What Year Did Ford Fix the Spark Plug Problem V10? (Triton)
There are many mechanical reasons for these issues but one of the most damaging would be word of mouth. Once someone has a problem it is spread all over the internet sometimes blowing the issue out of proportion
This could be 2009 as Ford went through 4 years, 2004 to 2008, experiencing different spark plug issues. Some of those issues had reports of spark plugs shooting out of their cylinders. 2013 saw a new design for their spark plugs that stopped many other spark plug issues.
To learn more about this topic, just continue to read our article. It has the information you want to know about so you can find the right V10 for your vehicle. Take a few minutes to get up to speed on this topic.
Ford Spark Plug Problem 101
Ford V10 Spark Plug Problems
Between 2004 and 2008 just about every spark plug issue was a possibility. They could get stuck in their cylinders, or they broke apart when you tried to remove them.
The most famous possibility was the potential for their spark plugs to blow out like a missile causing damage along the way. It was not a good time to own a Ford vehicle.
If you were one of the lucky ones, you could have had damage done to cylinder heads and other vital parts fixed for free. That warranty that covered this damage was the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
However, it has been said that the new warranty did not protect the spark plugs or cover repair costs. You were on the hook when the problem was not your fault. The years that you need to avoid when it comes to Ford V10 engines are from late 2003 to 2008.
That is a long time to go without fixing the problem but Ford managed to do it. And this problem may have started around 1997 if our sources are correct. The spark plug issue was evident on both V8 and V10 motors.
What Year Did Ford Fix The V10 Spark Plug Problem?
This seems like it was a 10-year problem for Ford. That is if it really did start in 1997. It took the company a long time to find the source of the issue and fix it. That source may have been the 25 to 30% fewer threads in the cylinder heads.
Also, the threads would get damaged due to carbon build-up, bad mechanical work, or replacing the spark plugs at the wrong torque. The spark plugs would work their way loose after those threads got damaged and shot out of those cylinders like a rocket.
Despite these reports from the sources, it still took Ford till 2009 to figure out what they should do about the problem. That seems to be the year Ford worked everything out and solved this issue.
However, some people have reported that it took the company till 2013 to fully repair this problem. Other people are saying it was 2003 but if the problem lasted until 2008, then 2003 must be the year Ford solved a different spark plug issue but did not fully repair the situation.
2012 was the last year the company used a two-piece spark plug and 2013 was the year their engines got the new design.
Triton V10 Spark Plug Blew Out
This situation seems to have been pre-2003. 2002 and earlier the Triton V-10 had a design flaw in both the spark plugs and the cylinder heads. This flaw resulted in seeing many spark plugs shoot out of their place and do a lot of damage to the motor.
The design flaw was mixing a cast iron block with an aluminum cylinder head with steel spark plugs. The latter two had different heat tolerances which contributed to the problem.
This situation led to 2 main problems with the spark plugs. The differences in heat tolerances had the spark plug weld itself to the aluminum head. When heat tolerances had the spark plug weld itself to the aluminum head. When that happened the spark plugs could not be removed. That was the first main problem.
The second main problem was that the pressure built up and launched the spark plugs. This situation arose because the spark plug would break and all spark plugs. This situation arose because the spark plug would break and all the material around it was weakened.
There were solutions offered at the time. One was to use anti-seize devices or make sure you did not over-torque the spark plugs. This could only be done if you used a torque wrench. Or you could use a thread repair kit. These kits had you re-tap the spark plug hole and add in an insert that would hold the spark plugs in place. The insert was supposed to stop the welding of the two parts and relieve you of the rocket situation.
How To Fix Triton V10 Spark Plug Blow Out
The two solutions have been alluded to in the previous section. The first is an easy fix. If you use an insert and then use a torque wrench, you should be fine, if the damage is not that severe.
The second is a little more involved and requires some good mechanical skills. If you do not have those then it is best to hire a mechanic to do it for you. Re-tapping the cylinder hole is delicate work and you have to be careful with each twist of the tap and die set.
One company offers to fly to your location and do the work for you but that is going to cost you at least $800 for the convenience. That fee is not including expenses, so they encourage you to do it yourself or find someone in your area to do it for you.
The best thing to do would be to shop around till you find an honest mechanic and hire them to do the job for you. We do use the word honest as many mechanics do take advantage of your lack of engine knowledge to fix parts that do not need fixing.
Ford V10 Spark Plug Fix
We have talked about this in the previous two sections. The fix is relatively simple, especially for experienced mechanics. You just need to have some mechanical skills to handle it yourself
A little practice with a tap and die set first would come in handy. A novice mechanic should do the repair under the supervision of a more experienced mechanic by their side.
But what you do need to know is that while the internet may say that this problem happens a lot or they have seen this problem a lot, it may not be more than just a few engines they have seen blow their spark plugs.
The reason we say that is we have seen in our research more owners reporting that they had no problem and one or two reporting they had the issue happen to them.
Mechanics may see a lot of V10s with this problem but when you take into account the number of V10s made, it is not that many that have had this problem.
You just may be one of the unluckier ones that have had it happen to you. If you can fix it yourself fine but make sure you have no warranty coverage to worry about.
Triton V10 Spark Plug Repair kit
There are different repair kits on the market if you happen to have this problem happen to you. They go by different brand names but the kits all work basically on the same principle.
