05xlt5.4

Just wondering if anyone has seen something like this before. I have a 05 with the 5.4 triton and I know about the plugs breaking off and staying it the head but I had a different experience with my plugs today. I noticed the infamous 5.4 tick and thought it was just the cam phasers but yesterday I started to get a misfire on cylinder 6 and today I went to check it out and pulled the coil pack out and then noticed the plug was loose and not even hand tight in the cylinder. I just did the plugs 4K miles ago and coil packs 2k ago and both times a made sure the plugs where tight. Well I pulled plug 6 out today and the metal arch on the plug was gone and so was the electrode. So I stuck a small magnet on a stick in there and fished out the metal part that broke off. Then put a new plug in and everything back together and all is good. No more tick and no misfire so I assume the tick was from a not fully seated plug. But still confused on the metal arch on the plug breaking off and have never heard of this before. Anyone else seen something like this before?

redfishtd

If not you were lucky , Are these the new SP515 's.
My thing is to always use a torque wrench to finish tightening and use 25-28 foot pounds . Plus clean that hole out with carb cleaner ,you can damage a new plug with all that carbon build up on tip area . The carbon can interfere with the heat range of the plug also . If you do it right you don't need anti seize.
Going by feel on these engines is a problem, use a torque wrench and a proper rubber sparkplug socket to not crack new plugs . We hear many loose plug stories on here , guys wasting a lot of time chasing problem, stressing cats with misfires . Those cats are very expensive .
That blowby on loose plugs damages boots, cops and threatens the threads on heads, dumping fuel on cats .
I'm not in favor of doing 100k on plugs nor wholesale changing of cops .Change plugs and boots around 60k no matter what they look like , they are a heavy wear item .
The 5.4 3v is like a thoroughbred if you don't treat her just right shes not going to run long .
You would think with two points holding tips it would be impossible to happen . I've changed 100's of old style plugs and never had the tip break off . My 05 at 172k runs great after extensive timing job .

05xlt5.4

Yes they are the sp-515. I do know how to maintain my truck. I've got 309k on it right now and it still hasn't needed the timing looked at. I know all the problems with these motors I just wanted to know if anyone has seen something like this before.

digitaltrucker

https://www.f150forum.com/f72/how-sp...-3v-v8-116291/

05xlt5.4

I know how to change the plugs I've done it many times before I just want to know if anyone had seen a broken plug like mine before.

digitaltrucker

I m sure you do, I posted the wrong link there is a big post on this old subject. It is even mentioned in the link I gave.

to answer your question, yes if you have black boots, you and many others will have this issue. If you have brown boots, as I did on my 08 5.4, you are good to go!

good luck with a common known issue.

redfishtd

309 k is impressive especially if you are 18 like your profile says . No I haven't ever viewed a broken plug like that . We just added how some plugs get broken, usually the ceramic .
There's lots of nice guys on here trying to be helpful . Be one of them one day and give back . I'm 72 and still learning everyday .

05xlt5.4

Thanks for the help. I'm 22 I don't know why my profile says I'm 18. I've had this truck since I was 15 and it only had 100k when I got it from my dad and he owned it since new. So I have a service record from since it was new and I'm just surprised at how little this truck has needed.