I have just bought a 2003 GT and while browsing info on the 4.6 motor I came across an alarming issue about plugs rocketing out of the cylinder heads due to lack of threads and the cheap aluminum castings. I understand the fix is a product called timeserts, but this fairly expensive band-aid doesnt help me sleep any better at night wondering if a long trip,important meeting or appointment will be interupted/cancelled by such an unnecessary and unacceptable occurance. Even worst case would be breaking down on the interstate that I must travel every day with no shoulder to park on and where motorists minimum speeds are no less than 80 mph. Yes rear-end collision HIGHLY likely. I am aware that it is necessary to use a torque wrench at 13/lbs and only change them on a cold engine. My questions are as follow: Did Ford add more threads to the 2004 4.6 heads? Is this an occurance on both the Windsor and Romeo heads? Were there more threads/revisions etc added to any years prior to 2004 in regards to this issue? Was there a revision on Motorcraft plugs adding more threads, and does that resolve the matter any by using the newer plugs? When the actual problem does occur, is the vehicle still drivable? I bought a Mustang because of its reliability (had two 5.0s the last 15 years and never had any probs) and I am shocked that there is no recall or any action by ford yet on this. This is ridiculous. Thanks in advance.
