Anyone have any recommendation on spark plug type for a 97 4.0L?

I did a search and it seems the Bosch platinum are out.

Stick with Motorcraft?

Platinum or Copper?

Sounds like a real "fun" job.

 

Stay with the Motorcraft double platinums, or "fine wire" platinums....There is no reason to use the Motorcraft copper, unless you enjoy changing plugs every 25K-30K miles.....Bosch are a no-no in a Ford!!!

 

I had a Ford technician tell me to stay away from platinums.

He said go with the copper ones and you won't have any problems.

That may be true, but as you say, this doesn't sound like a job you want to do every year.

Maybe he was saying that thinking I would bring it in for the change .

 

Maybe he was talking about Bosch platinums.....Motorcraft platinums run great....Just remember to use a little (very little) anti-seize compound on the threads of the new plugs, and a generous portion of dielectric grease in the plug wire boots. While you are at it, it's a good idea to replace the plug wires also.....

 

Thanks Bob.

The guy I bought the van from said there were platinums in it. I'm not sure what brand though. I guess I'll find out.

I am planning on changing the wires too. I had a problem with a miss under load up a hill. Code said misfire on #5.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=262206

 

I run Bosch Platinum 2. They run fine no problems. I do not know why people say not to run them in a Ford. I feel they are a better design than any plug on the market.

 

Here is some info from an article on those Bosch plugs.
It is from a Volvo driver, but the info on "coil pack" ingitions
pertains to Aerostars like the 4.0
================================================== ==
Debunking the Myths & Legends: Bosch Platinum
Friday, 4 September 1998

For years there has been a lot of contradictory information surrounding
the results of using Bosch Platinum spark plugs. These myths and legends
had bled over into Volvo 850-dom, which I found odd, as the 850's engine
management system is by Bosch, and also because they worked so well for
me! Further, even after I'd proclaimed the Bosch Platinum plugs fit for
(even severe) service in my 850 Turbo, it seemed like some owners of these
cars had a remaining aversion to or doubts about Bosch Platinums, likely
due to lingering doubts over these persistent myths and legends and mechanics' tales.

After a bit of digging, I came up with a phone number for Bosch technical
support: 800-521-5462

(While I was "only" asking spark plug questions, I was left with the impression that this might be a useful resource for solving a stubborn
Motronic problem as well.)

I will now attempt to debunk for you the myths and legends surrounding Bosch Platinum spark plugs:

Bosch acknowledges a problem with using their Bosch Platinum spark plugs
in engines with ignition systems that employ 1 coil for each pair of spark
plugs (also known as a "waste spark ignition system").

In cars with conventional (1 coil, distributor/rotor) ignition systems
(including the 850 Turbo with Bosch 4.3, 4.4 engine mgmt systems), there
is no problem. In fact, not too surprisingly, according to Bosch, the
maker of the 850's engine management system, the recommended plug is the
Bosch Platinum FR7DP, which is what passed with flying
colors my tests-under-fire in my engine.

The problem that Bosch has acknowledged when using their Platinum plugs
in engines with waste spark ignition systems stems from the tendency of
electrode metal to get transferred depending upon the polarity (direction
of current flow) of the spark. In waste spark ignition systems, 1/2 of the
plugs always see reverse polarity sparks. Given the very narrow platinum
center electrode of the Bosch Platinums, performance will be degraded more
significantly when reverse polarity sparks will cause material to be
transferred from the large ground/outer electrode onto the narrow platinum
center electrode's exposed end surface.

In cars with conventional (1 coil) ignition systems, every spark is of
the same polarity, for which the Bosch Platinums are optimized, leaving
them to deliver their designed-in advantages, which include:

o reaching self-cleaning temperature faster ("than any other plug")

o maintaining the spark gap and low firing voltage requirement throughout
their service life. (even in my high-stress turbocharged application)

While there remain some cars with conventional ignition systems which
do not seem to get along very well with Bosch Platinums, which seemingly
no one can explain (maybe all their sparks are of the 'wrong' polarity
in some cases), they did and do good work in my '95 854 Turbo.

 

Just for a bit more info, the transfer of material to the center electrode that the writter talked about is EXACTLY what happened in my case. You could actually see a "mushroom" of material on the center electrode and on two plugs it was almost touching one of the ground electrodes. And, all of this took place in about three weeks from the time I installed the Bosch plugs!
I put in the motocrafts and never looked back.

 

Get the Factory plugs at the dealer. They give better MPG. I tried all the others and MPG went south.

 

This explains why I never had problems with Bosch. My 93 is conventional as is my Kia and was my Jetta.

 

Wait a minute, my Kia has no distributor so it may NOT be conventional....no problem .

 

I've stuck with Autolite Double Platinums, work very well. Just changed a set after over 60k miles, they weren't worn very badly at all, I think the wires were the culprit.