4000cc

Hi.

I currently have a 2001 automatic California 3.8 dog with a mani spacer, pulley and cai.

I'm thinking about getting a 2005+ but was wondering if they have the same issues as the 4.6 v8. Meaning, do the spark plug threads strip due to the thin aluminum heads - are the heads just as thin on the 4.0? What about the cam gears. I read the 4.6 cam gears grind down by 100k miles. The 4.0 has 3 cam chains!

Lastly, the 3.8 spark plugs are not bad to get too - I've changed them myself. How are the 4.0 plugs to get to?

Thanks much!

Ken04

that problem occured in the first gen Triton motors in 97-98+99.
When the PI motors came out there were more threads and the problem was no more. Even the early engines had very few problems w/most of the problems caused by ham fisted mechanics changing plugs. The Cologne V6 has never had any issues with plug threads.

As for cam chains, my last Triton engine had 276,000 miles on it when I sold it last year. Motorcraft 5W-20 semi syn was the only oil ever to go in it's guts. And it did not have even the slightest bit of cam chain tensioner noise. It's not the gears or the chain that wears out, it's the cam chain tensioner.

4000cc

Thanks Ken. Informative reply!

That's right, it was the tensioner I read about. Yours, however was still good at 276k miles - wow!

So, if I could indulge your patience just slightly further...

Are the spark plugs easy to get to on the 4.0 and the 4.6 v8?

Now you got me pondering the v8!

Thanks again.

2005Redfire6

Yes somewhat.

Ken04

I don't know, I only have 25K miles on mine. I do know 1 thing, I changed the plugs on my Triton V10, and it was in an E350 van. Thought it was going to kill me, took 8 hours, almost an hour per plug. After that I can't imagine the V6 being tough.

One IMPORTANT thing to remember when removing and replacing steel plugs in an aluminum head. You MUST use some sort of anti-galling (anti-seize) on the threads when you install the plugs. The chemical composition of the aluminum and the steel can weld the plugs to the head. And very, very important. Use a good torque wrench.

07redMustang

Yes the spark plugs are easy to get to. Unless you're like 5ft or shorter then it might be kind of difficult.