F150 Triton 3 valve motor. R u kidding me??

[Gibson90]

So, I'll start by saying I've always been a ford fan (I've owned 3 prior to my 2007 F150) but my F150 may be the last. The Triton 3v motors are known for breaking plugs upon removal due to carbon build up. Wtf? They are supposed to be 100 mile plugs, but decided to change mine early at 68k miles. Even with doing this and doing HOURS of research on the best way to do it 3 of the 8 broke (according to many I'm lucky). This is absurdly ridiculous!!!! When Lisle makes a tool (for $100) specifically designed to remove the broken plugs from the triton motor something is wrong with the plug/motor design. 7 hours later the plug job is done. I'll be sending the broken plugs back to Dearbon, MI in the morning with a nice letter explaining how Ford lost a loyal long term Ford fan/buyer today. Anyone else have a similar story? Curious how others made out on changing theirs. Local ford dealer wanted over $1000 to do the plugs. Crazy!

 

[SaintsNSinners]

I always seafoam before I do a tune up... it cleans everything out nicely

 

[Naptown]

06 e150 with the same issue. Bought a transit since then and relatively happy with it.

 

[Gibson90]

Believe in seafoam too. Ran it through a full tank right before the plug job. Run seafoam through r boat as well. That stuff works great.

 

[RyanV]

I read that about my truck before I tried changing them out and got real nervous, used some lucas oil engine cleaning products and was real careful. Worked like a charm!

 

[Bennettjh]

I've heard about those plugs from a mechanic friend, he hates them.

 

[Gibson90]

Since I keep my vehicles until the wheels fall off I decided to opt for the more pricey one piece plugs in hopes that I won't have to go through this headache again.

 

[Leo]

Is that only on the three valve engine? I changed all the plugs from my (two valve) 110,000 mile Mercury and they all screwed out. A few were a little tight but I sprayed penetrating oil around them before I forced anything and it went well. I have a 90,000 mile car that I am afraid to touch because I keep hearing about bad experiences.

 

[Gibson90]

Just the triton 3v motor. I tried a couple different ways since some said do it hot and others said do them cold. The few I tried cold broke. The ones I did at operating temp with soaking in wd40 for 15 to 30 minutes came out (excruciatingly slowly) in tact .

 

[churchmouse]

We did my buddys truck. Did the clean up procedure and did the plugs when the motor was hot. Very hot. They all came right out but it was damned uncomfortable.

 

[churchmouse]

Just the triton 3v motor. I tried a couple different ways since some said do it hot and others said do them cold. The few I tried cold broke. The ones I did at operating temp with soaking in wd40 for 15 to 30 minutes came out (excruciatingly slowly) in tact .

In what train of thought would anyone think a cold engine will release easier than a hot one. Nuts.

 

[Gibson90]

I took the advice of a mechanic and took the ECM off along with the bracket to gain much better access to the two back plugs on the passenger side of the motor.

 

[Gibson90]

Very true churchmouse , but thought it was worth a try based on the research I gathered from "professional mechanics."

 

[SaintsNSinners]

Seafoam and heat.... thats the way to go...

 

[chezuki]

Seafoam and heat.... thats the way to go...

The vacuum line method kicks the hell out of the slow fuel additive method, plus you get to fog the neighborhood.

 

[DogBone]

Took my Ford van to my mechanic for something not related. It has about 90k miles. He said to sell the van because of the high probability the plugs will break off. If one or more break, they are not always successful in extracting the broken part from the head. When that happens it is faster to lift the body off the chassis than pull the heads through the inside of the van. Fricking crazy to have a plug change cost over $1000.
Brought to you by the minds that canceled the Taurus and the Ranger. BTW, the full size van has been canceled too. They are going to an oversize Transit Connect looking thing from Europe.

 

[SaintsNSinners]

I just realized 1 of my plugs is cost of all 8 of the 3v plugs he is whinning about

 

[gunman41mag]

What's a spark plug ??? I've been driving diesel trucks since 2001

 

[Papa]

I believe my neighbor had this issues. He just went to autozone and rented the special removal tool you spoke of.

 

[hfdcowboy]

Be very careful! Pulling a spark plug out of a hot aluminum head is risky. The threads often come out with the plug. If memory serves me correctly Ford's TSB tells you to fill the spark plug tube with carb cleaner, and let it sit overnight before plug removal.