Help!!! 5.4 triton: Spark plug ground strap in cylinder
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Help!!! 5.4 triton: Spark plug ground strap in cylinder
SO, cylinder 2 was misfiring, so I changed the plug yesterday using the Lisle removal tool. Problem is, I noticed a nice piece of the old plug's ground strap was missing, and probably inside the cylinder. I made a small effort to vacuum out the plug hole in hopes it would get sucked up, but I'm guessing it's trapped in penetrator and oil in the cylinder. I hoped it would just get blown out the exhaust valve. I put in the new plug, and all was well for a 5 mile test drive. Later, when I went to use the truck, immediately it's misfiring again and acting up. What should I do? and what damage could have been done??? I'm freaking out here!
#2
05 5.4l 3v s.crew lariat
What kind of plug was it MC?
Burning up plugs its caused by blowby . Failure to torque plugs in 25 to 28 foot pounds . Take a look at new plug is it damaged ? doubtful this was caused by piece . plugs are very fussy on this engine ,must be done just right . New plugs are sp546 . 515's bad out of box . Best to clean carbon out of spark hole with carb cleaner . Anti seize can cause lots of problems . So can dielectric grease and dirt . Dielectric grease is an insulator not to be on metal contacts . All plugs should be done and new boots installed . Cop contacts should be cleaned .
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Rydobo (03-17-2018)
#3
Junior Member
Thread Starter
I believe it was a MC plug. It is a Ford plug straight from the dealership across the street. (I work at an MB dealer and we hook each other up with parts at cost). I guess I did a few things wrong. I didn't properly torque it, I just smeared dielectric grease up in the boot, and over the contact, and the anti-seize could be another culprit. I'll pull it again today, and start over. I'm still worried about the original plug strap metal in there, but it did run just fine for the 5 mile test drive. Thanks for the info.
#4
Mark
iTrader: (1)
No need for any anti seize on a SP 546.. replace the boot and spring.. just a dab of dielectric grease in each boot end to help seal out moisture.. I use a Q-tip to smear it on the inside on the boot ends. Clean out the plug well with carb cleaner..let evaporate. Clean the COP contact where the spring meets it.. a soft board nail file works awesome for this.torque the plug and be careful not to bang on the porcelain... how many miles on these plugs/boots an springs ? Why you just doing 1 ?
Last edited by techrep; 03-17-2018 at 02:51 PM.
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Rydobo (03-18-2018)
#5
Senior Member
A cylinder pressure measurement (aka compression check) might show something. You can check the plug for damage while it's out too.
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Rydobo (03-18-2018)
#6
Mark
iTrader: (1)
The strap burns off .. unless something came up and smacked it..
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Rydobo (03-18-2018)
#7
Senior Member
I see. I assumed that he knew it had broken off while he was removing the plug. The plug would tell the story, clean break or burned off.
Also, odd that just one would show that. I just replaced my plugs, in a V6, and they were all evenly burned down, three on the center electrode and three on the ground strap. They do get burned down, that's for sure.
Also, odd that just one would show that. I just replaced my plugs, in a V6, and they were all evenly burned down, three on the center electrode and three on the ground strap. They do get burned down, that's for sure.
Last edited by BareBonesXL; 03-17-2018 at 03:37 PM.
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Rydobo (03-18-2018)
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#8
Junior Member
Thread Starter
No need for any anti seize on a SP 546.. replace the boot and spring.. just a dab of dielectric grease in each boot end to help seal out moisture.. I use a Q-tip to smear it on the inside on the boot ends. Clean out the plug well with carb cleaner..let evaporate. Clean the COP contact where the spring meets it.. a soft board nail file works awesome for this.torque the plug and be careful not to bang on the porcelain... how many miles on these plugs/boots an springs ? Why you just doing 1 ?
I see. I assumed that he knew it had broken off while he was removing the plug. The plug would tell the story, clean break or burned off.
Also, odd that just one would show that. I just replaced my plugs, in a V6, and they were all evenly burned down, three on the center electrode and three on the ground strap. They do get burned down, that's for sure.
Also, odd that just one would show that. I just replaced my plugs, in a V6, and they were all evenly burned down, three on the center electrode and three on the ground strap. They do get burned down, that's for sure.
#9
Mark
iTrader: (1)
Got ya... good luck and let us know what you find.
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Rydobo (03-18-2018)
#10
Junior Member
Thread Starter
All the help is very much appreciated
All the help and different ideas is very much appreciated. I enjoy doing my own work, but I'm no mechanic. The best part of the process is learning new things. So thank you all!