5.4 spark Plug questions

**scott5** · 02-12-2010, 12:56 PM

My 2002 F-150 def needs a tune up as im getting 9-10mpg.. I am going to be doing a full tune up here in the next few weeks.. But i am kinda weary with changing the plugs on this(it def needs it) with only the 4 thread hole as to hearing so many horror stories as them stripping out and so on and so forth. I called the Ford dealership and they said that if that would happen when THEY do it i am still responsible for the cost to fix it if anything goes wrong, which in my opinon is total BS, so i might as well just do it myself... Does anyone have any tips so none of the stripping of the threads happen? I just dont have the time to fix it if anything goes wrong due to my busy work scheldule so any help is much appreciated

Also im just getting motocraft plugs and plug wires or should i upgrade to something else? The only thing the truck has is a drop in k&n.

**jmw250r** · 02-12-2010, 01:00 PM

park the truck over night, make sure it's cool, and when your taking them out, go slow. about an 1/8 of a turn at a time. and put a little anti seize on the plugs when you put the new ones in. I've done about six sets, and haven't had a problem with stripped threads. I did the set on my dad's 99 5.4, pulled the original plugs at 220k, and was fine.

**32valve** · 02-23-2010, 10:19 PM

Make sure you have compressed air to blow out the spark plug holes and threads. Just about all the plugs we see blow out are after someone tuned it by them selves. Tightening the plugs against dirt and sand is not a good thing and where is most of the problem is from.... Just a tip.......