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good feedback sage393.great thanks to Big screen D for starting ball rolling
This may save guys using the out of the box failure sp515's. Some guys have gone thru hell trying to figure it out as we witnessed their struggle . I avoided this by staying with champions after my initial original plug horror story . I almost jumped back to mc but luckily I still have the sp515's in the box after these failing posts.
Now I have 8 to get rid of ,of course they won't recall them . I may give them away with a written warning . The labor and extra parts trying to figure this out is the big deal .
For sure. Better than $500 at the dealer. I was getting pretty ticked off trying to find info on the SP546 plugs. The dealers knew nothing about the plugs. Called 4 dealers, than called Ford Customer Service. They referred me back to the dealers. Glade we found out the truth. I was about to send them back to. Will try changing my plugs next week. Truck has 210,000 miles on on. Plugs were changed once at 100,000. Going to use all the tricks, sea foam, PB Blaster, warm engine. Don't need to brake any plugs.
Find a good PEA-based fuel additive (Techron, Gumout Regaine, et.c) and run that for a couple of tanks. The stuff likes lots of heat cycles and soak time, so a long road trip isn't the time to use it.
also, It might tell you which injectors are good or bad.
For sure. Better than $500 at the dealer. I was getting pretty ticked off trying to find info on the SP546 plugs. The dealers knew nothing about the plugs. Called 4 dealers, than called Ford Customer Service. They referred me back to the dealers. Glade we found out the truth. I was about to send them back to. Will try changing my plugs next week. Truck has 210,000 miles on on. Plugs were changed once at 100,000. Going to use all the tricks, sea foam, PB Blaster, warm engine. Don't need to brake any plugs.
Did you get a chance to do them? Thoughts? I just ordered the sp546 - I believe from the same vendor on Amazon. They get in on Monday.
I'll post pics of both the old SP-515 when I pull them alongside the 546's.
Replacing the COP's with some outlaw bargain brand from Amazon while I'm in there. This is going to be interesting! We're going to see how well the anti-seize worked from the last plug change too. Don't have the removal tool this time since I didn't need it last time.
Is this what you ordered? They are the straight coils, not the curved, right?
I've had the run around about these plugs... My local Ford Dealer acted like those plugs weren't real. I got so pissed I called a dealer I've dealt with before 360 miles away. Gave them last 8 of my VIN and confirmed these plugs are the newest ones and should be used in my 04' FX4 5.4l 3v.
OK, so I'm going to layout EVERYTHING I found, in hopes to save someone a headache and wanting to put their boot up a FoMoCo parts persons @$$.
All Ford/Motorcraft parts listed for this truck to include Motorcraft and Ford Part #'s. I've listed them in the order in which they were released. We actually have 4 plug releases, 4th time is a charm...
SP-507 *Motorcraft Part #* PZT14F *Ford Part #*
SP-421 *Motorcraft Part #* PZT2F *Ford Part #*
aka 12405
SP-515 *Motorcraft Part #* PZH14F *Ford Part #*
SP-546 *Motorcraft Part #* PZK14F *Ford Part #*
Direct Information from Ford's own internal parts system with SuperSession Information.
2FE Replaced By 2F
2F Replaced By 12405
12405 Replaced By PZH14F
PZH14F Replaced By PZK14F
I cleaned up their SuperSession Info as it is not listed chronological and lists oddities. I've included a picture of it for reference though.
Long story short.... Use the SP-546/PZK14F plugs, NOT anything prior to it. The ones prior to it were found to have issues and the latest one is the answer to fixing those problems.
I can't believe Ford can't get their dealers to get their $hi^ together. If I didn't love my F-150's I'd have go elsewhere to buy a vehicle.
I'm replacing plugs on my '05 5.4L for the second time. Used 515's at 71K(didn't break any of the OE's) and now have bank 1 misfires at 107k. Got a set of the 546's and so far have only removed cyl 1 plug. It came out nicely, no screeching etc like the OE but did require 30+ ft lbs(TSB I read said to expect 33 ft lbs).
My questions are 1) we still use the antiseize like before on the 515's and 2) how much torque on these plugs...22-25 ft lbs? Is there a new TSB out there with the new 546 plug?
I'm replacing plugs on my '05 5.4L for the second time. Used 515's at 71K(didn't break any of the OE's) and now have bank 1 misfires at 107k. Got a set of the 546's and so far have only removed cyl 1 plug. It came out nicely, no screeching etc like the OE but did require 30+ ft lbs(TSB I read said to expect 33 ft lbs).
My questions are 1) we still use the antiseize like before on the 515's and 2) how much torque on these plugs...22-25 ft lbs? Is there a new TSB out there with the new 546 plug?
Ford originally said 25/28 ft lbs with the 28 being for the back 2 cylinders. Not sure what difference it’s supposed to make.FWIW when, I did mine last year, I torqued them all in at 30 ft lbs. No ill issues or misfires here. I used 515s, I can’t imagine the 546 requiring any different.
They significantly beefed up the snout junction.
I still believe in clearing cyl snout area with carb cleaner to get that plug breaking carbon out of there. Carbon is tough stuff it can withstand a lot of heat trying to burn it out with additives very iffy .During a plug change that carb cleaner will melt it taking you back to new condition should last to 60k.
I see no problem with using nickel anti seize on plug tip if done carefully. Other anti seizes will burn off. Nickel is highest heat rating ,you can get it from amazon .
I tried seafoam I wasn't impressed and it didn't work. I like techron in the fuel for injectors etc . But replacing injectors over 100 k a good idea.
I carry a spare cop so I can pull in anywhere and down load code and have a good replacement.
The plug circuit is very touchy on these engines do it right and it should last 60k. Clean those cop connections and torque wrench plugs in 25/28 foot pounds .
Funny story I was unaware of the head and plug redesign on I believe mid 2007-08 and have a 2010 5.4 when i did the first plug change at 88000 miles I did all the tricks and everything pulled from forums and the good ole youtubes my butt puckered l pulled every plug no issues the a week or two later I was talking to someone and told him thank god none broke then found out about the redesign lol
My truck was one of the lucky ones from the VA plant built during a period Ford found they had used some "naughty" injectors. They gave all of us an extension to 11 yrs , 110,000 mi for any injector related failures. Needless to say, when my truck passed warranty period with no issue, I snatched all the injectors out and replaced them with new Motorcraft units at about 92k.
Working on plug change right now, I have all the COP's off and all the plugs loosened. These jokers are really tight in the bores but coming out no problem.
08-26-2017, 07:24 AM
good feedback sage393.great thanks to Big screen D for starting ball rolling
