice as many Fords on the market as Chevy/GMC. (And the Dodges all look like they've been reimported from third world countries.) They're also demanding higher prices for comparable Chevy/GMC vans. Is that because they don't have the Triton engine problem to worry about?<br><br>What has been your experience, Ford owners?

 

[idn88]

This is an interesting site, as it lists personal owners complaints as well as recalls, etc:<br><br>http://www.fordproblems.com/problems/spark-plug-ejected-from-engine.shtml<br><br>So, its&nbsp;obviously&nbsp;an issue, however it seems it may be repairable with a heli-coil. &nbsp;I had a 2002 4.6 I sold a while back, and never had this problem (although it burnt up a valve for no reason at 100K - which I thought was too early) but after that it made it to almost 200K when I sold it. &nbsp;Since just about every ford truck, van and cop car has this engine, I wonder the statisctial significance of this issue as well.

 

[MrNoodly]

I think I'm going to talk to some service managers.

 

[ZOFCHAK]

&nbsp;&nbsp; I have a 2004 E-350 with the 5.4 Triton. From what I have been told the issue was corrected in the 2004 model year and later, and I have had zero issues.&nbsp;&nbsp; I purchased the van with about 120K miles on it and it now has about 145k.&nbsp; I did change the plugs when I purchased it and they were a bit worn, but came right out (Total relief after reading all the horror stories online).&nbsp;

 

[MrNoodly]

The way I understand it, the bad threads/blowing out spark plugs issue was corrected, but that led to the spark plugs snapping off problem -- like they overcorrected. Too loose to too tight.<br><br>A guy I talked to that resells both Ford and Chevy vans said something about a guy he knows that fixes the Ford problem and offers a warranty. I didn't listen closely because I was more interested in the extended Chevy he had. He also said that the ball joints on Fords don't last as long as Chevys.&nbsp;It was an odd bit of info to offer up out of the blue, considering half his inventory is Fords. Some people are brand loyal and have all sorts of critiques of other brands. It's hard to get unbiased info.

 

[MrNoodly]

I did change the plugs when I purchased it...

<br><br>If I were to get a Triton engined Ford, I suppose I could have a dealer put in new plugs right away. If a plug or plugs broke, they'd have the tools to deal with it. Better to take care of it before heading out on the road. I would need to worry about the plugs for another 100k miles.

 

[blkjak]

<span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>i have a 2005 van and went from two piece plugs to one piece at 90,000 miles ....</strong></span><br><br><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>the aluminum engine heads need to be at a certain temperature range to extract by dealer ....</strong></span><br><br><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>it i to my understanding that would would have to replace the head if plug was snapped ....</strong></span><br><br><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>blkjak ....</strong></span>

 

[MrNoodly]

From Wikipedia:<br><br><h2 style="background-image: none; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 0.6em; overflow: hidden; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0.17em; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-color: #aaaaaa; font-size: 19.09090805053711px; font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; text-shadow: none;"><span id="Spark_plug_issues" class="mw-headline" style="text-shadow: none; color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Spark plug issues</span></h2><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-shadow: none;"><span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">2-valve 4.6&nbsp;L, 5.4&nbsp;L, and 6.8&nbsp;L engines found in many 1997–2008 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles have an issue with stripped or missing spark plug threads in the cylinder heads. Ford acknowledges this issue in TSB 07-21-2 as well as earlier TSBs. Ford's TSB does not state that this issue is caused by owner neglect. Ford's only authorized repair procedure for out-of-warranty vehicles is to use the LOCK-N-STITCH aluminum insert and tool kit. For vehicles under the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, Ford will only cover the replacement of the entire cylinder head; however, the Ford recommended spark plug service interval extends beyond the duration of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.<sup id="cite_ref-57" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; text-shadow: none;"><a style="text-decoration: none; color: #0b0080; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; text-shadow: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_modular_engine#cite_note-57" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;"><span style="text-shadow: none;">[</span>57<span style="text-shadow: none;">]</span></span></a></sup></span></p><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-shadow: none;"><span style="color: #003366; font-family: 'times new roman', times;">3-valve 5.4&nbsp;L and 6.8&nbsp;L engines built before 10/9/07 and 3-valve 4.6&nbsp;Ls built before 11/30/07 found in many 2004–2008 Ford, Lincoln, and Mercury vehicles have an issue with difficult to remove spark plugs which can cause part of the spark plug to become seized in the cylinder head. The source of the problem is a unique plug design that is made with a 2-piece shell, which often separates, leaving the lower portion of the spark plug stuck deep in the engine. Ford acknowledges this issue in TSB 08-7-6 as well as earlier TSBs. Ford's TSB does not state that this issue is caused by owner neglect. The TSB provides a special procedure for spark plug removal on these engines. For situations where the spark plug has broken in the head, Ford distributes multiple special tools for removing the seized portion of the plug. The multiple procedures required for the different cases/situations of plugs seized in these engines are explained in the TSB. This repair is covered for vehicles under warranty; however, the Ford recommended spark plug service interval extends beyond the duration of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.<sup id="cite_ref-58" class="reference" style="line-height: 1em; text-shadow: none;"><a style="text-decoration: none; color: #0b0080; background-image: none; white-space: nowrap; text-shadow: none; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_modular_engine#cite_note-58" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: #003366;"><span style="text-shadow: none;">[</span>58<span style="text-shadow: none;">]</span></span></a></sup></span></p><p style="margin: 0.4em 0px 0.5em; line-height: 19.190340042114258px; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 12.727272033691406px; text-shadow: none;"><span style="color: #003366;"><span style="font-family: 'times new roman', times;">Federal-Mogul, parent company of Champion Spark Plug, and Brisk Silver Racing have introduced a 1-piece machined shell 3-valve spark plugs that addresses the OEM 2-piece spark plug's separation issues.</span><br><br><span style="color: #000000;">Since E-Series vans use 2-valve heads instead of 3, the problem should only be with the "stripped or missing" threads, not the broken spark plugs. That's encouraging. But I know nothing about the LOCK-N-STITCH aluminum inserts. Is that like Helicoil? Anyone know?</span></span></p>

