Spark Plugs
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Spark Plugs
Trying to find out if spending 8$ a plug for the Bosch +4 Platinum Plugs is worth it??? I could just stick with motorcraft but i want to use a high quality product, if it has redeeming qualities that justify $$. Any ideas 
Thanks in advanace guys(or girls!)
98 Explorer EB 5.0
Thanks in advanace guys(or girls!)
98 Explorer EB 5.0
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Colorado, U.S.A!
Spark Plugs
I put the +4s in my 96 302. Ran just as good with the motorcrafts, but the dealer is the only place I can find motorcraft around here, so the Bosches were quite a bit cheaper. In light of recent events, next time I'll be sure to buy American! 
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From: Northern USA
Spark Plugs
DO NOT PUT BOSCH PLUGS IN AN EXPLORER!
Buy the Autolite plugs that are recommended for your model of Explorer (platinum or double platinum). They are the exact same plug as the Motorcraft.
Buy the Autolite plugs that are recommended for your model of Explorer (platinum or double platinum). They are the exact same plug as the Motorcraft.
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I am very happy with the idea of spending less $$$
But why not Bosch?
What is the drawback??
I'm not doubting you, I just want to be informed regarding my truck. BTW do you reccommend any particluar wire brand?
But why not Bosch?What is the drawback??
I'm not doubting you, I just want to be informed regarding my truck. BTW do you reccommend any particluar wire brand?
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I put the bosh in my explorer and the following occured in less than 10 k
started to miss fire and lost a cylinder.
Pulled all plugs and found that the bosh plugs had gone way out of gap and even better was that I found one had a loose insulator. This was on the dead cylinder.
I also noticed that the performance was down with the bosh plugs as well as the MPG from the day I installed them. Even new the Bosh plugs only gave me 16-18 mpg with the Doubble platnum I get 20-22 and on one tank that was all highway I got 24 mpg!!!!!
I will never use the Bosh again in my explorer.
Hope this helps
Dean
started to miss fire and lost a cylinder.
Pulled all plugs and found that the bosh plugs had gone way out of gap and even better was that I found one had a loose insulator. This was on the dead cylinder.
I also noticed that the performance was down with the bosh plugs as well as the MPG from the day I installed them. Even new the Bosh plugs only gave me 16-18 mpg with the Doubble platnum I get 20-22 and on one tank that was all highway I got 24 mpg!!!!!
I will never use the Bosh again in my explorer.
Hope this helps
Dean
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From: Illinois
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I used Bosh in my old X sport, now in my XLT and my wifes Focus... never had a problem and had 1 - 2 MPG gain. Nothing wrong with Bosh, they are a great plug. There going in my F-250 next week.
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Bosch plugs will give rougher idle, loss of gas mileage and an overall poor driving performance. Of course it will be more obvious on some cars than others but its ALWAYS better to go with Motorcraft/Autolite plugs (not to mention Autolite double plats for my 99 Explorer SOHC are cheaper than the Bosch +4s).
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Spark Plugs
Originally posted by devil421
Bosch plugs will give rougher idle, loss of gas mileage and an overall poor driving performance. Of course it will be more obvious on some cars than others but its ALWAYS better to go with Motorcraft/Autolite plugs (not to mention Autolite double plats for my 99 Explorer SOHC are cheaper than the Bosch +4s).
Bosch plugs will give rougher idle, loss of gas mileage and an overall poor driving performance. Of course it will be more obvious on some cars than others but its ALWAYS better to go with Motorcraft/Autolite plugs (not to mention Autolite double plats for my 99 Explorer SOHC are cheaper than the Bosch +4s).
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From: Northern USA
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The thing is, you _may_ be overlooking the negative performance (positive expectancy). Go on over to www.flatratetech.com and check the Ford Owners Support forum. There are several recent threads regarding the use of Bosch plugs in Fords. Most ASE Ford techs recommend NOT using them. Take a look, some interesting insights.
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From: Illinois
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Since I guess I am "overlooking" how my vehicle that I have driven and worked on for 76,000 trouble-free miles is performing I'm going to leave this thread with this last bit of info for nhfire 77...
There is about a 50/50 split on the plugs over there and there is a lot of good and bad info about them. General consensus it to stay away from the +4, but the rest of the Bosch line up is fine. I am on my second set of Bosch Platinums (change every 30,000) and have had no problems and a mild MPG gain. I hope I can "overlook" the same effects on my F-250 when I put them in it this weekend.
Ultimately, it is up to you, research... then buy... you can't go wrong. Good luck.
There is about a 50/50 split on the plugs over there and there is a lot of good and bad info about them. General consensus it to stay away from the +4, but the rest of the Bosch line up is fine. I am on my second set of Bosch Platinums (change every 30,000) and have had no problems and a mild MPG gain. I hope I can "overlook" the same effects on my F-250 when I put them in it this weekend.
Ultimately, it is up to you, research... then buy... you can't go wrong. Good luck.
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From: Northern USA
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I had no intention of insulting. What I meant was that sometimes things can appear better than they really are.
I went through that with the Bosch plugs but after hearing what happens with those plugs, I DID start to notice the rougher, loopey idle and I realized why my gas mileage had been going down. I didnt even think to attribute it to the plugs eventhough it did start right after installing them. I recently swapped in Autolite APP103 double plats and the idle returned to it's normal, solid rpm and the gas mileage went back up a few mpg.
The point was that sometimes performance losses are overlooked or not realized, either on purpose or by accident.
Either way, from what Ive seen the consensus is to stick with OEM plugs for best performance (Motorcraft/Autolite).
I went through that with the Bosch plugs but after hearing what happens with those plugs, I DID start to notice the rougher, loopey idle and I realized why my gas mileage had been going down. I didnt even think to attribute it to the plugs eventhough it did start right after installing them. I recently swapped in Autolite APP103 double plats and the idle returned to it's normal, solid rpm and the gas mileage went back up a few mpg.
The point was that sometimes performance losses are overlooked or not realized, either on purpose or by accident.
Either way, from what Ive seen the consensus is to stick with OEM plugs for best performance (Motorcraft/Autolite).