Why me god why?

[BlueExpedition]

so i went to change the plugs on the expy today and they felt like they were going to twist off. i called the dealership and the quoted me 525-700 dollars American for the job because they charge 1/2 hour labor on every plug that twists off in the head. so i try to change the fuel filter and it takes a special tool???? wtf? guess if my brother can't get his back i will go buy one? then since i put the e brake on to get under the truck my wife calls and says the brakes are squealing now........i give up..


FOR SALE:
gently used 2005 Ford Expedition XLT, Blue. Jk

 

[ghettoracer]

Im not sure how knowledgeable you are with auto mechanics but if you buy a kit called Time-Sert and supplies all the things you need to repair the spark plug hole. Basically, if you cant do it, you can take it to a good machine shop in your area, and have them install them for you. If you have the 5.4L 2V they provide a tool so when they are making new threads for the inserts, it will back the threads out so you dont have to take off the heads. I think the kits run around $150 on up for the complete kit, and the install costs around $200 or so. I prevents future blowouts and so forth. Good luck!

 

[ELVATO]

No, he has the 3V 5.4l V8, which means there is a change the plugs may break off in the head.

There is a TSB you have to follow if you want to lessen the change that they will break. It'd probably be good to get the Lisle tool, in case plugs do break.

How many miles do you have on the plugs? Hopefully not more than 100k...

 

[BlueExpedition]

93K miles. I did get the fuel filter changed today and let me tell you, i poured the "gas" out of the thing and it was nasty. it looked like brown water out of a rusty pipe with flakes in it. the wife took it on the highway today and got 130 miles to the first quarter* whereas we were getting around 100 miles to that first quarter.



* we fill the tank until the handle clicks off a few times so i am not certain how many gallons that is, but compared to all prior fill ups that is about 30 miles more to the same amount.

the mileage had really gone to hell and i know it needs plugs badly. driving backwards for 100' made the brake noise go away, i guess the Ebrake was the culprit. now for those damn plugs, i am NOT mechanically inclined so i dunno what i am gonna do, sure can't afford a G for the job.....

 

[ELVATO]

Call around. Ask different shops how much they charge per broken plug, and how many 3V 5.4L engines they've done. It may even end up being cheaper to call the dealer from a nearby city to see what their rates are.

 

[tonydiv]

Spray some PB Blaster in the plug holes and let it sit for a while, then warm up the motor and spray again. Repeat a few times over the course of a few days and your success rate will greatly improve.

Since the aluminium head expands at a faster rate than the steel spark plug, it will allow the blaster to get in and loosen up the carbon and crap that is holding in the plug.

My recent spark plug issues spurred a conversation with a tech friend of mine and he said that he has had very good results with this method.

 

[ELVATO]

I've heard some people have success with PB Blaster. Granted, the TSB calls for carb cleaner, I think.

 

[Lagonda66]

The PB Blaster or similar penatrant is a good suggestion. I had a Mitsubishi Montero I was trying to sell and the shop inspecting said the head would have to be removed since all the plugs were frozen.

After 3-4 days of using Kroil (another brand of penatrant) all the plugs came out without too much trouble.



Steve