boosted150

Some of us have switched to colder plugs in the Ecoboost. For the past week, I've been using the NGK LTR7IX-11, and I've put about 400 miles on them. Some have reported a better feel, be it smoother idle, less "shudder" etc. For me these things were true. But, I felt like the truck had lost power compared to stock plugs. I couldn't accelerate like I used to, and the truck just felt like I was driving with the brake on so to speak. MPG for me went down from 16-17 the past couple of weeks to 14.8 on my routine trips to work and back, 80% city 20% highway. The truck also would not hold torque lock with mild acceleration in 5th or 6th gears.... it seemed like the truck gave it up too readily and started to rev like crazy with just some mild throttle. That was the most problematic point for me. Before with the stock plugs, the truck would hold 5th or 6th in torque lock until about half throttle, and then let go, but not with the colder plugs.

It was suggested by some to unplug the battery and reset the computer. Not sure if this would help or not, but I didn't bother. I was just fed up with the way the truck drove.

Today I decided to go back to the stock plugs, gapped at 0.030. So, I pulled into my garage, pulled the first plug out and thought to myself, "holy **** these look ugly."

The pics are of NGK plugs with about 400 miles on them compared to stock Motorcraft plugs SP-528 (#CYFS12Y3) with about 13,000 miles on them.

The NGK colder plugs all have a white residue on the ground electrode. As you can see from the pics, some of the white residue has flaked off (before pulling them out). Not only that, but you can see on the insulators soot starting to creep up toward the center electrode. I have a feeling that after a few thousand miles, I would have had some massive soot buildup.

After installing the new plugs, the truck fired up and ran smooth with no miss (probably because it was already warm). I took it for a ride, and I have my truck back. Power is right back where it was before. I took it to the hill I climb every day on my way home from work, and I can hit 70mph again right away like I used to. Instead of leaving torque lock and revving up with mild throttle press with the colder plugs, it now holds torque lock longer like it did before.

Needless to say, I'm convinced the colder plugs were a detriment for me. I know there are going to be those out there who are going to call BS, but I don't care. These are my experiences, and I wanted to share.

mrpositraction

Great feedback. I never felt like colder plugs were going to help anyone. In my experience with boost and nitrous you have to add a lot before you start dropping heat ranges in plugs.

Kenferg1

No reason to call BS. You provide good evidence. Thanks from many of us who might consider doing likewise.

YellowFinii

Let us know if your MPG returns back to normal. I also put in the colder plugs, and I may now have to check on these tomorrow morning when the engine is cool. My avg of 16.5ish /tank went down to the upper 14's, thought maybe it was in my head, but guess not.

Thanks for the post!

mechanicboy

Good information here. I believe you would have to be running some serious additional power before colder plugs will be able to help. In a DD they do not get hot enough to self clean, as your pictures serve proof too.

Commander316

thats for the information and review!

bubbabud

Realy like to see posts like this where someone is willing to experement to try and solve a problem or improve the way there truck rides,runs or handles and then reports there failyers as well as succeses. there will be naysayers who dont have the fortitude to do it and certanly wont report the less than optimum results of some gizmo they paid good money for. thanks and good work

sluggo1

Just to clarify then. You are now running the stock plugs gapped at.030 correct? Or did you just reinstall the stock plugs and leave the gaps the way they were?

TurboPete

I appreciate your feedback , all I can say is Im running one step colder plugs and have been for like 2 months now , and I haven't noticed anything negative about them . As of yesterday I started spraying the truck with a 50 shot and now I up'd it to what I believe would be a 75 shot . No issue's at all , tomorrow we will try and tune the truck and get some real numbers.


Pete

boosted150

Thanks for all the thanks!

Sluggo, I had been running the stocks at 0.035. I regapped the stocks to 0.032 and put them back in. It probably won't make that big of a difference, but I thought I'd try it.

YellowFinii, I will update once I get a tank or 2 through it. I'm hoping my MPG at least gets back to where it was.

Turbopete, I'm glad you're a much braver man than I! I'd love to have nitrous at my finger tips, and like what was said before I think the colder plugs are a perfect fit for those like you who are pushing the envelope with the Ecoboost engine.