 

[jeremy33]

I have a 2002 f350 with the 5.4 and many of my friends own fords. My truck has 223,000km on it and still runs perfect. from what i gather pre 2002 5.4's can sometimes blow the plug from the head resulting in stripping the threads you can buy heli coils for this problem. 2002 and up have the long new 2 piece plugs the problen with these is because there longer 1/4 inch of the threads of the plug thats in the head get gumed up and coroded in the head which inturns breaks the plug. any part store will sell you the tool to remove the broken plug so youwont have a problem with the tool on hand. with all that said even with fords stupid problems i wouldnt own anything else imho

 

[Cubey]

From April 2006 to February 2008 I had a 97 E150 conversion with the 4.6L Triton. Had no problems with the ignition system. Only slightly thing major it needed was a coolant intake line sprung a leak. $300 fix for parts and labor. Pretty cheap for a van that took a lot of labor to get apart for the repair.<br><br>I had a 99 F150 with the same engine from about Sept 2010 to early 2012 and it had no problems at all besides the idle air control was going out. It wouldn't start sometimes. I had to bang the IAC lightly with a wrench and try again and it would crank right up.<br><br>Both had around 120k miles on them when I sold them and they both ran like champs. I was simply changing my daily driver at the times.

 

[joshua33]

I started out looking for a 300/6 because we had a few in the family that rusted away around drivetrains that still ran strong w/over 300k...&nbsp; and I also read neg. posts about the plug issues but looked all over and found the best deal had a 5.4 ... I then looked for positive articles and saw things like bullet proof, 3-500k miles, great motor, used (no problem) in major fleets.. etc.. so I'm thinking now I'm already in the game and now&nbsp;it would be better to think positive...&nbsp; but the suggestion about making sure the plugs are updated B4 going on the road&nbsp;sounds like a good idea..&nbsp; <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[Tykster]

I have a 2000 Ford Expedition 5.4 Triton, no seizures here... I did have them replaced at around the 100k mark though.<BR><BR>

 

[joshua33]

..soundsgood2me<img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">

 

[ZOFCHAK]

Three days ago while my mechanic was installing new sway bar and end link bushings on the minivan I asked him about the triton. He told me that anything can go wrong with any engine but the triton is junk and not to buy a ford unless I can get away from the triton, like a diesel instead. There are&nbsp;literally thousands of bad triton reviews on the internet if you do a search into different sites.

<br><br>&nbsp; My guess is that your mechanic is just a "Chevy guy." <img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; There might be 1000's of bad reviews on the Triton engines, but there are literally millions of them on the road.&nbsp;&nbsp; I know there are many expeditors that have put 400k plus miles on the 5.4 liter V8's.

 

[joshua33]

.. not sure what to say, maybe I won't waste $$ tinting the windows.. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> &nbsp;but I'm in the game already and have to believe the best.. I prefered a 300/6 but found a conversion van at a good price and had it brought to a mechanic who said it was solid.. had tires, Rad/therm, brakes.. 'n a few other things updated, I will probably only need it to roll&nbsp;for 2.500 miles before I buy land in N. FL, so I'll stay on the fence concerning what others should buy <img src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle">&nbsp;&nbsp; ..below is the 1st thread I clicked on a few minutes ago.. interesting.<br><br><br><a href="http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=164257" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.ifish.net/board/showthread.php?t=164257</a>

 

[joshua33]

<a href="http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159880" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.walleyecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159880</a>

 

[joshua33]

Great Vid, Thanks Open <img class="bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/wink.gif" rel="lightbox">

 

[Stargazer]

So...so far, nobody here has posted that they have experienced this problem themselves. Certainly, Ford wouldn't have published the problem if it didn't exist. Maybe we're all lucky?

 

[LFM]

Last week number seven cylinder blown&nbsp;spark plug. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/eek.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">&nbsp;This is my fifth E350 with over a million miles total. It happened in my 2002 E350 5.4 with about 220,000 miles.&nbsp;Apparently I is was getting warning signs,&nbsp;occasionally the engine would have a skip like a&nbsp;coil pack&nbsp;going out.&nbsp;I had never heard of the problem&nbsp;until I seen it on another thread.&nbsp;Called&nbsp;my local Ford dealer, service manger says no big deal we repair them all the time. $350 and 2.5 hours of my time. Looks like my luck run out.