FORD dealer says the NGK cold plugs from ZFG now means I need a long block in my 25!

[ConspicuousConsumption]

@Zorrosdens we're going to need an update

 

[Flyman]

Agreed, we need updates. Respectfully requesting.

 

[Zorrosdens]

My apologies guys in a crunch for time right now, but I finally have a Ford determination so far but I still have to talk with them personally I just got the word they are saying they will not cover it so there’s a little bit more discussion to do before I will probably end up going ahead with the repair on me. It sounds like if nothing changes I report the conditions mañana sorry for all the delay. Just waiting for things to happen right now. The car is at the dealer in the garage and the motor is out, let me give more details tomorrow just for information again they were tuner gapped .028. Installed by the dealer. That’s pretty much the basic grill for the moment unless something I can change which I’ll find out tomorrow better after talking with FORD (not the dealer) and a few other people.

 

[Zorrosdens]

They’ve had me on a loaner truck this whole time full-size 4 x 4 four-door no cost …one good thing o.

 

[nyuk98GT]

My apologies guys in a crunch for time right now, but I finally have a Ford determination so far but I still have to talk with them personally I just got the word they are saying they will not cover it so there’s a little bit more discussion to do before I will probably end up going ahead with the repair on me. It sounds like if nothing changes I report the conditions mañana sorry for all the delay. Just waiting for things to happen right now. The car is at the dealer in the garage and the motor is out, let me give more details tomorrow just for information again they were tuner gapped .028. Installed by the dealer. That’s pretty much the basic grill for the moment unless something I can change which I’ll find out tomorrow better after talking with FORD (not the dealer) and a few other people.

Zorrosdens,
Sorry to hear that you may be on the hook for the repair. I sure hope there is a post-mortem to provide a root cause. I can't see how sparkplugs could cause engine failure unless one disintegrated into the cylinder. If one popped out, would that not be due to installation? The dealer technician installed them so workmanship should not be on you other than the labor for the original work.

/edit/
I forgot to mention that you should ask for copies of any boresope photos or videos, if available. There's got to be something lurking in a cylinder or two.
/end of edit/

Hopefully, Ford will look after you (financially) for the engine work. Best wishes on the path forward.

 

[ConspicuousConsumption]

Sorry to hear that Zorro. Keep us posted and keep fighting with Ford directly.

 

[ADHeimke]

Sorry, not trying to be rude, but can you explain exactly what the issue or damage is such that dealer says you need to replace the long block, i.e., the major mechanical part of the engine?

Misfires can come from a bunch of different causes, from as simple as either the coil pack not being fully seated onto the plug or the connector plug to the coil pack not being connected properly, to various ECU issues. I have a ZFG 91+ Performance tune, and I haven’t changed plugs, didn’t see it as a requirement or recommendation on their site, but I do no see where they list them, which I hadn’t seen before.

Even if someone cross threaded and forced one of more of the spark plugs into the head, all you would need is repair or replacement of the head(s). Now, if in doing that the plug was damaged or broken such that part of the plug end up falling into the cylinder, ok, that would destroy things, but you would have felt and heard that immediately once you started it.

A tune would have to be pretty extreme and have been run hard for a long time, barring a manufacturing defect in the engine, to do any damage from, for example, over fueling or overheating it. If something wasn’t built correctly at the factory or was out of spec, ok, running a tune and putting extra stress on the engine could cause that damage to be seen soon sooner than without the tune, but that doesn’t sound like it is what you are saying…

Can you please provide details as to what exactly was damaged and anything you know about how it happened? Just (properly) installing spark plugs isn’t going to destroy an engine such that a “long block” requires replacement. It might run like crap, but “wrong” plugs won’t break anything.