On 12/09/2016 10:11 AM, Donald Snook via Mercedes wrote:
Mitch wrote: "100,000 mile spark plugs that want to take the threads with them
when you finally remove them?
Or was that a different engine?"
Rick wrote:
"Google Ford 5.4 Spark Plug removal."
Peter wrote:
"Check the tranny. If it hasn't been rebuilt it's due."
Thanks for the info. I knew about the ignition coil issues on the 5.4L. But,
I didn't know about seized plugs. It seems like just about all vehicles with
ignition coils will need them replaced at some point at least once they get
enough miles on them. My thinking on it is it is a trade off compared with
replacing plugs, wires, distributor caps, etc. like we all used to have to do
every 15-30,000 miles on older cars. I am wondering how to check this. I
guess I could bring some tools and try to try to remove one of the plugs.
And/or see if the seller has service records showing the plugs were replaced
already. Hopefully with 180K they are not original. Even if they were changed
at 100,000 miles, they would need to be done soon. But, that's not a huge
issue. Now, Peter's warning about the transmission has me concerned. I
didn't know these had transmission issues.
I had a 2001 Expedition previously and it was a great vehicle. In fact, my
wife pretty much claimed it when I brought it home. It had almost 180,000
miles on it when I sold it. I never had any problems with it, except I had to
replace the fuel pump. I learned later the fuel pump was a weakness on these
vehicles and my wife was bad about running it pretty low.
Don Snook
2001 BMW 740iL M Sport 131K miles (for sale soon)
2000 BMW 740iL 227K
1992 Ford F-150 148K (possibly for sale soon)
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A bit of a different beast, but I had an 02 F150 Supercrew with the
earlier 5.4 motor that was prone to spitting out spark plugs. My son has
it now with about 211K miles on it and the motor and transmission are
fine so far. We have not had failure of the spark plug threads to date.
I did go through a time when I replaced several COP's but I don't
believe Tom has replaced any more during the last couple of years. I
suppose heat down south might be an issue for the transmission but we
have not had issues to date. I bought the truck with about 90K miles on
it so no idea of its early history really. I changed the trans oil and
filter once and Tom has done it once since he got it 3 years ago. Should
do it again.
The newer versions of the 5.4 had the issues with the long reach spark
plugs coming apart when trying to remove them but there are specialty
tools for removing the piece if that happens. I am not sure I know
enough about the later 5.4 engines to go much further but if I recall
correctly, they have the variable valve timing and if the oil has not
been changed regularely and that mechanism wears out, it is expensive
to fix.
However, the later 5.4 makes more power than the earlier ones.
I have the 5.0 coyote engine in the replacement SC and I like it. More
power etc. I got it with about 7K miles on it and I have been running
Mobil1 so hopefully, it will endure as it looks to be a complex engine too.
RB
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