Changed out sparkplugs in Ford Vulcan V-6

[Snagglefoot]

I changed out a set of plugs from Platinums to Iridiums in a Ford Vulcan 3.0 OHV V-6. This might be interesting to some Bitiggers because it was an available engine in Ford Rangers from from 1991 to 2008 and there happens to be a ton of them left.
This plug change was in a 2005 Taurus with a sideways V-6 with 50,000 miles on it’s second set of Platinum plugs.

The engine uses a waste spark setup and the result of it was the plugs in the front bank were toast and the plugs in the rear bank were still good. One plug from each bank is shown beside a new Iridium. Here are all 6 plugs. Guess which one is from the front bank. More later.

 

[Snagglefoot]

The new plugs are NGK Iridiums which I obtained from my local parts supplier Lordco Auto Parts. They are “ Made in the USA with Japanese Parts”
Enjoy.

 

[THORROMIG]

I used recently NGK Laser Iridiums in a good friends 2004 Vulcan. Car idles and runs smooth. Good choice of plugs.

 

[oilboy123]

Had a Vulcan 98 Taurus, good car........ I used Motorcraft spark plugs.

 

[Snagglefoot]

A few more details on the Iridiums. They show up on Rock Auto but I got them at my local parts counter. They had protectors on the electrodes which I thought was a nice touch. Enjoy.

 

[ka9mnx]

A couple of years ago I changed out the OEM plugs to Denso Iridium's in my 95 Ranger 3.0 with the same results. They didn't last a year. Back in went Denso Double Platinum's.

Same results with the 05 4Runner with waste spark setup. Back in went stock Denso dual electrodes.

 

[Snagglefoot]

Here is some stuff on the Ford Vulcan engine for engine history fans.

 

[repairman54]

I had a plug blow out of the head in my '00 DOHC 3.0 Sable at 150k miles. Did the thread HELICOIL repair and put Iridium plugs in it. Sold it running fine at 220k miles.

 

[D60]

I've driven an '03 Ranger 2wd with this motor and been thoroughly underwhelmed. You're left asking yourself if there's really six (six, are you sure??) cylinders under there.

 

[THORROMIG]

I've driven an '03 Ranger 2wd with this motor and been thoroughly underwhelmed. You're left asking yourself if there's really six (six, are you sure??) cylinders under there.

Well than you should try there 4 cylinder version. Buddy of mine growing up had a Ranger with the 4 cylinder and manual. Loaded it up with boxes from his basement he was donating to a local church. Barely could make it up the hill to deliver the goods. Lol --- that topic and laugh would come up often when we would get some beers in us back in the day..

 

[THORROMIG]

The 04 Vulcan that I maintain -- car is dead silent. You cant even hear if its running and thats with 201K on the engine.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I had a plug blow out of the head in my '00 DOHC 3.0 Sable at 150k miles. Did the thread HELICOIL repair and put Iridium plugs in it. Sold it running fine at 220k miles.

Yes, apparently it was a problem and the heads were re-designed with more meat around the spark plug holes and more thread was added to to both the thread in the head, and the spark plug thread. The actual sparkplug length was not changed and the plugs with longer threaded section are also compatible with the shorter threaded section heads.

 

[D60]

Well than you should try there 4 cylinder version. Buddy of mine growing up had a Ranger with the 4 cylinder and manual. Loaded it up with boxes from his basement he was donating to a local church. Barely could make it up the hill to deliver the goods. Lol --- that topic and laugh would come up often when we would get some beers in us back in the day..

For years I daily'd an '88 2wd RCSB (note: last year of pre-brick nose) w 2.3 and 5 speed. It didn't seem much slower than the 3.0

I did a 750# scrap run once with my '88. The scariest part was having to worry about emergency avoidance at speed so I drove VERY defensively Fortunately we're rural so the roads are quiet.

 

[Kruse]

I've had several 3.0 Vulcan motors that have been in my arsenal. Going by memory here: A 3.0 Aerostar, a 3.0 Ford Ranger and my mom had a 3.0 Taurus. The 3.0 Ranger with the 5-speed has been one of my wife's favorite vehicle. Just so people aren't confused here, the 3.0 Vulcan is really a lot different than the DOHC version mentioned above that found their way in a few Early Escapes that I've owned. Perhaps the 3.0 DOHC should have been put in a few early Rangers.
Reputation wise, the 3.0 Vulcan is one of the most reliable engines that Ford has built, even if it can be a little underwhelmed. One of the annoyances of the 3.0 Vulcan is that the oil filter sits right on top of the starter. So there have been a few early starter demises because the oil always drips down on the starter and can eventually get inside of it and shorten the life.
There are NO hot-rod parts for the 3.0 Vulcan. Perhaps that's why it remained so reliable.

 

[bdcardinal]

Well than you should try there 4 cylinder version. Buddy of mine growing up had a Ranger with the 4 cylinder and manual. Loaded it up with boxes from his basement he was donating to a local church. Barely could make it up the hill to deliver the goods. Lol --- that topic and laugh would come up often when we would get some beers in us back in the day..

Our parts truck/lunch transportation vehicle at work is a 2004 Mazda B2300 with 200K+ miles. It is a perfect truck for that purpose and we have absolutely abused it, including having a 6.0 Powerstroke longblock in the bed. But the power is underwhelming at best.

More on topic, I have noticed that Motorcraft seems to be leaning more NGK as their spark plug vendor on the newer stuff.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I've driven an '03 Ranger 2wd with this motor and been thoroughly underwhelmed. You're left asking yourself if there's really six (six, are you sure??) cylinders under there.

To be fair l, they upped the compression from 9.3 to 9.5 in 2004, but still nothing to write home about.

 

[Snagglefoot]

I've driven an '03 Ranger 2wd with this motor and been thoroughly underwhelmed. You're left asking yourself if there's really six (six, are you sure??) cylinders under there.

To be fair l, they upped the compression from 9.3 to 9.5 in 2004, but still nothing to write home about
Whoops. Double Tap.

 

[brages]

Well than you should try there 4 cylinder version. Buddy of mine growing up had a Ranger with the 4 cylinder and manual. Loaded it up with boxes from his basement he was donating to a local church. Barely could make it up the hill to deliver the goods. Lol --- that topic and laugh would come up often when we would get some beers in us back in the day..

I went from a 1998 Ranger with the Vulcan to a 1997 with the Lima 2.3. Extended cab, even.

I much prefer the 2.3 over the Vulcan. Tough little engine. Mines at 315k, been through two teens, and it's not an oil burner. I replaced the head a couple of years ago, though.

 

[brages]

A bit more on topic, I got my Vulcan Ranger for nearly free from my brother in law because it had a miss. New plugs fixed the miss. Fun fact with the Ranger is Ford speced different plugs for right and left banks. One with platinum ground, one with platinum electrode.

Dual platinum could be used in either bank ...

 

[DuckRyder]

Ive not had much luck with anything but morcraft in my Ranger. It is the only application i wont use NGK in...