I have been telling guys on s197forum for years about using an impact and a decarbonizer on the plugs and just being patient. In the half dozen or so 5.4 and 4.6 motors I have swapped plugs on I have yet to break a plug by warming the motor up a bit first, removing all the coils, cracking each plug loose by a 1/4 turn and filling them up to the porcelain with a decarbonizer then being patient and hitting them with a impact. I think the even torque applied to the plug by doing it this way is better for the plug then the loosening and tightening the TSB has you do.

 

I think these independent shops are just as bad as the Ford dealers are. I think they found their new cash cows on these trucks. I did mine a few weeks ago and broke two of them. It took me ten minutes a piece to remove the broken ones. The whole job took 3 hours and I did if all by hand no air tools. I don't know how these people sleep with themselves at night.

 

$3400 will buy you a new re-man motor .. lol

 

There is a tool that I bought for like 80 bucks that helps get the half of the spark plug that is stuck in the motor. It is called a Leslie tool spark plug extractor. Something of that nature. I had to do the same thing with my baby.

 

Your "mechanic" isn't really a mechanic.
Get that truck back, and never go back there. Sounds like they haven't a clue as to what they are doing.
They probably want to pull your motor, because they probably just figured those pieces would just work themselves out, and went ahead and started your motor. That's where you would be ****ed.
Like said earlier, a small camera (milwaukee tool makes a nice one), and a shop vac with a small piece of tubing attached to it, will get those pieces out.
I would definitely be finding out if they cranked the motor. If so, it's on them.

 

I agree 4.6owner and others on here. I had a shards from my plugs fall into the cylinders as well, The shop vac with smaller hose did not work as well (the suction is reduced), but a few blasts of air shot it right out. I did try the air tool, but my plugs broke anyway, even after the soaking. I had asked my Ford dealer how much to do my plugs and it was $400 for all and an extra $250 per breakage. No WAY that is reasonable! After doing it myself, I can't figure how they could think that was any way fair. I also tried private shops and they had about the same price.

I have to agree with powerranger262. I bet they buggered it up bad (don't have the right tools???) and want the headache to be on someone else's shoulder.