Should I be as worried as I am?? http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_spark.html http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2006/01/ford_truck_engines.html

I'm in the process of purchasing a 2001 Super Duty with 47,000 miles and did a little digging and now I'm worried about problems with the motor.

Never had a prob with mine....

I've heard complaints of this issue in the past, but I really don't know how common it is.

FWIW, the company I work for has an E350 with the v10 in it and they haven't had any issues with it as far as I know.

bro-in law has one with no problems, but there is NO question that LOTS of people have had problems spitting plugs. The way Ford's handled the situation is whats most disapointing. It cost them a sale when I bought my new truck last month and I went with brand x instead. Personally, I think you have a right to be leery....its a crapshoot.

I wok at a very busy Ford dealership that deals with a lot of oil field trucks. We have seen a few V10 trucks have this problem over the past few years. The number has been very small, maybe one out of a thousand, you never hear about the good stuff just the bad!! I had a 2001 V10 truck for four years and loved it. My truck had the 4.30 gears and empty running at 70 mph I got 16-17 mph out of it. The only reason I got rid of it was that it was a short bed and we wanted to get a bigger slide in camper.

I believe the problem was in the early model SD's, like the 99's. I have a 2000 with the V10 and have put over 120000 miles on it since I bought it in 01. It has 131000 now. I have had no problems with it whatsoever.

Like said earlier...the spark plug blow-out problem is few and far between. I have a 4.6L with over 100K miles on it with no problem. The 5.4L's seem to be the 'most' problematic however...but still, maybe a handfull out of a thousand, if that.

Just be sure to USE ANTI-SIEZE and TORQUE TO SPEC. when changing plugs.

Good to hear some good after reading all those bad experiences. Keep em coming.

we have had 8 V-10 powered ford f-350's and 450's in our fleet over the last 7 years. lumber company. trucks dont see much of a nice life. the earlier year trucks 3 in 2000, 1 in 2002 and 1 in 2005 all popped a spark plug out of a head the ones in 2000 happened around 80-100k miles the 2002 was at 140k miles, the 2005 had a crack in the head at the spark plug hole that one lasted till 170 some odd k miles.

Over-all it happens i wouldnt be to worried if it does happen do a head job and put the truck back on the road no biggie. the trucks have been solid. the 6spd trucks had less issues than the automatics.

mileage was around 10 on all of ours 8 loaded 10-12 empty didnt matter what the gear ratio

I have repaired 5 ford 6.8 v10s since Jan. for the spark plugs blowing out. but its not just the v10s. I have repaired plugs on all the mod motors. i have seen it with as little as 50k, and as high as 180k ( on the original plugs !! )

The majority of the trucks have been 5.4s with 80 -130k. most with original plugs. If the plugs are changed or inspected at the recomended 60k ( cali trucks are 105k ) then they usually dont fail. X2 for the proper torque and anti seize. And dont over torque, as only half of the spark plug hole is threaded. It is a fairly easy repair if you have the right tools and it is not one of the rear cylinders ( usually is )

Well its in my driveway now. It is such a clean truck I couldn't pass it up. 2001 with only 41,000 miles. I plan to do this mod in the near future before plugs start popping out:

http://www.blownoutsparkplug.com/

http://www.timesert.com/html/triton_repair.html


I got my fingers crossed, like someone said its a crap shoot.

just change the plugs, and torque and you should never have a problem

the inserts can be a bitch, and DO NOT use aluminum inserts as they will do the same as the factory head - i use steel inserts i found at autozone - - ( only place - everyone had the crappy aluminum )

I have 4 superdutys in my family all with V10's, I have a 99 with 120k my brother in law has a 99 with 145k on it my work truck is a 99 and has 160k on it and my dad has a 04' with about 30k on it.

I have had the spark plugs changed in mine once my work truck twice and my brother in laws truck has been changed once that I know of, and we have never had that problem,

however a buddy of mine has a 2000 model and he had his plugs changed by a shadetree mechanic and he didnt get 2 miles down the road and it blew two of them out, he had 150k on it before he changed them, he took it to ford and they took the head off and he had it heli-coiled and it has been fine for about 8 months,
the Ford guys here said they have only seen the problem when people try to changed thier own plugs and dont get them started straight and get the cross threaded and then they blow out.