How long did you let the penetrating oil sit in the plug hole? I hear great things from people who let it sit overnight.

This was one of the reasons why I was reluctant on purchasing my 08 FX4. I do feel that the Fords are better constructed than the Chevy's, but as far as this is concerned, it is a huge problem...especially when most of us do our own work on the trucks.
Out of curiosity, what does the dealer charge for spark plug tune ups?

Why has Ford not fixed this issue that has been ongoing for over 5 years?

Your truck should be fine brother.The plug designes are from the 04-07and halfs before they started producing the 08's as i have been told by many places and on my own finding out(budy has 08fx4 and we changed the plugs to denzo plugs(he has some engine mods)and his were one piece designes.

I am considering the plug change myself, but am very reluctant to do it. Part of me wants to do it while the truck still has only 37k miles on it, but another part of me says screw it, don't risk it. I talked to the dealership and they charges $540 for a plug change. I asked if they follow the TSB and who's responsible if they break a plug off in the head. They said if they break it then they're responsible, unless they call and tell me the plug is frozen. Well duh the plug will probably be frozen, guess that's their way of getting out of responsibility. We called and said the plug was fronzen and you said to remove it anyways will be their excuse I guess.

To the OP sorry to hear about your trouble and please keep us posted on your progress.

Hey brother buddy hows it going.So i see your wanting to change out your plugs.Will give you few hints.Make sure you by the tool if one does break off.Use pb blaster(that way if you spray to much and get some inside your walls it wont hydroshock your engine and will just blow out the back of your exust when you go to start it up.Get the engine to room temp,not to cold,not to hot and spray the pb blaster and let it soack for about ten minutes.If you hear a sqreaching sound while doing your plugs,stop right their and ease your wrench back out and do it over again.Your best bet thoe is just to be ready is to by the tool incase you have to rethread it if the plugs breaks.i had my number 7plug break off and i bought the tool and it worked great.if you need anytjing else let me know and i will help ya out.. and yes that is their way of saying their nor responsible

I just put a Roushcharger on mine, so getting at the plugs was very nice. ( no intake ) I let mine sit for just over a day soaking before I attempted to take out the plug. All 8 came out with out much fuss. If you got the time I would let her sit soaking as long as you can.

Okay, what is the tool and what are you using to soak the plugs? Do you guys have any links to these things?

I used PB Blaster and it was fine.That way if you spray to much anbd you get some inside the wells,it will still not hydroshock your engine.Other fluids are recomended yes,but if you have to much and it gets in your wells,it will almost hydroshock your engine.With pb blaster it just blows right out your exaust with any problems at all.hey it worked for me when i changed mine

i just did mine last week my truck had 48 thous on it. i was verry scared to do it but just decided to deal with it now instead of later. i got all 8 out with out breaking them but every one of them squeled comeing out. i just soaked the heck out of them and when they came tight i just turned them back in a half turn and then back out and it work great. but the back one on the passenger side sucked ass getting to only complaint

spark plug nightmare
 

the shop i sent my truck to could not get a hold of the broken plug either . I t was # 8 under the firewall. The removal tools would not work on this one plug for me or the shop when they tried. Iwas able to remove #2 that was also broke with my tools'. It seems that if you cant get the electrode out of the center the tools wont work.The repair shop finaly pulled the cab off the truck to get access to the head. Iwas shocked at first when they told me they have done a few like this but accually the cab comes off real easy, with just a few mounts and everything eles just unplugs. with the cab off they were able to see down the hole and were able to chip enough porcelin away to get the tap in the ground sheild and pull it out. So they didnot have to pull the head off the engine. head bolts and gasgets from Ford are around 500.00The repair cost me half of what the ford dealer wanted. Heck nof a way to change plugs eh.oh and by the way i soaked the plugs overnight with Ford carb cleaner as specified in the t.s.b.