Best plugs
01-29-2015, 11:20 AM
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Best plugs
Hey all I've got a 06 5.4 f-150 FX4, I would like to change the plugs on it, just wondering who's had the best luck with which plugs, and how often you change them, thanks
01-29-2015, 02:41 PM
#2
Mark
iTrader: (1)
Motorcraft plugs...apply some nickel anti seize to the sleeves...change them every 50K
01-29-2015, 04:38 PM
#3
01-29-2015, 05:05 PM
#4
I have a 2006 4x4 Lariat with the same engine and am planning to change my plugs soon. Last week the best deal I could find was $70 delivered on eBay for a set of 8 SP515 plugs. I also purchased a set of COP insulators and springs for about $35. From what I understand, if you get a cylinder misfire the volatage will punch a hole through your insulator. Best to replace them after a few plug changes which I plan to do every 35-40K miles.
01-29-2015, 05:08 PM
#5
Mark
iTrader: (1)
great idea... you already have them off.. and for $35
01-29-2015, 05:14 PM
#6
Here's some great info I read on another forum earlier today regarding spark plugs in modern cars.
Some notes on spark plug change interval for modern cars. I just went through this in may for my 2012 Golf 5 cyl.....but have dealt with the same issue on numerous Audi, Honda etc.
The dealers will tell you that standard spark plug change intervals are not before 70,000 miles especially since most modern cars north of 2002 have iridium spark plugs. VW has stretched this to 90k miles.
The problem with this...and the two reasons why it works...and the main reason you DO NOT WANT TO GO BY THESE NUMBERS!
Why it works:
1. Iridium plugs have a very high temperature range and very precise resistance from plug to plug. They really can go at a minimum 50-70k miles without the gap becoming what we would call excessive. However, they are so slender, brittle and fragile that you DO NOT re-gap them. They will crack.
2. Virtually all modern ignitions are multiple coil if not coil-on-plug. A majority use ion-sensing for adjusting actual coil current supplied many times per second. They sense when there is a change in gap and resistance and adjust coil output to match keeping all sparks consistent.
Therein lies the problem. As gap increases the coil output is ramped up. The VW Audi cars, and quite a few of the Hondas especially those with VVT, and some of the Toyotas I have worked around too.....between 2001 and even until now..... but somewhat less so lately due to improvements...had serious issues with this.
They started dropping individual coils mysteriously between 50-70k miles.
The VAG cars back in the early 2000's especially the turbo models....would first drop one coil ...then another within several months....and then another.
The initial problem was going too long between spark plug changes. You can see the start of it as the connector strain reliefs start to melt and distort on individual coils because they are running hot due to excessive current output.
The secondary problem is that it damages the insulation within the chip because it runs the chip hot. Once the chip is reduced in capacity....the other problem VW had on the turbo cars was that the chip was poorly placed ...too close too the turbo...and the ship couldn't cool and the chip would fry in short order.
So initially it was blamed on the chip....and usually the 2nd and 3rd coil loss were partially due to the chip. So they moved the chip and applied heat sink compound at dealers and moved it on newer models.....the chip now survives...but the individual coil death between 50-70k miles....still exists.
Cut to May of 2012 with my Golf. Its warranty expired last year at 35k. I asked at 50k when the sparkplug interval was and the dealer said dont worry about they are iridium. Car is running smooth as glass...but I am a maintenance guy. I like my car.
When dealers tell me that...I worry. So I pulled a plug....and found that this particular engine model because its a five speed and has slightly different tuning...came from the factory with Bosch nickle copper plugs...NOT iridium.
The gap had increased from .045" to .070"...and one coil was starting to get the telltale heat distortion to the plug strain relief.
I changed plugs....all of $30 and 30 minutes.....and the gas mileage went up 2.5 mpg. I had been putting the slightly lower around town mileage off as the fact that I was in Connecticut for two months and the gas was all 10% ethanol and the place was all hills.
The moral of the story....change your plugs at 50k even if they are iridium...period.
On a related note: The one serious problem Hondas have ...and they used to be the only ones ...but Toyota has this problem now too.....
.....is that 90% of all Honda owners will tell you when they are selling you their used 90k+ mile car...."man...this car is awesome!.....I have never had to do ANYTHING to it!".....and thats a fact.....and they have never done ANYTHING to it.....and thats the problem
Some notes on spark plug change interval for modern cars. I just went through this in may for my 2012 Golf 5 cyl.....but have dealt with the same issue on numerous Audi, Honda etc.
The dealers will tell you that standard spark plug change intervals are not before 70,000 miles especially since most modern cars north of 2002 have iridium spark plugs. VW has stretched this to 90k miles.
The problem with this...and the two reasons why it works...and the main reason you DO NOT WANT TO GO BY THESE NUMBERS!
Why it works:
1. Iridium plugs have a very high temperature range and very precise resistance from plug to plug. They really can go at a minimum 50-70k miles without the gap becoming what we would call excessive. However, they are so slender, brittle and fragile that you DO NOT re-gap them. They will crack.
2. Virtually all modern ignitions are multiple coil if not coil-on-plug. A majority use ion-sensing for adjusting actual coil current supplied many times per second. They sense when there is a change in gap and resistance and adjust coil output to match keeping all sparks consistent.
Therein lies the problem. As gap increases the coil output is ramped up. The VW Audi cars, and quite a few of the Hondas especially those with VVT, and some of the Toyotas I have worked around too.....between 2001 and even until now..... but somewhat less so lately due to improvements...had serious issues with this.
They started dropping individual coils mysteriously between 50-70k miles.
The VAG cars back in the early 2000's especially the turbo models....would first drop one coil ...then another within several months....and then another.
The initial problem was going too long between spark plug changes. You can see the start of it as the connector strain reliefs start to melt and distort on individual coils because they are running hot due to excessive current output.
The secondary problem is that it damages the insulation within the chip because it runs the chip hot. Once the chip is reduced in capacity....the other problem VW had on the turbo cars was that the chip was poorly placed ...too close too the turbo...and the ship couldn't cool and the chip would fry in short order.
So initially it was blamed on the chip....and usually the 2nd and 3rd coil loss were partially due to the chip. So they moved the chip and applied heat sink compound at dealers and moved it on newer models.....the chip now survives...but the individual coil death between 50-70k miles....still exists.
Cut to May of 2012 with my Golf. Its warranty expired last year at 35k. I asked at 50k when the sparkplug interval was and the dealer said dont worry about they are iridium. Car is running smooth as glass...but I am a maintenance guy. I like my car.
When dealers tell me that...I worry. So I pulled a plug....and found that this particular engine model because its a five speed and has slightly different tuning...came from the factory with Bosch nickle copper plugs...NOT iridium.
The gap had increased from .045" to .070"...and one coil was starting to get the telltale heat distortion to the plug strain relief.
I changed plugs....all of $30 and 30 minutes.....and the gas mileage went up 2.5 mpg. I had been putting the slightly lower around town mileage off as the fact that I was in Connecticut for two months and the gas was all 10% ethanol and the place was all hills.
The moral of the story....change your plugs at 50k even if they are iridium...period.
On a related note: The one serious problem Hondas have ...and they used to be the only ones ...but Toyota has this problem now too.....
.....is that 90% of all Honda owners will tell you when they are selling you their used 90k+ mile car...."man...this car is awesome!.....I have never had to do ANYTHING to it!".....and thats a fact.....and they have never done ANYTHING to it.....and thats the problem