Long story short, I have a car with 150,000 miles on it that has never had it's spark plugs replaced. Idling is a little rough and fuel economy has dipped slightly recently, so I am doing some maintenance on it. I've done quite a bit of stuff already (Oil/Filter change, fuel filter change, PCV valve change and so on). The car is a 2001 Ford Explorer Sport Trac 2WD and am looking to get some spark plugs. I'm thinking I may get some iridium spark plugs so that they will essentially last for the rest of the life of the car. Would you recommend this? I was looking to get some Bosch or NGK but haven't replaced spark plugs before. I am confident that I can do it, but am just looking to get some recommendations on what brand to use.
Spark Plug Replacement
- Thread starter ericgcollyer
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iridium or double platinum. Depends on your wallet, both will last. Sounds like the factory plugs did well. I like ngk.
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Well, you definitely NEED To replace the spark plugs.
How long have you had it with no spark plug changes? At 12 years and 150K miles ... you might have a hard time getting them out without breaking them / stripping the threads.
How long have you had it with no spark plug changes? At 12 years and 150K miles ... you might have a hard time getting them out without breaking them / stripping the threads.
I have had it since 2007 without spark plug changes (but likely they are the original plugs). It's just something I have overlooked. I generally have tried to keep it in good shape, but again, the spark plugs I have overlooked. I wouldn't mind spending as much as $10 a piece on the plugs (assuming they will actually last longer and/or perform better than the $6-$7 plugs). Do you have any specific NGK model you like or recommend? I was planning on getting the parts off Amazon, is there a better place to get them?
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I would stick with the motorcraft plugs, they have given you great service and you can buy them online from advance and save 15 percent, pick them up at the store. It is a spark plug and it will do the same job as the higher buck options.
Your owner's manual should have the specific spark plug size/type. I'd get that number/make, then cross reference. I changed the original plugs in my 2003 GMC 2 yrs ago, 75,000 miles. After 7+ yrs they should at least come out & have fresh 'anti-seize' applied.
With my GMC the preferred plug actually changed twice over the 8 or so yrs since the trug was new. I put in an iridium type, probably the last time I change them. You can check with Google & maybe a Ford forum site for the type, engine specific.
You may need to buy a 'boot puller' to get the plug boots off, & maybe an extension with a socket that will hold the plug for retrieval. At times I add a piece of cut rubber hose inside the socket to hold the plug as you lift it out.
With my GMC the preferred plug actually changed twice over the 8 or so yrs since the trug was new. I put in an iridium type, probably the last time I change them. You can check with Google & maybe a Ford forum site for the type, engine specific.
You may need to buy a 'boot puller' to get the plug boots off, & maybe an extension with a socket that will hold the plug for retrieval. At times I add a piece of cut rubber hose inside the socket to hold the plug as you lift it out.
What ever you do stay with motorcraft or even autolite. I have a 03 lincoln aviator similsr to the explorer and mountaneer and i teplaced them with somr bosch it gave me a misfire and threw them out so i went eith an autolitd sincr they used to be fords part maker it it starts right up. I bought the copper ones so whrn i changr em ill go back to motorcraft i wanna keep it mostly all OEM
Honestly last time I changed plugs I used $1.99 Autolite coppers and they work just fone
If it is originally double or single/reverse platinum for waste spark system, you want to use waste spark instead of iridium. Having iridium on the reverse firing side will not last unless the side electrode also has a precious metal disk / tip that last long.
I've never been one to hold the belief that any plug makes better power than any other plug and since I'm the kind of guy who likes to maintain my vehicles I usually buy the cheapest copper plug out there and swap them yearly however I've gotta to admit I've found a plug that definitely felt like it made my motor more peppy.
I just bought an 88 mustang with a 5.0. Previous owner had those ngk pin tipped iridium plugs. They looked basically new when I removed them and when I went to Canadian tire I had every intention of using those same plugs however the only plugs that fit my engine that Canadian tire had 8 of we're the E3 diamond fire ones.
Again I expected no change in performance and the plugs I removed were clean and new looking.
The car pulled better off idle right up to 5500rpm and the difference was felt immediately. Never did I even think for a moment a plug can increase power over any other plug when new. But these E3 plugs definitely made my mustang run better.
And they were cheaper than the ones I pulled out so they actually saved me a few bucks in the process.
I just bought 8 more for my 4V mustang since I am just in awe with the difference in this old5.0.
