WITH THE ECONOMICS TIMES BEING BAD I DID NOT NEED THIS TO HAPPEN. FORD DEALER SAID THAT IT WOULD REPLACE THE HEAD AT $3200 BUT DID NOT SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE OTHER HEAD SO I THOUGHT THAT THEY ARE REPLACING BOTH. SINCE THEN I BLEW #2 PLUG AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY ONLY REPLACE RIGHT SIDE HEAD. SO I PAYED $650 TO NAVE IT HELI. RIGHT NOW I'M LOOKING TO REPLACE THE TRUCK BEFORE I BLOW ANOTHER PLUG ( THREE LEFT). I'VE OWN FORDS FOR 25 YEARS AND ITS IS SAD THAT FORD WILL DO NOTHING TO HELP OWNERS FOR THESE TRUCKS. FORD KNOWING THAT ACROSS THE NATION THE SAME PROBLEM IS HAPPENING TO THOUSANDS OF TRUCK OWNERS AND ARE NOT WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THERE ENGINE. I THINK IT IS A FORD DESIGN FLAW WHEN BETWEEN 1999-2003 THE HEADS HAVE ONLY 5 THREADS FOR THE SPARK PLUGS AND THE NEW HEADS HAVE 12 THREADS. RIGHT NOW I'M TELLING ALL MY FRIENDS THAT HAVE THIS ENGINE TO START THINKING OF SELLING BEFORE THEY GO THOUGH WHAT I DID.

This problem actually happened twice. Each time there was a telltale clicking that sounded like lifter tapping slightly - actually exhaust was beginning to escape through the spark plug seat. Then BANG and my truck sounded like a clunker - though it still ran. The second time I noticed the clicking sound and drove it into a dealership immediately - too late. The first head replacement required that I pay my $200 deductible during warranty! The second head replacement cost me $500 after I wrangled with a Ford rep just after it was out of warranty. The job was quoted at $1200! I am surprised not to see more of these F-250 complaints on your site because a LOT of the V-10 owners had this problem. There definitely should have been a recall, but because it didn't affect safety..........

I had the first one of three fixed at the dealer-$300.00, the second one I fixed myself- took 1 hr and a $30.00 kit from NAPA. I have talked to several mechanics and parts places. The V10's prior to 2002, blow sparkplugs out of the head for some unknown reason. They told me if it happens after I put in the inserts, a new head will be needed and that was about $1200.00. I won't lie to you it is a huge pain in the butt to fix these. I have done 3 and around 1800 rpm it sounds like it is missing. Which means that in the next couple of months another one will blow. This summer I am going to redo the remaining seven. By the way I carry all the tools I need to fix this in my truck.