I got the new 04 5.4L engine. I was wandering what are good aftermarket plugs for in it. Someone told me that changing out the factory plugs with the first oil change is a good idea.

 

You should not need a plug change yet. I went to 98,000 before I changed my original plugs. They were still in pretty good shape.

 

I ran 116,000 miles on the orignal plugs and wires without any problem. 1998 4.6L F150 2WD. When I did change them it did restore some power and it ran a bit smoother.

On The Road Again

Randy

 

after that many miles, i should hope so. I believe the plugs are platinum, and they do last a long time, but the hype about going 100,000 before tune ups, etc, is just a bit lazy. more frequent maintenance should do you well.

 

My advise would be not to change them until you run up to 100,000 mi. unless you have reason too (hard driving, stop & go, towing, ect.).

They're not the easiest plugs to change nor the cheapest. When you do change them go to the more expensive platinum plug and set them at the min. to get the most out of them.

I have read that some people shy away from Autolite plugs but have really heard of no reason as to why.

Hope this helps

 

I changed the plugs in my Windstar at 116,000 miles. Other than the gap was a little wider than spec (obviously should be), they still worked fine.
The double platinum plugs will last a long time, and with the modern computers controlling the fuel mixture and timing, the wear on the plugs is a lot less than the older, not near as efficient engines.
I am not going to change mine in my 01 5.4L until either 100,000 miles or one blows out of the head. Whichever comes first. Man I really hope that it is 100,000 miles.
Jimmy

Oh and the new 3V heads use an all new design of plug, so I'd doubt that there is much else out there anyway.
Jimmy

 

in this day and age, i would never change the plugs on a brand new engine . (unless converting it for racing or some other special purpose application). i would run those new 2004 plugs to 100,000 mles or until they gave me a problem, whichever comes first (in normal use) and change at 60,000 miles or later if lots of short trips/ heavy loads.

 

Thanks for the info guys

 

not to mention what a chore it is to replace the plugs on the 5.4L....

 

My thoughts are that since Fram oil filters and Autolite are under the same company (Allied Signal), people automatically feel the autolites are bad since the fram oil filters are bad.

I don't use Fram Oil filter, because of their shoddy design, but that doesnt mean they dont make other good products.

I've used autolite plugs as well as motorcraft plugs in all kinds of motors.....both have done well by me.

Autolite DP's are currently in my wifes Taurus and my F150.

 

I recall hearing (take it with a grain of salt) that motorcraft plugs were produced on the same line as autolites years ago. As far as companies and contracts go, that could no longer be true by now (if it ever was).

I'm very sure that the autolites ended up having a 3/8 " longer thread than the motorcraft OE plugs I changed on my truck at 60K miles. It could be the design was changed? or I got the wrong plugs, and they work just fine. We had a thread about the change out procedure a few months back and I appeared to be the only one with the oddball design when I brought it up then.

I think the autolite dp's perform very well, but you don't need to change the OE plugs until the truck starts running rough.

-Kerry

 

We use autolites exclusively in our ford powered race cars, and have had very good results.

 

If you want performance, change to a copper spark plug. If you want longevity, use the platinum. In any event, since it takes the same amount of effort to check them and gap them, I recommend you replace them at half the manufacturers recommended interval. Cheap troubleshooting. Kind of like keeping your oil changes at 3000 miles vice what the manufacturer recs.

Motorcraft and Autolite are similar. But I personally will stick to the motorcrafts. The heat ranges are so much easier to figure out.

 

The new 3 valve per cylinder 5.4L engine uses a specially developed, long reach spark plug. There are no aftermarket replacements......you have to use the Ford parts. Be sure to torque them to 25 ft-lbs.

There is no need to replace these plugs before 100,000 miles.

Regards,
Dave

 

what plugs to use? most newer high volt systems use a double platnium plug, some plugs are just platnium coated on the tips and can wear off sooner than you want to spend more $$$$$$$.
most of the fords use autolite platnium plugs that are installed on the build line. some of the GM line vehicles list plug replacement @ 30,000 miles. so as far as when to change them look in your owner manual, and as to what plug to use most auto parts stores (carquest / napa ) can tell you what was installed when new and what to replace with.