Hi Everyone -
Looking for some information here.
First, I will admit that I fell for what seems to be two of the biggest intake issues with the F150 (from my readings on this forum so far) - the Volant CAI and the Airraid TB Spacer.
I had installed many different intakes over the years with no problems on various types of cars and trucks. I fell into the hype and put on the Volant and the fear of blowing my engine apart from going to lean on a hwy drive after the install since there was no word on having to do a ECU Re-map made my head spin. It is going back this week with some strong language to Summit Racing...
I had also installed the Airraid TB spacer on my last truck (a dodge) and it seemed to work well. On my 05' F150 (with 5.4ltr) I did notice the mileage go up quite a bit (about 2.5) on the hwy after the install, but it seemed to come back down and I doubt I gained any performance.
I hadn't driven my truck in about 2 weeks due to work and vacation for the holidays and when I took it into work today and had to do a hard acceleration while highway driving, I felt hesitation - not as bad as when the Volant was on, but it still did stumble a bit.
Could this be the Spacer or maybe that the truck just set for so long while I was gone? Its just not something that I'm used to (only had the truck since 11/26) so I'm still not used to all of the quirks, although it was checked out from stem to stern by a Ford dealership after the Volant intake install and removal, and while the TB spacer was still on the truck.
Any advice would be great. Thanks!

 

souds like you ran it way too lean and are in desperate need of a plug change...

 

Before I fall for another gimmick, what plugs do you all recomend? I put those E3 diamond fire plugs in my v8 dodge and was totally disapointed....

 

They are still the 2 piece plugs but I don't think you can go wrong with the Motorcraft. Just coat the shank with the nickel antisieze and they should come out with no problem.

 

Motocraft or autolite for the plugs

 

Autolites suck in these triton motors, so don't use 'em

 

Well, I hope its the plugs. I floored the truck on the way home twice doing about 70mph and the engine stumbled and sort of made a backfire noise. any type of "normal" driving seems fine.
I know from reading one of Mike Troyer's posts that the 5.4ltr will sometimes not show a check engine light or throw any codes even though its still in a "lean" condition. I pulled the negative cable on my battery twice after taking off the intake in the hopes that it would reset my ECU...do I need to go to the dealership and see if there is a code that needs to be reset?

 

you may have a COP on the way out

 

Sorry - I'm not familiar with that one. What is a COP?

 

Coil Over Plug

 

If you ran lean enough or lean long enough, you probably damaged the plugs. Get them changed and see if the problem goes away. If it doesn't, then the stress on the plugs may have weakened a COP. Also, if the fuel filter has over 20,000 on it, change it out.

 

Thanks for the help guys!
If I do end up replacing the COP's on my truck, is there a better "aftermarket" version that I should be looking into, or will stock versions do the job even after some mild modifications (intake, exhaust, tuning, etc)?

 

Stock COPs are more than adequate. They can be pricey unless you get them off ebay. Global or Uneek

 

What does everyone think of the champion 1 piece plugs? seem a bit more pricey, but may not snap during removal? Im reading all sorts of horror stories now of these two piece plugs snapping off!

 

Personally, I don't think you can get a better performing plug than the Motorcraft. Once you have the originals out, you go back with nickle antisieze on the shank, so you should have no problem removing the second set.