Have a quick question. Bought new plugs for my tc since it has stock plugs on 35k miles with the tune and all that. Went to take the first one out and it would not budge. Does anyone have any advice on how to remove a stuck plug/or are they easy to break? I dont wanna put the 1/2 on it and try to remove it and snap the damn thing. Im gonna let the motor cool to around 70 and try it again. Maybe the heat has something to do with it

 

heat would be better to get it out, thats why i dont let anyone touch my **** and i put antisieze on the spark threads. shop monkeys just tear the air wrench out and go to town.

 

Well u can put a lil pen lube down there but b4 u try and pull the plug ur an air gun to blow out excess. Also if u brake me ur fucked lol. I work at a ford dealership and then old 5.4 u would break almost every plug. Need a special tool to push the porcilin down and then a Lh tap and Lh bolt to use as an extractor. Heat will only help u but sometimes u need a lil more force. They are not just dropped in there.

 

Mine came right out with about 50k on them. Shouldn't take much to break it loose.

 

mine take a little effort but they come right loose

 

Might just take it to the garage and have them do it, therefore if they break its on them lol. I tried while it was hot and cold and still no luck

what are the odds of of plugs breaking? lol

 

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did you ever have them changed or are they the stock set?

 

Should still be the stockers. ive only had the car for 5k miles

 

Get engine to operating temp and put some penetrating lube in the plug hole, barely loosen it then re tighten then again but a little more exc. till its loose but if you nervous about breaking it just take it to a shop

 

Gee I didnt even worry with my plugs. I just got the Ole wrench out and a 10in extention with my extended hex piece and slowly worked my force onto it until they gave. They all gave but it definately took alot more force that it should of and it sounded bad as I was unscrewing them out lol. like alot of rust got in the threads or something.

Anyways, next time I will be careful with the plugs!

 

ha ha yeah thats how I used to be until someone told me about hot engines can damage the threads and all that good stuff

 

I got mine out with a 3/8 ratchet. Once it broke loose they came out smooth. Did mine when the engine was cold.

I wonder if someone fucked up the threads on yours.

 

well I new about the hot engine thing. I waited all day till it was night to change my plugs. It was still pretty warm but not hot. I could hold my hand on it all day long lol.

 

I just did mine 1st thing in the morning. Seemed easier than waiting for it to cool down on a Friday or Saturday night when I'd rather be out.

 

Ford 3 valve 5.4 plugs come out easier with the engine warm but the plugs are also very long, I've changed 100s of plugs on warm/hot engines and haven't had any problems with tearing out the threads on the head aluminum, or cast iron. Are cobalt heads made out of a softer alloy or something?

 

Sprayed a little penetrating lube on them and let it sit and they came right out.

 

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I've been a mechanic for years and have changed plugs on countless types of engines and vehicles and have never had issues with changing plugs on a warm/hot engine.

If anything, it's always been a mechanic trick to warm the engine to remove any stuck bolts or spark plugs to relax the molecules in the metal, so I don't know what these guys are talking about how a hot engine can damage/gall the threads.

Like you said though, the 5.4's were and are NOTORIOUS for snapping plugs in the heads. The only way I have found to lessen the chance of this is by doing it on a hot engine. Attempting plug removal on a cold 5.4 was basically almost a guaranteed head removal heli-coil job.