I just experienced the all too common blown spark plug on my 2003. I have read a lot of great information on this forum focused on how to make repairs using the Timesert kit or helicoils.

However, I have two more basic questions that i coukd not find answers to:

#1 With the plug blown, is it safe for me to drive my truck 15 miles back to my home for repairs?

#2 The plug itself looks fine, no thread damage. Is it possible that the plug just worked its way out and that I do not need to repair the engine? I was considering just trying to put the plug back in and replacing the COP, which did break with the blow out.

Thanks

 

I don't recommend driving that far. As for the plug,mine looked fine and tried to put back in but the head was stripped.. I had to bore out the head and use a "sleeve" style helicoil. Don't use the one that looks like a spring. Follow the directions and you will be fine.

 

what engine do you have ?

 

Thank you for the replies. I have a 4.6 Triton v8.

I cannot work on the vehicle where it is, so I suppose that I will have to tow it home, huh? Funny, usually I am the one doing the towing. Is there a temporary plug that anyone would recommend?

 

is the plug blown out of the cylinder ?

 

You can use the same plug but recommend a new one. Motorcraft platinum is the plug you want. Also I have an 03 5.4 triton

 

Yes, the spark plug has blown out and the COP is broken. The threads on the spark plug look ok, but I have not had a chance to look at the threads in the head.

 

I wouldn't suggest driving it. I would HIGHLY suggest using a Timesert for the fix and torquing the rest of the plugs to the correct 28 ft/lbs dry torque spec.

 

hmm i learned something new i thought the 5.4's only had the spitting the plug out issue

 

Yep all 2V motors seem to have this issue if improper torque is used. For the 4.6 the issue appears to have continued all the way to the 2008 2 valve motors.