Again I never believed in any of the hype and always thought a plug was a plug and those big dollar plugs just lasted longer,I was wrong.
Just my experience
I just bought an 88 mustang with a 5.0. Previous owner had those ngk pin tipped iridium plugs. They looked basically new when I removed them and when I went to Canadian tire I had every intention of using those same plugs however the only plugs that fit my engine that Canadian tire had 8 of we're the E3 diamond fire ones.
Again I expected no change in performance and the plugs I removed were clean and new looking.
The car pulled better off idle right up to 5500rpm and the difference was felt immediately. Never did I even think for a moment a plug can increase power over any other plug when new. But these E3 plugs definitely made my mustang run better.
And they were cheaper than the ones I pulled out so they actually saved me a few bucks in the process.
I just bought 8 more for my 4V mustang since I am just in awe with the difference in this old5.0.
Again I never believed in any of the hype and always thought a plug was a plug and those big dollar plugs just lasted longer,I was wrong.
Just my experience
I would use iridium. Ever since I replaced them in my daughter's Malibu at 110,000 miles and they looked like new, they are the ONLY plugs I will use!
I would use what ever is in the owners manual. Be careful taking the old ones out. A couple squirts of PB blaster before removal would not hurt.
Use what the car came with or recommends
Double plats are fine.
The OEM plug would appear to be an obvious choice, since the plugs you have installed currently have apparently lasted a long time.
It would be interesting if you posted photos of the removed orginal plugs.
I've used Denso double plats in the past in a Ford V-6 with good results.
NGKs are regarded as the go-to plug by many members.
Bosch plugs are usually on the do not buy list except where they are OEM replacements.
Any double platinum plug should last as long as you're likely to drive this vehicle.
The OEM plug would appear to be an obvious choice, since the plugs you have installed currently have apparently lasted a long time.
It would be interesting if you posted photos of the removed orginal plugs.
I've used Denso double plats in the past in a Ford V-6 with good results.
NGKs are regarded as the go-to plug by many members.
Bosch plugs are usually on the do not buy list except where they are OEM replacements.
Any double platinum plug should last as long as you're likely to drive this vehicle.
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I've never been one to hold the belief that any plug makes better power than any other plug and since I'm the kind of guy who likes to maintain my vehicles I usually buy the cheapest copper plug out there and swap them yearly however I've gotta to admit I've found a plug that definitely felt like it made my motor more peppy.
I just bought an 88 mustang with a 5.0. Previous owner had those ngk pin tipped iridium plugs. They looked basically new when I removed them and when I went to Canadian tire I had every intention of using those same plugs however the only plugs that fit my engine that Canadian tire had 8 of we're the E3 diamond fire ones.
Again I expected no change in performance and the plugs I removed were clean and new looking.
The car pulled better off idle right up to 5500rpm and the difference was felt immediately. Never did I even think for a moment a plug can increase power over any other plug when new. But these E3 plugs definitely made my mustang run better.
And they were cheaper than the ones I pulled out so they actually saved me a few bucks in the process.
I just bought 8 more for my 4V mustang since I am just in awe with the difference in this old5.0.
Again I never believed in any of the hype and always thought a plug was a plug and those big dollar plugs just lasted longer,I was wrong.
Just my experience
Pin type iridium plug is very sensitive with gapping to match with your ignition system capability. You need to match what is the original plug electrode size and the gap, to maximize the benefit.
For example, if your original plug is standard copper plug with 0.8 mm gap, you may gap around 1mm with the small electrode iridium plug. If you put the same 0.8mm gap, the engine will still run and idle perfectly, but the torque curve will suffer.
I've never been one to hold the belief that any plug makes better power than any other plug and since I'm the kind of guy who likes to maintain my vehicles I usually buy the cheapest copper plug out there and swap them yearly however I've gotta to admit I've found a plug that definitely felt like it made my motor more peppy.
I just bought an 88 mustang with a 5.0. Previous owner had those ngk pin tipped iridium plugs. They looked basically new when I removed them and when I went to Canadian tire I had every intention of using those same plugs however the only plugs that fit my engine that Canadian tire had 8 of we're the E3 diamond fire ones.
Again I expected no change in performance and the plugs I removed were clean and new looking.
The car pulled better off idle right up to 5500rpm and the difference was felt immediately. Never did I even think for a moment a plug can increase power over any other plug when new. But these E3 plugs definitely made my mustang run better.
And they were cheaper than the ones I pulled out so they actually saved me a few bucks in the process.
