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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 01:44 AM
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best spark plug?

i have recently purchased an 2001 F150 with a 5.4L engine. i am goin to do a some tune up and upgrades to the truck and was starting with a few things like the spark plugs. i have an 87 5.0L mustang and have always ran the bosch platinum 2s and i believe that i am only supposed to run either motorcraft for autolite in the modular engines. my question is what is the best performance spark plug i can get or do i just stick with the motorcraft. i personally have never liked the autolite just bc a lot of the times i have changed spark plugs in the fords and i pull autolite out they look way worse than i have ever seen motorcraft. they just seem cheap to me. any info would help. thanks to all.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 06:41 AM
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Most with that motor---including myself---use the MotorCraft brand but the equivalent Autolite part works well too. Most who've veered from the MC or AL brand seem to experience a loss of performance and MPG's.

While I don't know for certain I once read most aftermarket plugs regardless brand name do not have the same thread profile as MC & AL, that the plug holes in the heads have a different thread profile which MAYBE contributes to blown plugs. Along with using anti-seize there might be a disagreement but in general MC or AL are the recommended plugs to use.

Check your COP boots too----they tend to give problems if cracked or worn out due age.

HTH
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 10:37 AM
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Yep, MC or AL and make sure they are the platinum.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 10:57 AM
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I used (2006 Mark LT) Motorcraft SP 515’s
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 11:40 AM
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Motorcraft Double platinum plugs will run best in your 2001 F150.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 11:55 AM
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if i do the double platinum mc do i have to watch out for the plugs burning to hot...i just heard by word of mouth that it could burn a hole throught the piston or piston wall is that true bc iv never seen it...lol thay might be a dumb question sorry. but like i said i used them in my 5.0 and never had a problem they ran great from what i could tell.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 07:14 PM
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uhhhh sp515 is the name. motorcraft built
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by F150in4x4
if i do the double platinum mc do i have to watch out for the plugs burning to hot...i just heard by word of mouth that it could burn a hole throught the piston or piston wall is that true bc iv never seen it.
No....each plug has a specified heat range, whether its non-platinum, single plat., double plat., etc......with as thin of electrode as is being run, the double plat. plugs will have greater durability to last longer....much longer than a single plat.
 
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Old Jan 15, 2012 | 07:44 PM
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SP515 is only for the 3v 2004+ engines.
 
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Old Jan 19, 2012 | 07:41 PM
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Plugs

I have 07 with a 5.4 Flex Fuel engine. I put Champions in about 10K ago and I seem to be the exception to the rule. No drivability issues, no negatives with the Champions. I even picked up a little mpg in the process (changed out the MC's at 42K) over the MC plugs. I have nothing but positive comments and not having any 2 piece plugs in the engine is a benefit.

Mine is 100% stock mechanically and that might be why mine is working so well. I've gotten 20.6 mpg out of it on the highway (19.3 best with the MC's) and that's not bad for a Heavy Half SCab, 8' box with 4.10's in it. I average around 15 mpg in town on winter gas.
 
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