I'm getting ready to make a long trip up in the mountains app.4000 miles. I have a 1996 exp. v-6, 112,000 miles. I run 10-30 castrol. I am thinking about new plugs. It seems there are so many types of plugs that are supposed to do all these great things. Can anyone actually tell me a real good plug to put in, & if there is anything else besides filters that can help me on gas milage please let me know. Oh yes, I always check my tire pressure. I just thought if I changed my plugs the way the price of gas is it might help. ANY HELP at all will be appreciated !

 

I don't have a recommedation for a specific plug, but if the plug wires are original, I'd change them as well. Also, the easiest way to get to the passenger side plugs is thru the wheelwell.

 

You can't go wrong with original equipment....Motorcraft.

 

Motorcraft platinum plugs and high quality wires should do.

 

I went with the Bosch Double Platinum. I think they were 3.99 at auto zone.

 

nhfire - how long did you have them? Is the engine running ok? I considered putting Bosch Plat. 4, but I heard it might cause knocking on the Explorer, that's why I went with Motorcraft

 

I have had them in since Feb. No Knocking, not even on heavens door. I think they work very well, I researched for a week before buying them. I found them to be the most reliable, and cost effective for my engine.

 

I had Bosch +4 in my 99 SOHC. I took them out after a few thousand miles because they made my idle loopy and my gas mileage went down.

 

Aha! I guess there was some truth to what I heard.

 

Always best to go with OE when it comes to spark plugs

 

OK Fellers,------I appreciate all the come back on sparkplugs. Do anyone of you have a 96 exp.v-6 & if so, what is your mpg.

 

Get the Autolite double platinums for your engine. They are the same plug as the Motorcraft but a fraction of the price.

 

I looked all over, check the F150 forums especially, and Autolites are NOT exact OEM specifications. Now, back in the day, I don't think there was that much difference. Spark plugs were spark plugs...

If you're buying double-platinums, you're gonna pay for them. Especially Motorcraft, let me tell you -- and they can be tough to find. But everything good is tough to find. Bosch gets terrible reviews, some people have probs with Autolites, nobody complains about Motorcraft.

Again, double-platinums should last you 100,000 miles (the single plats that come stock are rated for only 60,000). Which means, most likely, this'll be the only time you have to do it. So fork over the extra bucks, get Motorcraft, and be done with it. I promise you, once you do the plugs in a 4.0 SOHC Exploder, you will NEVER want to do it again! People have had to pull out their Bosch's or their Autolites, and do them over again... learn from them.

BTW, quick note, pull off the wheel and the whole splashguard inside the fender (it's not hard, 3 minutes) on the passenger's side to get at all the plugs on that side. People have done it from the top, but it's insanely difficult (take a look at that plug in the back, from the top ), and will probably cost you for crazy tools.

In fact, I would do it for the driver's side, too (go in thru the wheel well, i mean). The plugs on the driver's side were no picnic either (I broke off the T-handle on mmy oil dipstick, and jammed a finger pretty bad, not to mention you can't see the holes so you have to use the force to guide the plugs in -- if you go from the top like I did.).

With the wheelwell off, you can sit on the floor and look eye-level at the plugs and the holes.

 

Interestingly there seems to be conflicting information on this subject. I have heard it confirmed from reliable Ford techs that Autolites are Motorcrafts with slightly different markings. I recall one gentleman even going so far as to cut the plugs open to compare and they were identical internally and externally. I believe if you research further you will see that both plugs are made by the same company. Business-wise it wouldnt make much sense to develop two plugs so close together then make very minor changes to separate them. Dunno. Anyway, I can speak from personal experience that I pulled the Bosch +4's and put in the Autolite PP's. MUCH BETTER!

 

I've had all three brands (Motorcraft, Bosch & Autolite). Just changed to the Autolites and so far are the same feel and mpg as originals (Motorcraft), and the Bosch were 2 mpg less on average. But to settle the argument about Autolite being the the same as Motorcraft, I suggest taking a look at these websites:

http://www.ford.com/en/company/about...motorcraft.htm
http://www.autolite.com/about/index.html
http://www.fostoria.org/history/autolite/autolite1.html

The last one is a history of the Electric Autolite Company that the Ford website mentions about the name being changed to Motorcraft in 1972.