I just bought 8 more for my 4V mustang since I am just in awe with the difference in this old5.0.
Again I never believed in any of the hype and always thought a plug was a plug and those big dollar plugs just lasted longer,I was wrong.
Just my experience
Pin type iridium plug is very sensitive with gapping to match with your ignition system capability. You need to match what is the original plug electrode size and the gap, to maximize the benefit.
For example, if your original plug is standard copper plug with 0.8 mm gap, you may gap around 1mm with the small electrode iridium plug. If you put the same 0.8mm gap, the engine will still run and idle perfectly, but the torque curve will suffer.
Originally Posted By: fdcg27
Double plats are fine.
The OEM plug would appear to be an obvious choice, since the plugs you have installed currently have apparently lasted a long time.
It would be interesting if you posted photos of the removed orginal plugs.
I've used Denso double plats in the past in a Ford V-6 with good results.
NGKs are regarded as the go-to plug by many members.
Bosch plugs are usually on the do not buy list except where they are OEM replacements.
Any double platinum plug should last as long as you're likely to drive this vehicle.
Bosch OE Iridium is fine plug..but can't vouch for other model especially the one with fused electrode
Double plats are fine.
The OEM plug would appear to be an obvious choice, since the plugs you have installed currently have apparently lasted a long time.
It would be interesting if you posted photos of the removed orginal plugs.
I've used Denso double plats in the past in a Ford V-6 with good results.
NGKs are regarded as the go-to plug by many members.
Bosch plugs are usually on the do not buy list except where they are OEM replacements.
Any double platinum plug should last as long as you're likely to drive this vehicle.
Bosch OE Iridium is fine plug..but can't vouch for other model especially the one with fused electrode
Installation instructions for iridium plugs say do NOT attempt to gap the plugs...that they are pre-gapped for the specified engine.
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Installation instructions for iridium plugs say do NOT attempt to gap the plugs...that they are pre-gapped for the specified engine.
and this happens specifically because people tend to somehow break them during gapping or otherwise throw the gap WAY off.
i've seen plugs that weren't supposed to be gapped that were closed up to less than half of the specified gap.... running them like that would have been a waste of time and would have required pulling the plugs again.
Installation instructions for iridium plugs say do NOT attempt to gap the plugs...that they are pre-gapped for the specified engine.
and this happens specifically because people tend to somehow break them during gapping or otherwise throw the gap WAY off.
i've seen plugs that weren't supposed to be gapped that were closed up to less than half of the specified gap.... running them like that would have been a waste of time and would have required pulling the plugs again.
Originally Posted By: RobertISaar
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Installation instructions for iridium plugs say do NOT attempt to gap the plugs...that they are pre-gapped for the specified engine.
and this happens specifically because people tend to somehow break them during gapping or otherwise throw the gap WAY off.
i've seen plugs that weren't supposed to be gapped that were closed up to less than half of the specified gap.... running them like that would have been a waste of time and would have required pulling the plugs again.
You should still check the gap, but don't "gap" it to proper specs. If an iridium plug isn't gapped properly, you take it back and exchange it.
Like the other guy said, do not gap an iridium plug but DO check it!
Originally Posted By: KitaCam
Installation instructions for iridium plugs say do NOT attempt to gap the plugs...that they are pre-gapped for the specified engine.
and this happens specifically because people tend to somehow break them during gapping or otherwise throw the gap WAY off.
i've seen plugs that weren't supposed to be gapped that were closed up to less than half of the specified gap.... running them like that would have been a waste of time and would have required pulling the plugs again.
You should still check the gap, but don't "gap" it to proper specs. If an iridium plug isn't gapped properly, you take it back and exchange it.
Like the other guy said, do not gap an iridium plug but DO check it!
"It is always best to check the gap against the manufacturer's specifications. If adjusting the gap on fine wire or precious metal plugs such as platinum or iridium be very careful not to apply any pressure or prying force to the fine wire center electrode or insulator as they can be damaged. The gap should be adjusted by only moving the ground electrode"
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/faqs/faqpregap.asp?mode=nml
So, according to NGK, iridium plugs should be checked and regapped if necessary. Just don't be ham handed and damage the center electrode.
http://www.ngksparkplugs.com/tech_support/spark_plugs/faqs/faqpregap.asp?mode=nml
So, according to NGK, iridium plugs should be checked and regapped if necessary. Just don't be ham handed and damage the center electrode.
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