I have a 97F150,4.2V6,85K miles.I changed out the factory plugs at 70k miles and went back with the factory recommended DPs#42EE.Well,recently ive had a rough idle.I cleaned the MAF,IAC,new fuel filter,etc.Well,I decided to pull a plug from each bank and look at there condition.When I installed them I gapped them to factory specs,.054.The gap is now .066 after just 15k miles.A friend said to go back with Autolite or Motorcraft copper plugs because this motor responds better to copper plugs.Any opinions or feed back to this is greatly appreciated.
Copper plugs over Double Platinum
- Thread starter BlueOvalFitter
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The fact is that some cars/ignition systems just plain give trouble with platinum spark plugs. The Dodge/Plymouth Neons, from 1995 models to present, show this trait. For every Neon that platinums work well on, there are several others that give trouble, often costing owners hundreds of $$ to try to fix other things-(after all, it just got new plugs last week/month/year, couldn't be those, right?
)- when less than $6 for new plugs would fix it.
If it was mine, I'd give it a try, & since it's a Ford, stick w/Motorcraft or Autolite as per the advice. That'd be, what, less than $16 for 8 plugs? I bet they'd last for at least 15,000 miles too. I ran the factory copper core plugs(Champions) in my Neon for 89,988 miles
with no problems.
[ March 15, 2003, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Hughes ]
If it was mine, I'd give it a try, & since it's a Ford, stick w/Motorcraft or Autolite as per the advice. That'd be, what, less than $16 for 8 plugs? I bet they'd last for at least 15,000 miles too. I ran the factory copper core plugs(Champions) in my Neon for 89,988 miles
[ March 15, 2003, 03:49 PM: Message edited by: Stuart Hughes ]
Copper plugs will give you more voltage over the gap since less is dropped over the electrodes (copper is a better conductor than Platinum). This will allow you to run a larger gap, resulting in more power and better mileage. The trade off is that copper will not last as long. If you prefer longevity over performance (since you opted for the v6) plats will work fine.
For Copper I suggest a gap between .058 and .060
For Plats I suggest a gap between .054 and .056
Check out fordchip.com they are ford tuning gods.
[ April 14, 2004, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: rugerman1 ]
For Copper I suggest a gap between .058 and .060
For Plats I suggest a gap between .054 and .056
Check out fordchip.com they are ford tuning gods.
[ April 14, 2004, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: rugerman1 ]
BlueOvalFitter,
After changeing back, did your idle smooth back out?
After changeing back, did your idle smooth back out?
DEWFPO,yes,my idle is better.Better start up too.Mileage increase also,but i'm going to run a few more tanks to determine how much better mileage is.I'm going to pull the plugs and regap them again this week.
Try the Iridiums next time (better than Platinums). These suckers really work!
Sprintman,is there a website for these plugs?Ive heard about them,but where can I get them? Cost?
www.sparkplugs.com has both NGK and Denso iridium plugs.
Some engines, like my BMW, just prefer copper plugs. Bosch and NGK both work well in that car.
I do not like Autolite because of the soft ground electrodes that burn away quickly. Motorcraft is OEM for Ford, NOT Autolite.
Some engines, like my BMW, just prefer copper plugs. Bosch and NGK both work well in that car.
I do not like Autolite because of the soft ground electrodes that burn away quickly. Motorcraft is OEM for Ford, NOT Autolite.
Jimbo,Autolite makes Motorcraft plugs.How do I know this? I went to both websites and asked;"Autolite makes ALL Motorcraft plugs here in the USA" was both websites responses.
WWW.NGKSPARK.COM.AU for Iridium info. I use in both a Mazda turbo and a Sube Outback. Check the better flame pattern on URL above.
For performance silver electrode are the best because it is the best conductor. Yes! better then copper. Interested? Take a look at Beru Silverstone plugs. Unfortunately, they are all non-resistor. Again, only for performance resons.
Next best is copper.
The only reason for developing all those platinum/iridium/4 electrode/etc. plugs is longevity of the plug. These metals do not burn off as quick as copper and the gap stays stable over a long time...in order to go to those 100,000 mls. tune up intervals. For any
Next best is copper.
The only reason for developing all those platinum/iridium/4 electrode/etc. plugs is longevity of the plug. These metals do not burn off as quick as copper and the gap stays stable over a long time...in order to go to those 100,000 mls. tune up intervals. For any
I've found, especially with GM cars, that the platnium tips come off very early in the plugs life, and the gap is then at about .080 or so
That's how my 99 Grand Am was at about 20K. New plugs made it run much better.
The material specs must be different. I have gotten triple the life from Motorcraft vs. Autolite. The ground electrode is where I see the difference in wear.
Jimbo,you bring up a good point.How about contacting Autolite/Motorcraft and ask them why that is?Keep me informed.
Not sure I understand the question. Theres a very thin center electrode and you don't gap them. I had my best dyno figures ever after adding them and noticeably smoother engine compared to std NGK coppers I used previously.
I've got an NGK platinum brochure here, and in it, it shows a "secondary discharge" area between the centre electrode, and the insulator, which apparently blows the area clean, leaving a nice white ring around the centre electrode.
Just wondering if it's really there, or just an advertising fluff.
Just wondering if it's really there, or just an advertising fluff.
I may pull one to check ans see as thery have plenty k's on 'em now...s
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