Changed spark plugs on Mazda 3, pics

[stranger706]

Just finished changing the spark plugs, and a few other things.

I'm no spark plug expert, how do these look? They are the original plugs, with roughly 96,000 miles on them. I thought the Mazda's came with NGK's but as you can see, these all say FOMOCO on them. They were replaced with Motorcraft platinums. The plug on the left sits right next to the oil filler cap, and I think the cap seal seeps a little bit of oil.

Car runs like new, always has, and I get above EPA mileage.

 

[buster]

We a 2007 with 41k on it. they don't look that bad.

 

[tom slick]

They look great.

Those are NGK plugs with a FoMoCo stamp. They have the NGK # right on them.

 

[Geo_Prizm]

I would have preferred NGK plugs as replacement.

 

[mechtech2]

Great for almost 100k.
The side electrode platinum seems to be eroded away to some extent.

 

[brandini]

Car is made for iridium as stock, I'd replace em with the right ones!

If you want to save a few bucks and get the same performance but change them 2x as often, get NGK IX series.

 

[SuperDave456]

Those look better than the Platinum Motorcraft that came out of My Ford Taurus 3.0 Vulcan after 98,000 miles.

 

[bdcardinal]

What was the motorcraft spark plug number you put in?

 

[digitalSniperX1]

As the man says, they come with iridiums and those appear to be iridiums with their tiny anode.

 

[stranger706]

MOTORCRAFT Part # SP469 {#AZFS22FEF4}
Plug Material: Finewire Double Platinum; Gap: .051; Type - Standard Service

 

[stranger706]

I'm curious, what is the difference between iridium and platinum?

Does it affect the performance or durability?

The Motorcrafts were ~$6 for a pack of 4, the NGK were $10 EACH.

 

[Lethal1ty17]

iridium is 8 times harder and 6 times stronger (or vice versa) than platinum. lasts longer and gives better performance.

 

[Jim_Beverlin]

Nothing wrong with Motorcraft platinum plugs. I use them in a Ford 4.0L SOHC V6 and a Chrysler 3.7L SOHC V6 with no problems. Last 100K miles with ease. For the price you paid they probably were not the double platinums which run $6 each at AZ.

 

[stranger706]

Correction:

The Motorcrafts were $4.21 each from Rockauto. I was looking at the wrong item on the order sheet.

 

[bdcardinal]

Originally Posted By: stranger706
Correction:

The Motorcrafts were $4.21 each from Rockauto. I was looking at the wrong item on the order sheet.


btw thats below dealer cost on those plugs.

 

[mechanicx]

What was the gap open up to on the old plugs?

 

[Lethal1ty17]

NGK iridiums do not disappoint. i'll post the pic later but after 30k miles they hadnt even eroded .001 and im not easy on stuff.

those old plugs look like the gap eroded quite badly

 

[paulo57509]

Typical looking NGK's with the brown ring around the porcelain/shell area.

BTW, why is the paper towel underneath the one on the far left oily?

 

[Paulson]

I just did this on my 06 Mazda 3 2.0L

They had 106k on them as I had just bought the car.

I replaced mine with champion iridium plugs because fleet farm didn't carry the NGK plugs I needed and I needed them right away. Cost me $29 and seem to do really well in the car!

 

[tripleM]

Originally Posted By: stranger706

Just finished changing the spark plugs, and a few other things.

I'm no spark plug expert, how do these look? They are the original plugs, with roughly 96,000 miles on them. I thought the Mazda's came with NGK's but as you can see, these all say FOMOCO on them. They were replaced with Motorcraft platinums. The plug on the left sits right next to the oil filler cap, and I think the cap seal seeps a little bit of oil.

Car runs like new, always has, and I get above EPA mileage.


Did you gapped them any closer?
The 2004-2008 Mazda 3's manual recommended .050-.053.
I've read on the Mazda3 forums some ppl running them down to .042.

I just bought some NGK Laser Iridiums from the great AAP sale (OEM replacement according to their site) & am thinking about gapping them closer to the .045 range.