I am about to swap a stock set for a new one and I can't decide between the Iridium plugs from NGK/Denso vs. the Platinum+2/+4 of Bosch. Is the Iridium really worth the extra cash? I've read a lot of raving about the Bosch Platinum Plusses but I was wondering if my Expedition would survive with their factory pre-gap setting.

Bosch has just announced a new type for their plugs for this fall but I haven't seen them on the market. Read this for more details http://www.aa1car.com/library/2004/us30428.htm

 

Stay with the Motorcraft OEM plug!!!

 

I would also stay with motorcraft.

 

Motorcraft $2.49 at Autozone, or $7.50 at dealer for SAME plug..

 

I don't mean to be **** but after doing a lot of reading in this thread I finally realized why one must be EXTREMELY cautious in picking the right plugs for this car particularly due to the infamous history of "plug blowout's" in the engine. Any other engine and I would go with Bosch but that's too much of a risk in this case.

I have found a lot of good info on this site but I can't find plugs with the exact same spec’s as the ones I am pulling out of my car i.e. AWSF22E anywhere. They have apparently been discontinued. That's at least what Google’s saying on some websites and confirmed by the owner's guide which has the following recommendations somewhere near its end

"* Replacement double platinum spark plug “EE” will replace “E” and
“EG” and “P” will replace “P” and “PG” suffixed spark plugs."

Now Autozone uses SP479 for the Motorcraft part # which is nowhere near AWSF22E or AWSF22EE. My concern is about dimension differences if any between SP479 and AWSF22E i.e. I don't want the SP479 to get anywhere nearer to the pistons than the stock AWSF22E.

If anyone has seen these two plugs, SP479 & AWSF22E, side by side and perhaps had a chance to examine the sizes of each base along perhaps with the thread count on each I would appreciate any input they might have. If not, I'll just have to head down to Autozone and do it on the spot.

TIA,

Bob

PS: I’ve got a '98 EB XP 5.4L

 

I just checked the Motorcraft site, and it calls out AWSF22E for "L" engine code, and SP479 for other engines.

 

thread length is different but base/collar size/lenght are exactly the same.

Even called dealer parts thats where I talked to them and verified that indeed the SP749 is the exact one that Autozone carries(for my 5.4L) anyways.

I just swapped ALL my plugs last week so I had a chance to see them BOTH side by side.

I repalced them all at 66K dues to a blown out sparkplug on # 3 cylinder** that needed a Timesert installed.

**** poor design n the Triton head lead to over 17million other failures like that.

**This issue hould have been a recall if you ask me.. Ford doesnt fess up to it but the dealer parts dept sure nows about it!

 

Motorcraft plugs:
AGSF=full thread
AWSF=half thread
12,22,32,42=heat range(lower is colder)
C=Copper
P,PP,E,EE,EG=platinum
FM,FM1=fine wire platinum

Modular engine spark plugs are all the same .708" reach, 14mm thread, taper seat plugs.

JL

 

Got my plugs a few weeks back at autozone for my 4.6 which called for SP493. Yours should be the SP479. My plugs did also have the AW????? number on it as well.

 

I use the Denso's myself. I paid $12 per plug they have to be better right?

 

Took a set of bosch out of my 4.6L there where 35,000 mile on them and trashed went back to the OEM I hope to get longer life out of the new plugs.

 

After Froogling around I landed on some AWSF22E's at RockAuto.com. They show them discontinued but my online order still went through. I figured at $1.43 a pop I couldn't go wrong. They might not match the quality of the newer Double Platinum or Finewire Platinum but size was of essence due to their blowouts. They still should last me between 60K-100K miles according to Motorcraft http://www.motorcraft.com/products.do?item=18

As far as specs are concerned, I found the following very enlightening



So both plug size & application are basically coded within the first 3-4 letters while suffix letters (1 or 2) designate metal coatings (Copper, Nickel, Platinum & Iridium) of the plug electrodes. This is all discussed in details in the following article http://www.crownvic.net/tech/sp_101.html which I found very useful in describing Ford Motorcraft specific characteristics for variations of these plugs.

Now has anyone compiled a list of the XP engines (year, engine volume displacement i.e. 4.6L vs. 5.4L, 2WD vs. 4WD & XLT vs. EB) that have exhibited these blowout's and whether this took place on stock plugs or aftermarket.

I know I am just the new kid on the block but I can't help drilling into this kind of stuff. Again, thanks to everyone for all the insight on this issue.

Bob

 

That image link for the spec's didn't seem to work in my last post so here is a direct shot to it.


http://info.rockauto.com/Motorcraft/sparkPlugs.htm

 

I don't like a non-plated plug down in that hole where water can collect and rust the plug to where it breaks off (this happened to my Mom's Maxima) so I went with the NGK Iridium plugs (nickel plated). I have right at 50K on them and the truck still runs great. Just knocked down an average 18mpg on a trip to the MIL's for Thanksgiving running a/c and 75mph with 4 passengers. I got them at O'Reilly for $6/each.

 

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I believe motorcraft came out with a replacement spark plug SP479 (with more threads) to replace the original AWSF22E to compensate for the blow out problem in the 1st generation expy's. If your order showed discontinued they will most likely send you the replacement plugs (SP479) unless they have a few still on the shelf.