My 97 F150 now has over 148,000 miles and its getting close to tune up time. Has anyone tried the splitfire plug in their vehicle? I would like to try them but I would like some imput from anyone out there that has used them in their ford. Mine has the 4.6 v8. Is it worth the extra cost or should I just save my money and use ordinary motorcraft plugs like I have been. Any opinions or actual experiences with them would be greatly appreciated.

 

I HAVE USED THEM IN MY DRAG CARS BEFORE. THEY WORK WITH THE PROPER WIRES. I RUN BOSCH 4 PRONG IN MY F150 NOW.

 

Thanks for your opinion. You mentioned if the right wires are used, can you elaborate on that? Also, I wouldn't use all caps when writing in, I got scolded about it the first times I started using this website, it's considered shouting. You have an older ford with the pushrod v8, did it at least improve your mpg? I already get decent mileage, esp on the highway, up to 19.2 on one trip I took. But what I really want is some extra oomph on take off and for passing.

 

Sorry about the caps. I used Accel 8mm plug wires and accel cap and rotor. Yes is did inprove the mpg

 

Thanks again for your input. I seem to recall the company that makes the splitfire plugs also has a set of wires specifically designed for that plug. I just wonder if it's available for the more modern modular v8 that my truck has.

 

yes they will work with your truck. i had a 98 dodge ram that i put a set in also.

 

a tune up is fine, but dont look to a spark plug for a horsepower gain. you wont gain any hp over an Autolite/Motorcraft copper plug with a SplitFire. a spark plug is a spark plug. there is a perfect heat range, gap, and depth to every engine, and the proper plug will make the most power. it doesnt matter what the electrode or ground strap(s) looks like.

remember to never use a platinum plug in a true high performance engine, or one that sees sustained high RPM.

 

I partially agree with Adam Culpepper and disagree with the platinum shot.

Truth is there are a couple of platinum plugs that do very well at high rpm pressures and heat. I race them in my Harley drag bike.

All of the multi electrode plug designs actually shroud the gap and slow down the combustion process.

The better method is to index the plugs to all have the gap opening facing the intake charge. If they are all the same, it balances out the combustion between all the cylinders and there is a modest 3-5 hp gain possible in a typical V8 and a very slight increase in MPG.

The only real benefit to High energy wires and coils is mostly lost on folks who then install plugs with the standard gap. You get a faster burn if you can increase the gap.

Most all the crap you see hocked with page long ads will not live up to a real world dyno run. Spark plugs generaly fall into this category.

Adam is correct, .97cent autolites are as good or better than the $2 or $3 fancy packaged plugs.

 

I had a set of Bosch Platinum plugs in my '88 turbo coupe. I replaced them with Split Fire plugs. Bad mistake! With the split fire plugs car doesn't seem as strong as it did with the Bosch's. When the car is first started up and cool, it will almost die in between shifts till it warms up. I'm going back to Bosch plugs, or Autolite Platinum's are good too. Never will use Spit Fire's again. Idexing the plugs as Fred said is a plus also.

 

I'm in agreement with Adam and Fredvon4, with one exception:

Platinum tipped plugs will survive longer than the regular steel tip, but they have a habit, at least in the Chevy LS1 engine (no flames please), of dropping the platimum pad. I haven't used them in my 460 or other vehicles.

I buy standard plugs when they're on sale, two or three sets when they get below a buck.

 

gentlemen, platinum is a catalyst.

as you may or may not know, a catalyst is something that gains and holds heat quickly. in the case of platinum, the plug actually superheats. platinum is used in spark plugs for the purposes of staying hot enough to keep the electrode clean for many, many, thousands of miles. thats the whole logic between chosing hot or cold plugs. for max performance, you want the coldest plug you can get that wont foul. for maximum service life, you want the hottest plug that wont over heat. i know a fella who works in the Ford dyno labs in Dearborn and they use specific thermocoupled spark plugs (not cheap) for testing purposes. he sent me some paperwork one time on the steps they have to take to chose a plug for an engine, and its basically an educated game of trial and error.

the reasoning behind why platinum is bad for performance engines is that the tip of the plug superheats itself and becomes a tremendous risk of preignition. under no circumstances should a platinum plug be used in a forced induction application, or one that sees prolonged high rpm. its simply suicide in a nitrous motor.

i am aware that certain motorcycle racers use platinum plugs, but the situation is different. even though all engines work on the same principles, operating conditions and combustion parameters vary enough in harley-type engines to allow such a plug. even still, i would not personally run one.

 

Okay, I guess getting the splitfire plugs won't turn my truck into a rocket so I will stick with the motorcraft platinum plugs it came with. Thanks for all the input guys. On a related subject, does it matter if you change out the plugs on a warm or cold engine?

 

never change the plugs on an aluminum head when its warm. iron heads are less of an issue, but just the same, youre better off waiting three hours or so.