OT Better efficiency through spark plugs

Toby Oats · Oct 23, 2012

Hey Everyone,

I"ve got a 2005 F150 4.6 V8 and it"s about that time for new plugs. I don"t know a whole bunch about spark plugs but what do you guys think, Replace with OEM or go to something better?

Thanks for any knowledge you can provide on the topic. I greatly appreciate it.

Toby

buickanddeere · Oct 23, 2012

How can ultra turbo whiz bang blitzburg spark plugs ignite more than 100% of the air/fuel mixture?

Toby Oats · Oct 23, 2012

Well what i was aiming more for is i'm aware there are different types of cores in spark plugs and some are supposed to have a positive effect on engine performance, longer life, etc. Of course these are more expensive like everything that's "supposed" to be better. The question i'm really asking is if anyone has purchased a different core spark plug and noticed a difference and is it worth the increased price? Just for clarification of my above question.

JayinNY · Oct 23, 2012

I'd just use what the engine came with, are they motocraft plugs? I always used AC deco plugs in my 70s 80s Chevys, r44t i think,,,????but since gm stoped building trucks years ago, and I don't own any gm past 89, i couldent tell u what gm uses now, it's all ford powerstroke 7.3 now! And heavier frame to boot! Lol

CAROGATOR · Oct 23, 2012

If that is a Triton engine , you should Google Ford Triton Engines and study before starting to change plugs.

Dean · Oct 23, 2012

Why do you believe that there are better (more efficient) spark plugs than the OEM design?

Dean

Johnski · Oct 23, 2012

I just went through this on my 2002 F150 with a 5.4l engine. I looked at a bunch of different plugs and ended up using the OEM motorcraft plugs. I went 109k miles on the first set. Don't forget to replace the boots also, and use plenty of dielectric grease on them. HTH, Jf

oldtanker · Oct 23, 2012

(quoted from post at 19:48:14 10/23/12) Hey Everyone,

I"ve got a 2005 F150 4.6 V8 and it"s about that time for new plugs. I don"t know a whole bunch about spark plugs but what do you guys think, Replace with OEM or go to something better?

Thanks for any knowledge you can provide on the topic. I greatly appreciate it.

Toby

Now think about that for a second. They have the CART rules they have to meet plus customers to keep happy. Do you really think that any of the car companies are going cheap on something like plugs? Or for that matter that any one brand is going to provide better mileage and performance. If that were true every car and truck would be using the best (same brand) plug out there because they can not afford to let the other companies be able to claim that all thier vehicles get better performance and mileage cause they use brand A and not brand X like (insert company name here).

Back in the 90's a guy I knew complained about his car getting worse mileage and the performance dropping off. I checked it out for him and found that he was past due new plugs and had at least one plug wire that was bad. He insisted on Split Fires because he had seen the ads. So I did the tune up and put new wires on his car. Man was he ever sold. Could not convince him that had he just gotten regular plugs and new wires he would have seen the same improvements just because his car was now running on all 8.

Rick

BCnT · Oct 23, 2012

there ARE different resistance values...back in the early 80's there were FOMOCO products buckin and wheezin all over...the culprit...Andy Granatelli's Tune Up Masters and Bosch plugs...thanx to Andy's customers i had a very good few years...plugs were incompatible with ECC3 & 4 and feeding back into electronics.

2x4 · Oct 23, 2012

the Bosch 4-prong non-adjustable plugs guarantee 2 mpg better or your money back. My yr. 2000, 2500 Chevy 6.0 l. did get that much better mileage. Pricey but worth the difference for me.

ShadetreeRet · Oct 23, 2012

Can't go wrong with Motorcraft, OEM.

big fred · Oct 24, 2012

Toby, I have a '06 F-150 with 4.6 and after looking it over, I've decided I'm gonna bite the bullet and have the dealer change the plugs when that time comes (several years away for me). It's gonna cost north of $400, but I don't see any way I could get at the back plugs without becoming a contortionist and probably buying some "special tools". I use the truck less than 10k miles a year, so amortizing that $400 over the life of the plugs comes to about 35-40 bucks a year.

