How to prevent spark plug blowout
- Thread starter Mike97gt
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well my #7 plug has blown out. i have iridium plugs in it because the guys at kragen talked me into it saying more power and now i need to time-sert it. i live in rocklin ca, very close to sacramento if anyone has a kit they would like to sell me let me know. time-sert is closed till the 5th and i miss driving my car. i will be putting autolight or motorcraft plugs back in. if anyone has any info regarding my situation please let me know.
flstang65
10 Year Member
I NEVER EVER believe a word those people say at the parts stores. 99.9% of them havn't the slightest about when they are talking about. At least the stores in Orlando. I went in about a part yesterday on my way home form work and the guy was insistent that my car had a DOHC 4.6 in it. I had to take him outside to show him and STILL show him in the repair manual on the shelf.
Mike, what's the difference between a Helicoil and a Timesert set up? They seem nearly identical to me? Are the Timeserts made of a material that transfers heat better or something?
Helicoils aren't solid, they are made of a flat wire that is wound to the correct thread pitch. Timeserts are more like a threaded bushing- they are solid and have a flange on the top so the placement is spot-on. The lock in place a lot better than a helicoil..... To me, Timeserts are much more capable....
i called the dealer and they said three to five grand to fix it. Are there shops that will put in the time-sert for me at a reasonable price?
my first clue should of been when he said he put them in his saturn, and had more power! ah ok all kidding aside i should have realized it when i looked at the new plugs and they had more threads, not to put them in. i was told it didnt matter and should of used better judgement and not put them in. Of coarse it was the experts at kragen that said it was ok..
.... but its my fault now as i put them in i have to eat it. so i can just hope that the other threads are ok. 
Yea dude, a lot of people even on this website told me it would be fine to use a plug with more threads..I wasn't buying it at all. I took those POS NGKs back and got good ole' American Autolites.
mransr
Founding Member
you know the replacement plugs from Motorcraft (Ford) have more threads now right? 
the problem isn't too many threads on the plugs, it's too few treads on the head and that requires you to be very, very careful when changing the plugs
the problem isn't too many threads on the plugs, it's too few treads on the head and that requires you to be very, very careful when changing the plugs
i blew out each hole with the air compresser, threaded new plugs with a rubber hose and overall just very careful. when i bought the car i was told he just put new bosch plugs in, so i left then in for awile but was always thinking 'bosch?' i've never liked bosch and figured changing them i would free up a little more power. so i was talked into those iriduim plugs saying i would really have more power by the kragen guys so i figured id try them after they gave the plugs such a great review, but when i pulled the first plug out it was an autolight double platnum and it was still good. i should of just taken the plugs back and left the damn thing alone. so dont fix whats not broke, and i still dont know why i was told he just put new bosch plugs in? its not like it helped the sale..
the ford plugs fix the problem when installed correctly. although the base of the problem is in the cylinder head. you can still get the old style plugs from Ford, just get SP-432's, they dont use the old spark plug numbering system anymore.
Yea, i figured they'd still sell the old ones.
The new plugs only fix the problems on the 01+..since they have more thread in their head. but us 99-00 guys don't.
If you've got a 99-00 use the originals..if not then get something with more thread.
Sorry OP, i assumed you had a 99-00..even though your name says 01. my bad
The new plugs only fix the problems on the 01+..since they have more thread in their head. but us 99-00 guys don't.
If you've got a 99-00 use the originals..if not then get something with more thread.
Sorry OP, i assumed you had a 99-00..even though your name says 01. my bad
mransr
Founding Member
no sorry that's wrong, the new design plugs work for all the PI 2v heads, and they are the recommended replacement...(and the number of threads on the plug doesn't matter anyway...)
also, the best information is that it was sometime during the 03/04 production run that Ford added to the number of threads in the head, 99-02 were all the same (not sure about the non-PI heads)
a plug with a lot of anti seize is a bad idea..
the helicoil will work but you can have issues with a hot spot some people have issues others don't..
OMG!! i am a mechanic in Detroit area(aka Ford country) and i have had a ton of these 3V nightmares come in. I have the damn special tool and everything to help remove the plug after it breaks.I will never understand the reason for that type of plug.
anyone that has seen a 3V plug knows what i am saying. oh and dont use anti seize for reasons that SVTTECH pointed out. it is not necessary and can sometimes cause more damage than good. just take your time, use proper tools(spark plug socket, plug gapper, etc.), torque to proper spec. then go back and check torque again before you start it up, and you will be just fine.
I want to murder the idiots that came up witht he plug on the 3v
I feel bad when I quote a tune up on those trucks now.Mike, what's the difference between a Helicoil and a Timesert set up? They seem nearly identical to me? Are the Timeserts made of a material that transfers heat better or something?
the regular helicoil has a tang that can stick down into the combustion chamber and get hot enough to fire the mixture early...... detonation =
crazystang25
Member
- Jan 25, 2009
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have you guys tried a perma plug. and also if any one has tried one will it hold up to a little boost
Bluebeast02GT
New Member
- Aug 11, 2012
- 2
- 0
- 1
I've blown two in the last six months... granted I wasn't checking them every oil change like recomended. Believe me, check these plugs! I almosted cried the first time and don't really want to talk about the second....
Bluebeast02GT
New Member
- Aug 11, 2012
- 2
- 0
- 1
So is the actual cause the torque on the plug? I'm sure you guys have already said this in previous posts...
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