Header banner
Revain logoHome Page
Timothy Spinner photo
Switzerland, Bern
1 Level
741 Review
49 Karma

Review on Dorman 42025 Spark Plug Thread Repair Kit: Restoring Ford/Lincoln Models Efficiently by Timothy Spinner

Revainrating 5 out of 5

The best repair at the best price!

Firstly, you are probably reading this review and looking at this product because you have a problem. I bought this as a backup but Dorman 42025 and NAPA 600-3248 are identical and I'm actually part of NAPA but it's less than what I paid for NAPA on the auction site. In fact, Revain has the best price ($37.42 and paid for free shipping) I've found. They average around $70 at dealerships and 40+ on this site, can't mention. I have a 1999 Ford Expedition with a 5.4 liter Triton engine and it had a blown spark plug on cylinder 3. It is the 3rd from the front on the passenger side. Yes. In fact, it comes all the way out of the hole. When this happens, your setup sounds like a freight train, but it also sounds like a blown exhaust gasket. I'm not a mechanic but I have most of the tools needed to work on a car although I hate doing it and will do my best to find the easiest and most inexpensive repair. it said. it is both! If you have a car at this age, there is no point in spending a lot of money on repairs. Before you believe me and buy that puppy, let me tell you a little story from my days as I searched the internet to find out what happened. so suddenly on my car. Yes, it happens quickly and there are few warnings, but you can drive some distance afterward. I drove about 20km to get home. However, it can be dangerous to drive if you don't unplug the fuel injector as you can easily start a fire, but by the time you're reading this it's probably over. I use the auto repair forums and discussions to research my issues and while they're a great source of information, the recommendations aren't always the only ones that work. I also have a 1990 Chevy truck that I still keep alive. Suggested responses to this repair included installing a new head and shipping it to your Ford dealer. They cost around $2,000 or more. Whoever says you have to replace a head is wrong, and you should always replace both if you have more money than sense. An inexpensive repair and subsequent sale of the car makes even more sense. Another repair was the Time-Sert 5553 repair kit, which costs about $400. You can also use a heli coil but you will also need a kit to install them and they are best done with the head off and on a bench where you can see what you are doing. I wouldn't spend money on Time-Sert unless you're afraid to go for a cheaper solution or plan on driving your car a lot of miles. and not me. I've found time and time again when doing vehicle repairs that the cost of the repair doesn't determine the quality and it's not the right way to determine which repair is the best. on the boards and many Time-Sert reps seem to have an agenda that doesn't include using the cheaper repair method. I don't care about Ford's warranties and recommendations because it was Ford that screwed up the design. There are many people selling these expensive kits, but if you break the connector you will never find anyone selling used ones when you need them. Finally, I doubt NAPA, Dorman, and who knows how auto parts stores would sell these kits if they didn't work. I've never found a post on a discussion forum talking about using this or anyone saying it doesn't work because those posts and threads will likely be deleted so you won't read about a fix that not approve them. can be a common problem on a 1998-2002 or so Triton engine and the plugs will loosen, wobble over time and eventually fly out of the engine. They cannot be screwed back in as the exit pin will strip the threads from the head leaving only a smooth hole. This means that each repair requires remachining the hole, making the hole too big for the spark plug. Then you have to insert the ring nut in the hole and then you can insert the spark plug. The time sert kit is expensive and should probably be sold after that if you decide to go with this solution. This dorman set is easy and can be completed in about 15 minutes. There is even a video on You-Tube on how to make a NAPA kit identical to this one. Remember that working with these engines is not easy and everything is difficult to access. On the passenger side, remove the fuel rail and injectors. No problem on the driver's side. and you will probably need to buy a new coil as they usually break when the plug pops out. Also, you can't see what you're doing unless it's the first few plugs, as they're recessed and tilted forward. The less you have to do the better, and this kit is just a step away and you don't have to see what you're doing. watch the video. You'll need a short 17mm head to get it working and a 17mm head to set it tight. 11/16 inches will do, but it's a little loose so buy something that fits. You will also need a 9/16 deep spark plug, some red lock-tite and some anti-seize to apply to the spark plug. Clean the inside of the part that comes with a plug to make sure the threads are not clogged. Mine had some dirt from the manufacturing process. It took me longer to get this stuff out of the way than the actual repair and I'm happy with that. If it ever burns again Which I seriously doubt. I will try a more expensive repair. While you're at it, replace any plugs and you'll fix any others that might be loose and you're Caution: With the plug removed, you have an open hole in the cylinder. So be careful not to drop anything when cleaning out, otherwise you could get completely screwed in the hole with a rag until you're ready to start the repair. was a simple fix and pretty reliable in my opinion and definitely a lot less than ever for a mechanic to do. However, if you don't have the time or don't want to get dirty, call and you can find someone who has the kit and they'll do it for a few hundred bucks if they need money. For me this was the best value for money and it took several hours to get it done from start to finish including swapping out other plugs. If you have a blown driver's side connector, a full repair can easily be completed in under an hour. It's up to you, but I have a spare unit in the truck to fix on the road if it ever happens again. Whatever you do, don't change heads because you will likely have the same problem and end up spending a small fortune on a car that isn't worth it. Much luck! Updated 03/20/11. 10 months and everything is fine. I replaced all the injectors as well as all the spark plugs on the rebuild and my MPG went up to around 16.5 so that's a real plus over the 9-10 I had before the spark plug burned out. I believe this replacement has been a success story for so long.

Pros
  • Decent Performance
Cons
  • ---