What plugs do you use?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 340
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From: NY
What plugs do you use?
What manufacturer makes platinum plugs and what is the part number?
While my owners manual says not to change the plugs for 60,000 miles, I can only get about 35,000 before the electrodes have disintergrated. Right now I am using the Champion truck plugs.
While my owners manual says not to change the plugs for 60,000 miles, I can only get about 35,000 before the electrodes have disintergrated. Right now I am using the Champion truck plugs.
New User
Joined: May 2003
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From: FLORIDA PANHANDLE
What plugs do you use?
I use Autolite or Motorcraft and have had good luck, haven't messed with changing heat range yet though. I know 5.0 motors like plugs 1 or 2 heat ranges cooler than stock. Just a personal opinion, but I never cared much for the Bosch platinum, they are overpriced and only have a tiny smaller than the head of a pin tip of platinum, but if you have good luck with them more power to ya!
Robin
94 F-150 4x2 Xtracab I-6 5spd 170,000 or more miles, odometer was broke when I bought it.
Robin
94 F-150 4x2 Xtracab I-6 5spd 170,000 or more miles, odometer was broke when I bought it.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 628
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From: Colorado
What plugs do you use?
I've had my Bronco for 11 years now - and 163,000 miles. I'm on my fifth set of Autolite platinums (AP-45's). It would be the fourth, but I fouled a set with my new 390, running jets that were 3 sizes too rich - for five days. The platinum tip is tiny, but very resistant to erosion.
A spark will leave a flat surface 90% easier than a rounded one, so... as long as the center post is flat (and the rest of the plug undamaged/not fouled), the plug is O.K. You can add many good miles to a regular set of plugs by filing a LITTLE off of the center post to keep it flat (& regapping them).
The platinum tips reduce the need to do this - I haven't even tried as they go 50K with the stock ignition. At $2 ea. instead of $1, I think they are a good investment, provided you don't have some other problems which might cause premature plug failure.
A spark will leave a flat surface 90% easier than a rounded one, so... as long as the center post is flat (and the rest of the plug undamaged/not fouled), the plug is O.K. You can add many good miles to a regular set of plugs by filing a LITTLE off of the center post to keep it flat (& regapping them).
The platinum tips reduce the need to do this - I haven't even tried as they go 50K with the stock ignition. At $2 ea. instead of $1, I think they are a good investment, provided you don't have some other problems which might cause premature plug failure.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 340
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From: NY
What plugs do you use?
I and my partners have 3 of the same trucks and all of them blast the electrodes away on the plugs whether they are Champion or Motorcraft. Have not tried platinum yet.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 9,987
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From: Memphis, TN
What plugs do you use?
Originally posted by broncr
A spark will leave a flat surface 90% easier than a rounded one...
A spark will leave a flat surface 90% easier than a rounded one...
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Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Colorado
What plugs do you use?
Originally posted by steve83
No, voltage is highest at sharp points, so it leaves the edges of that flat surface. They put a flat on the electrode so that it has a LOT of edge. The platinums can use a finer point because they don't erode as fast.
No, voltage is highest at sharp points, so it leaves the edges of that flat surface. They put a flat on the electrode so that it has a LOT of edge. The platinums can use a finer point because they don't erode as fast.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 18,488
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From: The Big, Oregon
What plugs do you use?
I run Autolites in my truck, and NGK V-powers in everything else. I may try NGK's on my truck next tune-up, but it runs good on the Autolites. In my experience, the only thing that runs halfway decent on Champions is Dodges and lawnmowers.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37
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What plugs do you use?
Somebody was telling me about finding the right bosh platinum+4 for his motor when they didn't produce them. If I had access to a stash of bosch plugs I'd try and find one that would thread into my inline. Course it would be a hassle to find the right gapping. But I do know that on my friends 350 it made quite a difference with the 4-prongs verses the single.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37
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What plugs do you use?
I am using the autolites platinums as of now. But I would be interested in any (if at all) performance gain that the bosch p4's would give. Plus I am not really willing to mess around too much with swapping in and out plugs that were not designed for my engine.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,417
Likes: 3
From: Durham, NC
What plugs do you use?
Bosch P4 WILL NOT give you a performance increase. Matter of
fact, NO MAKE plug will give you a performance increase, unless
the plugs you take out are worn out, and need replacing....IMHO.
One other thing, I question if Bosch plugs are the correct heat
range for Ford engines......
fact, NO MAKE plug will give you a performance increase, unless
the plugs you take out are worn out, and need replacing....IMHO.
One other thing, I question if Bosch plugs are the correct heat
range for Ford engines......
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 37
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What plugs do you use?
Only Bosch uses a pure platinum center electrode that's heat-fused into a ceramic insulator to eliminate air gaps which exist in platinum alloy-tipped plugs. Platinum+4 reaches its self-cleaning temperature faster for smoother acceleration and better fuel efficiency. Plus, Platinum+4 adds 75% more pure platinum over that of Bosch Platinum to its center electrode, providing a longer performance life.
That's directly from the boschusa.com site. I have no experience with my vehicles, only with my friends vortec 350. It did seem to accelerate better. Now that might just be the new plugs. But he swears up and down that it feels better than it did brand new. And he swears that he gets slightly better gas mileage. It might just be his chebby brain looping out, but then again it might not.
As for the heat range, I believe that they have more than 1 for the p4's?
edited to add link:
http://www.boschusa.com/AutoParts/Sp...PlatinumPlus4/
That's directly from the boschusa.com site. I have no experience with my vehicles, only with my friends vortec 350. It did seem to accelerate better. Now that might just be the new plugs. But he swears up and down that it feels better than it did brand new. And he swears that he gets slightly better gas mileage. It might just be his chebby brain looping out, but then again it might not.
As for the heat range, I believe that they have more than 1 for the p4's?
edited to add link:
http://www.boschusa.com/AutoParts/Sp...PlatinumPlus4/
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 628
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From: Colorado
What plugs do you use?
No offense, but I'd be surprised to hear Bosch (or any other manufacturer - for that matter) say anything but good things about their own product. I can't say ANYTHING about the others. I've had NO trouble and LONG life from Autolite platinums. They are definitely worth twice the price of regular Autolites - they last three times as long.