Plugs are done!

[Stoned06]

After getting stuck last night since I needed a 15/16 deep socket for the broken plug extractor, I headed out to the auto parts store to get what I needed. Approximately 3 1/2 to 4 hours later, I am done. Nearly every wire/connector needed to be undone on the passneger side of the engine, including removing the PCM and the bracket to reach #4. Once everything was out of the way, it wasn't too bad to reach everything since I had a bunch of extensions.
The crappy part was that 6 of the 8 plugs broke. It didn't matter how often I backed up the ratchet, the porcelain just all of a sudden let go even though I wasn't applying that much force (lower than the 30 lb/ft they recommend). The extractor tool worked flawlessly. I used the Lisle tool I got off of Amazon, and had no problems with it whatsoever. The best part was that the 2 hardest plugs to reach (#4 and #8) were the ones that din't break. Thank God #4 didn't break since there is very little room to work back there. Just glad to get these done and out of the way. BTW, I had 84K on the original plugs (except #8 which I replaced 2 years ago).

 

[Stoned06]

 

[ELVATO]

Yea, moving the PCM out of the way def helps with room. Sucks 6 of them broke, but at least you were prepared with the tool and were able to get it done

 

[GAINMOB]

good stuff stone...good stuff

 

[Blaqjak21]

Good stuff. Glad you got it done. Luckily I had the dealer replace all mine + coils on their bill. next go round will prob be me

 

[Whack]

Congrats!

I thought I was unlucky with 3 breaking... And then messing around for an hour trying to find a misfire. Stupid loose Coil!

 

[Stoned06]

Congrats!

I thought I was unlucky with 3 breaking... And then messing around for an hour trying to find a misfire. Stupid loose Coil!

I had a misfire after I was done too. As I was checking the seating of the coils, I noticed I had forgot to plug the electrical connector back on the #2 coil.

 

[bring_em_on]

Just out of curiosity, how often do you change your oil and what type of oil do you use? Reason I'm asking is I've completely replaced all of mine and recently had to replace one that fouled out. I didn't have any broken plugs and at the time, I wasn't aware of the broken plug issue so I didn't do anything special while removing them (i.e. penetrating oil, slowly backing out plugs 1/8 - 1/4 turn at a time). I use strictly synthetic oils (mobil-1 EP) at every 5-6k miles. I'm wondering if using full syn oil at that interval will eliminate (or minimize) carbon buildup?

 

[Stoned06]

Oil is changed every 5K miles at the dealer, so it's not synthetic. Is yours a 3V? If so, you got lucky none broke. When I changed #8 a couple of years ago, it didn't break and I didn't do anything special prior to removal. If it had broken, I would not have been prepared for what to do next.
Curious as whether synthetic oil has any effect also. Anyone else experience this?

 

[bring_em_on]

Oil is changed every 5K miles at the dealer, so it's not synthetic. Is yours a 3V? If so, you got lucky none broke. When I changed #8 a couple of years ago, it didn't break and I didn't do anything special prior to removal. If it had broken, I would not have been prepared for what to do next.
Curious as whether synthetic oil has any effect also. Anyone else experience this?

Yep, it's a 2005 5.4 3V. It had about 110K on the first set of plugs (I do not recall seeing any noticeable carbon buildup on them). My number 4 COP went bad the other day and I replaced it and the plug and it also came out with no problems. The 1st set I replaced were definitely the original Motorcrafts and the one I replaced the other day was an Autolite HT1.

 

[Whack]

Our issue is the 3V 5.4 spark plug design is easily affected by the normal build up. It assists in wedging the lower spark plug piece in the head, leading to a broke plug.

If you've ever seen a gasoline fire, you'll know that it can produce carbon soot. In an engine there can be a bit better combustion, but over the miles carbon can still build up.

Oil can be a small part of this as well, but this is normally part of the tiny amount of oil that makes it past the rings or oil vapor that is sucked in via the PCV system.

If you have large quantities of oil getting past the piston rings and valve seals (things that could leak oil), you can more carbon build up. This often is a oily soot lining the entire combustion chamber.

From the 5.4l heads I've messed with that were in good shape and from engines that were given good maintenance, carbon build up is unaffected by using either Dino, Semi-syn, and Full Synthetic oil.

Bottom line: Dino vs Syn will do nothing for our plugs in a properly functioning Modular V8

Sludge outside the combustion chamber is another topic...

 

[aliusa]

good job