There is a thread in "Inline Six" where Autolites are being recommended. One poster even said Autolites are at least as good as Motorcraft. I always thought Autolite was inferior to Motorcraft. So I purposely limited this poll to the two brands. (I know a lot of you Ford folks like Champion, but if you only could choose between Autolite and Motorcraft, which would it be?)

INLINE SIX POWER! '95 F150 XL
300 Cubic Inches of Low RPM Truck Torque! And twin-I-beams too!
"Drive a stick young man! There'll be time for automatics when you're old and unable."

 

For what it's worth:

While getting parts for my truck to complete a tune-up, the Oriely parts dude told me that there is very little difference between the two plugs and they both come from the same factory.

 

I thought that the name Autolite was long gone? Remember something about Ford having to separate it from the name, I used to only use Autolite BF-42 plugs.

 

I abstained from voting because honestly, I have never used Motorcraft plugs.

I get plugs from the auto parts store and always ask for Autolite. If the auto parts stores sold Motorcraft plugs, I might try them. My opinion is, they are probably both so similar that you would really have to dream up some severe endurance testing to find any difference between the two.

When I first started driving, I was told you should use Autolite in Fords, Champion in GM and I guess I wasn't listening when they said what to use in Dodge. Back in those days there was no breakerless ignition and you usually did a tune-up (points, plugs, condenser) about every 12,000 miles. I used both Autolite and Champion plugs in my 390. Autolites were good for 12,000 or more, while the Champion's showed a lot of wear by 8,000.

I don't really have a favorite brand of plug. I just kind of stick close to what the mfgr specifies. So Autolite in the Ford, Bosh in the Volvo's and NGK in the Honda.

>but if you only could choose between Autolite and Motorcraft, which >would it be?)

If that's what the poll is about, then maybe I should vote! The topic says 'which is better'. Given the choice of one only, I would go with Autolite just because of availability and less than dealership price.

FWIW, Autolite is an Allied-Signal company. At one time Autolite and Ford were closely aligned in the auto business. Does anyone know the history behind that association? Is it like Philco/Ford? (radios)

Scott

 

I will never use autolite plugs. Motorcraft is all i buy. I think the best plug is what it came with from the factory, whatever the vehicle is unles you wanna go platinum. I'm a mechanic and the guys i worked with dont like autolite plugs either.

 

i just bought autolite DP and the back of the box said Honeywell. are they owned by alliedsignal?

 

>i just bought autolite DP and the back of the box said
>Honeywell. are they owned by alliedsignal?

Here is the autolite website http://www.autolite.com/home/index.html. Notice the word FRAM (Allied Signal, right?) on the same web page.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Jan-03 AT 01:35 AM (EST)]I replaced the original motorcrafts in my 93 with autolite platinums and they seem to work fine.Personally I dont think theres a damn thing wrong with autolites,they`re good plugs.As for using all motorcraft parts,thats fine but if you like other brands that are comparable to motorcraft then use them.I`ve seen autolite plugs with over 50,000 miles on them and the electrodes were in good condition.I know Autolites are made by Allied-Signal,the makers of fram extra-guard oil filters but that doesnt mean that autolite plugs suck.

 

With Ford's EDIS, make sure you use double platinum plugs. This is due
to the plugs in each bank receiving opposite polarity spark (a plug in
each bank fire together in series)...The opposite polarity spark causes
the GND electrode to erode in one bank, the center electrode erodes in
the other bank...
Also, each plug fires with every revolution of the crank, twice as often
as with a conventional ignition, which fires every other revolution of
the crank...