The door tag will give you the truck build date only not the motor. Motor build date is on the valve cover sticker, or you can tell by the COP colors. black=old brown=new

 

So I want Brown? What and where is a COP color?

 

I recommend michaelholt's post for a sticky.

 

So if it's a pre 10/09/07 engine, the issues are spark plug problems and/or what else? And thanks to all for your input and info.

 

recommend finding fordtechmakeuloco on YouTube, watch all his 5.4 3v videos. You can learn a lot, quickly.

Bigger concern (than plugs, imo) is the potential problems with the timing components.

 

I should change the "taste" for oils to "smell." You can certainly smell if the Transmission is smoked by its oil smell. Thank you for you suggestion.

 

Thanks. I'll check out the video

 

The newer build motor has up-dated VCT's phasers and spark plugs, not saying it's all never gonna break, just less likely. Key to the 5.4L 3v is maintenance and oil change.

 

Just make sure you buy it right
If you get it cheap enough, you can afford to put a motor in it, or fix what breaks
They ALL break, and the new ones break more often
You will not see a mechanic go over 3k on a oil change
Any vehicle ever. I change the oil in my Camaro every 1500 Conventional
My new Mercedes twice a year with the fancy Synthetic

 

Wow. That's frequent. I assume that's lower miles than Ford recommends, but I'll take your advice to heart.