HeliCoil or Cal Van are just two of the brand names you may see when you visit your auto parts store. Calvan 38900 and the Time Sert kits like 5553 and the 5600 are said to be the best of the lot.
But ask the auto parts clerks or a trusted mechanic which one is the best or the one they prefer to use. There are many different brands that are good possibilities.
One thing you have to be careful about is that these kits are size specific. They will only repair holes up to a certain size in diameter. For example, the Time Cert 5553 only works with .663" (16.8mm) diameter holes or SMALLER.
The Time Cert 5600 works with holes .663" (16.8mm) or LARGER.So you have to know the diameter size of your spark plug holes to find the right kit for your engine.
You also have to make sure they will work on your Triton V10. There is always more to know than just buying a kit, which is why we advise that you get help when you are not a good mechanic.
Triton V10 Spark Plug Thread Repair
One of the keys to doing this work is knowing what type your spark plug hole is. There are types 1, 2, & 3 and there is a different design for all 3 types. Given that the spark plugs are seated very deep into the cylinders, you can’t just use any tool to do the repair.
There are about 35 steps to do this repair according to one manual. You can read those steps and see diagrams at this link. This is a 16-page manual that has very detailed instructions and shows you the depth of the spark plug hole as well.
The instructions, as stated by the manual, work only on specific engines from the years 1993 to 2005. If your engine does not fall within those restrictions, you would need to find another manual to provide you with the guidance you will need.
Also, you have to be careful not to assume that your engine is a type 2 if it was made in the years the type 2 spark plugs were made. Manufacturers do not make car repair easy anymore. Some engines may not be a type 2 spark plug motor even though it was made in the type 2 era.
Ford V10 Spark Plug Change Interval
The manual will give you an accurate timeline. One manual stated that the time to change your spark plugs is at 90,000 miles. This is okay if you wait till that mark to change your plugs.
However, you do not have to wait that long. You are free to change your plugs at 50,000 miles, 60,000, or even 70,000 miles. In fact, one owner stated that if you wanted to avoid those spark plug issues, changing them every 60,000 to 70,000 miles is the best time.
Others cautioned that the aluminum heads may not last that long and 50,000 was the ideal time. That means you are free to change them at 90,000 or 50,000 miles or points in between. There is no damage done to your motor if you change them often.
You may want to change the boots as well so your motor gets the best spark possible. That would help your engine’s performance when you keep fresh plugs inside every 50,000 to 70,000 miles.
The cost for plugs and boots was around $60 but that price has probably gone up this year due to inflationary issues. Pick the best source for your parts to keep your costs down.
Ford V10 Spark Plug Replacement Cost
The cost is going to depend on the type of spark plug you buy. If you buy the regular option, you are looking at paying roughly $3.00 per plug. There are other more powerful plugs that will cost you between $4 and $12.
Your cost will depend on what your owner’s manual recommends and what compatible brands will work with your V10. The manual option is usually a more expensive Ford spark plug.
But if you shop around, you can find a compatible spark plug for a lot less and at other lesser-known brands. One website recommends the following three spark plugs:
1. Motorcraft- single platinum, quality. performance. Reliability
2. Champion Platinum Power- can be on the expensive side of the scale.
3. NGK V-Power- this is supposed to be the affordable option.
Check out the availability of these plugs and their prices to see which ones will fit your budget and give you the best performance possible. At one outlet, Geo Green Deals, you can get a kit of 10 plugs and boots for $40. They are on sale and their regular price is $70.
You will find good prices when you shop around. It just takes a little time on the computer to get to them. Amazon is not always the best place to buy parts as right now they are out of stock.
Ford Excursion V10 Spark Plug Gap
The manual will have this number for you so you can double-check to see if the figures we found were correct or not. When people do their own spark plug changes, they may fudge a bit and gap the plugs to their preferences and not to what the manual says.
Their recommended gap was 0.055” and the ones that were replaced at that time were gapped at 0.065”. Another owner had current ones he was replacing gapped at 0.060”.
It is best to go by what the manual says in this situation. There may be leeway but if you still are under warranty, you do not want to make any changes to the gap in the spark plugs.
One tip when you are replacing your old spark plugs. Unless you know the firing order or the number the plugs are labeled, you should not pull all the spark plug wires off at the same time.
Pull one wire off, remove the plug, gap the new plug, and then replace the wire. Do this all the way down the line so you do not get confused and place the wrong wire on the wrong plug.
What Year Of V10s Should One Avoid?
This is an interesting question as Ford made a lot of V10s including the modular design. According to one source, it was the popular belief that the company had fixed its spark plug issue in 2004 or 2003.
However, the engines you should avoid if you can were made between 1997 to 2004. There are some people stating that you should go as far as 2008 but it may be the luck of the draw.
Many people with engines built during those times have not reported any spark plug issues with their motors made in those years. There will be some engines with that problem or Ford would not have needed to redesign their spark plugs for later engine models.
Nor would mechanics be working on them throughout those years. The issue will be the lack of threads in the cylinder heads.
Some Final Words
Ford should have fixed the entire issue by 2013 when they redesigned their spark plugs. If you are unlucky and bought an engine made prior to 2004, you may be looking at some hefty repair bills if it happens to you.
It may never happen or it still may be coming. You never know with these engines.
