Matt440rev

I've been replacing parts trying to figure out what is wrong with this 4.6, an I think the plugs are getting bad, so I went to change them the other day and I can't get one out. There seems to be some piece of metal around the plug. I changed the other 3 on that side and they were all different brands. I can't see down the hole but I did manage to take a pic of it, but I can't upload it from my phone.

Any ideas what it could be? Anyone interested in uploading the pic for me? This truck is driving me crazy!!

loganhorse

Here's the picture.

biglee88

Try soacking it in wd40 and taking a blow gun and blow it out there is no tellin what it is slide a magnet down there I'd u think its metal

Original608

This is a very common problem with the 4.6s and 5.4s. A good friend of mine that works in a Ford service garage advised me to spray some penetrating oil down the hole at least a day prior to trying to remove your plugs. Since this is such a common problem Ford has a way to deal with this issue. Not sure how they do it,(I think they have a specialized tool) but my advice would be get it to a Ford dealership quick before you damage your head and cost yourself a bunch more money.

Czuber

Lisle (LIS65600) Broken Spark Plug Remover for Ford

Check this thread out.

https://www.f150forum.com/f4/diagram...removal-51376/

Matt440rev

Thanks loganhorse!

I tried using a pick and a magnet to get it out but it won't even budge. I don't think it's a broken plug, but then again Im not going to rule anything out at this point.

The problem Is I can't look down the hole because it's under the damn cowl, so what you see is all I can see.

I'm pretty sure either that plug is fouling or there's a coil pack going bad, because you can feel it cutting out sometimes.

If you look at the upper right corner you can see the jacked up screw holes that the previous owner made using self tapping screws to hold the coil pack down, which makes me wonder if this cylinder has had problems.

Thanks for all the help guys!

bubbabud

you stated the othe 3 were difernt brands. is it posible that the previous owner put a plug in that hole that requires a larger socket?

Matt440rev

I suspected the same thing, so I tried every socket I could get down the hole with no luck. I took a autolite, a motorcraft, and I forget the third. But all had the same head size.

They were all pretty white too.

Warspite

Quite possibly that the plug was installed after some "sert" job, where the previous plug had already popped through the 3 or so threads. Worse, it may be a platinum plug, which tends to heat up at higher temp than stock nickel plugs - and it may have fused into whatever was used for the insert repair. This doesn't sound like a DIY job.

arkansas4x4

these motors and the plugs dont get along well at all. i recommend you going to the dealership and having them take a look at it. them might even tell you how to get it out so you dont have to pay them. better hope its not damaged anything or a few dollar plug could turn in to a few hundred dollars in repairs