Pete76NY · Oct 24, 2012

Toby, Having owned Fords for years, I have NEVER seen any improvement at all running any type of "improved" or after market plug in any Ford Engine...I have in fact had fairly significant bad luck...I bought a "95 Taurus from a coworker who had just done a "super tune up"; Split Fires, Hot Wires...and then it wouldn"t start twice for him in the dead of winter so he bought a Chevy Malibu and had the local U Pull It yard coming to get it, I paid him $200 (the body was great and although it had 96000 miles and the awful 3.8l engine, both the tranny and the engine had been replaced by for at about 60000) fixed the end on the small wire to the starter, put in a new windshield and started motoring, within 2000 miles it was stalling, spitting, sputtering...gotta be that 3.8 huh? I had it on a scanner...no help....my buddy a Ford Mechanic keeps telling me put stock plugs in it...but I figured why with Split Fires in it...finally broke down and did it! That was 8 years ago and truthfully it was the best vehicle I have ever owned...unfortunately at 260000 mile it needed all new struts, cv joints, a gas tank, and an evap cannister, tires, the tranny was starting to leak, a was losing a lil coolant somewhere, and the NY winters had started to to claim the body...so I decided that putting the money into it was too chancey and let it take the trip I originally saved it from. Truthfully of all teh vehicles I restore...that car deserved it more than anyone!

MarkB_MI · Oct 24, 2012

The supposed advantage of iridium plugs is they have a smaller electrode than platinum, so in theory they generate a hotter spark. The downside, as I see it, is that this technology is fairly new, so reliability may not be as good as platinum. I bought some Bosch platinum plugs back in the early 90's, and they only lasted about 5000 miles before one of the center electrodes drifted out and shorted the plug. That said, I just put a set of iridium plugs in my Triumph motorcycle and it ran very well afterwards.

WGM · Oct 24, 2012

Do yourself a favor and get the dealer to do it. You will be glad you did.

Kenneth R Ohnstad · Oct 24, 2012

What some of the boys are trying to say is, quite often, the plugs break off in the heads or the threads come out with the plugs.
good luck
k

ASEguy · Oct 24, 2012

For all electronic ignition systems I use OEM unless the parts are not available.

Sprint 6 · Oct 24, 2012

If that is a three valve Triton engine, be very careful removing the plugs. If you go just yanking them out, you will find yourself in a bad spot when they start breaking off.

Bryan inIowa · Oct 24, 2012

I don"t think the 4.6 has the breakage issues like the 5.4 . 5.4 uses a plug with a loooonnng shell over the electrode . You can tell right away the difference between the two . OEM is the way to go,especially with the 5.4 as they have redesigned the shell on those goofy plugs. It is a chore with either one . I do suggest new COP boots at same time as plugs . be sure and torque plugs to spec! There are several Youtube videos detailing plug replacement .

buickanddeere · Oct 24, 2012

Just the difference in spark plug service life.
Is your vehicle a daily driver and trailer towing rig? Or a supercharged nitro methane fueled dragster?

John M · Oct 24, 2012

Buddy of mine put E3s in his truck, same engine. Swears hes getting better mileage, but then again, the old ones had like 200000 on them.

jbp · Oct 24, 2012

Just had the plugs changed on our 2003 Taurus bought new with the 24 valve engine. It had 101000 miles on it and had never been touched otherwise. It always got about 25-26 MPG around home, around 30 on trips. Still runs about the same with the same MPG. We did take it to the Ford dealer. They also changed the coolant and transmission fluid. The bill was 338 dollars. Not bad for 9 years of trouble free service. Joe

buickanddeere · Oct 24, 2012

And we keep hearing people wishing for the good old days. With leaded gas, carburetors, points, v- belts, manual or automatic chokes and bias ply tires.

rodgernbama · Oct 24, 2012

I got 127000 miles on my 4.6 F150 plugs. They need changing and I'm trying to decide if I want to tackle it or take mechanic.

OT Better efficiency through spark plugs

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