I have a 2006 GT and have experienced the nightmare of breaking the plugs, while trying to extract them, at 40,000 miles. I'm now considering purchasing a 2013 and would like to know if Ford has resolved the spark plug issue?

 

I think it was an issue with the spark plugs not the engine, like they used a bad brand, that broke...

 

The 3V 4.6L heads were redesigned in Dec 07 for new 1 piece plugs.

Since 2011 the V8 is the 5.0. Completely different engine. lol

 

Welcome to the forum! Get ready for a beating. A little research could have answered your uninformed question...

 

Yeah both deserve a beating.

 

:Rofl: didn't notice he said that! Come on cpotts!

 

-_- lol.

 

I thought the brand of spark plugs they used broke because they weren't good... and that the newer 2 piece ones didn't break!

 

...

 

Shed some light on this for me!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cpotts13

I thought the brand of spark plugs they used broke because they weren't good... and that the newer 2 piece ones didn't break!

Nope - the two piece would carbon up at the sleeve where the electrode shaft emerges and in the resulting gap between the lower shaft and the head itself. Very poor design.

The one piece solved the problem but the heads had to be redesigned for them. Notice the longer threads all the way to the electrode like a typical plug.


Old 2 piece on R. Notice the long reach beyond the threads into the 3V head. They were funky.

 

Ohh... so that's a problem he will always have?

 

His 06 GT? Yes - if you wait too long. Most guys that broke them had a lot of miles before changing them and just started wrenching them out. But if you change them routinely and follow the tsb you shouldn't have any issues. The tsb works. There are several good experiences in a number of threads here.

But for buying a used 4.6L, I'd prefer one built after Dec 07 with the redesign IMO.

 

+1

 

This is some good info for the op!! And now i know something new.... lol

 

A mmeber on another forum told me when taking his S197 in for a plug change all plugs on one side broke off. The other side twisted and popped right out. This could have to do with 2 different techs assembling the spark plugs at the factory. IE one tech on tr line tightens one side and another "newb" tech over tightens the crap out of the other side. For argument sake, chalk it up to the faulty 2 piece design of Ford OEM! The alternator in my 07 went out at 48,000 miles. I didn't have anything aftermarket such as stereos etc in my car. I didn't even have a shaker system either. Some of the parts on these S197's were total CRAP! Unfortunately the 2 piece plugs were a part of that.

 

so what is the best way to remove them? I have a 06 gt with 80k miles and need to replace

 

From what I have read, you use A LOT of carb cleaner. Turn the plug very slowly until it barely creeks and stop, hose down with carb cleaner.. Wait somewhere around 45 mins or so and then to back and turn very very slowly until you hear the creeeeek sound again and stop, more carb cleaner an repeat. It can literally take you all day to do it. Or you can take it into Ford and have them rape you for a days worth of labor. Slow and steady with carb cleaner should have you back on track. Like I said though, I have read other people do it, I haven't done it myself.. yet.

Hit up TexasBoneKing, he works for Ford OEM and can give you a step in the right direction... If he isn't working on his Honda of course.

 

I didn't know any of this! Good to know in case I run across a "killer deal" on a 4.6.

 

Head on over to the F150 forum (sister forum of this site). There's a 30 page sticky on the broken spark plug issue. It was specific to the early 5.4's on the F150's. Folks have suggested everything to assist in getting them out, even suggested throwing chicken bones in the air and chanting while circling around the truck. Don't know if it works for the 4.6, but there's a "Lesle" (spelling?) tool that's used to remove the broken bottom of the plug when they break.