I have a 1983 f-150 5.8.what are the best plugs for this engine? I have only 83000 orignial kms on this truck.Only used ocasionally for hauling my sxs and odd jobs.I was thinking of nkg iradiam but mabey I should stay with a copper core because of the low miles.

 

I have a 1980 f150 and put oem motorcraft plugs in it. Runs good. 175000 miles. Also changed distributor cap/rotor and wires when I did it. It has an electrical issue with the charging system right now but I havent had any fuel/air mix issues pops or backfires. I think it is about the gapping of the plug being done right and also I used dielectric grease on the wire boots when I connected them and also on the threaded ends of the plugs.

 

many people here like autolite coppers. i put bosch coppers on mine and it's fine. whatever you choose i'd opt for the copper.

 

I use E3 plugs in 4 vehicles including my 86 300cid. They run great.

 

I used to think the same thing about the E3's...

 

Just for standard cheap plugs I would go with Motorcraft.

 

2003 Saturn SUV
2000 Mustang
2005 Colorado
1986 F150
Thousands of miles of teenager, female, and my mostly mild driving. Most guys won't use them because they are different. BUT, I must point out, all of these vehicles have high voltage ignition systems. My 86 has a DUI distributor. So I don't know how well they perform on a lower voltage stock ignition system used on older vehicles. Sorry, I should have mentioned that before.

 

I replaced my plugs with motorcraft platinium plugs which i got from the dealer for a reasonable price for my 82 F250. I also replaced my wires with ford racing wires from a local speed shop.

 

After a LOT of research into the differences in spark plugs and the technology behind them, I've learned the following.

Copper plugs = better over all performance but need to be replaced more often.

Platinum plugs = less performance than copper, but last longer between replacement periods (don't erode as quickly)

Iridium = basically the same as platinum in terms of performance/replacement intervals.

Basically, as far as most people are concerned, a spark plug is a spark plug. Copper plug conducts electricity a slight bit better than platinum plug, but copper corrodes and will break down faster from repeated use. Platinum (most are actually just a very fine platinum coating) last a lot longer, but do not offer the over all conductivity of a copper plug.

Having personally experimented with many brands and types of spark plugs out there, I can honestly say there is very little difference from one plug type to the next. You can pay $8 per plug and get the "placebo" effect and think your vehicle is running a lot better or you can get the $2 plug and not worry about the fact that you just spent 4x too much on your spark plugs.

To sum up, if you want to change your plugs less often, use the Platinum plugs (by all means, please do). If you want better actual performance, buy the copper "resistor" plugs and change them a bit more frequently. The difference is very slight, but it is there.

I will have to say after having tried the E3 plugs in my Jeep, they do make a slightly noticeable difference in the right-off-the-line take off. The reasoning I've found for this is because they don't have the main electrode ground-strap directly over the conductor electrode, but rather in a "c" shape around it. This supposedly allows the spark to start burning straight out towards the piston rather than curving out, THEN around. Now please bear in mind that this is just my "feeling" on the matter, and as stated before could just be a placebo effect as they're $6 each... I got mine for free so I'm not out anything but the time it took me to change them.

 

I also recommend Motorcraft plugs.

Autolite plugs used to be of good quality, but in my experiences since they switched production over to china, I've gotten a few of them defective new out of the box.


Some people will say Autolite and Motorcraft are one in the same. This used to be the case, but not anymore. Ford had to sell their Autolite brandname back in 1972 due to the federal government determining it was a monopoly on autoparts. Since mid 1972 Autolite has been a independant aftermarket company. This company also makes Fram filters, etc...