Champion 7989 sparkplug failure.

Explorer_PL · 05-08-2012, 08:55 AM

Brief recap of events:

At around 99k miles I developed a miss, that got progressively worse, and at around 101k miles I replaced all 8. 7 came out ok, with screeching and noises. 1 broke in 3 pieces, and I had to drill and tap the head. Installed Champions 7989, and coated them with nickel anti-sieze.

Last month at around 132k miles, I pulled them all out and recoated them again (most of it was gone). All was good for about 3 weeks or so. Yesterday, I went to work and back just driving on 7 cylinders. Found # 4 cylinder not working. Swapped the plug and the coil to # 2, and #4 was ok now, # 2 was missing so I knew it has to be either coil or plug. I still had the original plugs in the garage, so i just screw in the old Motorcraft, and it's fine.

This morning while driving to work, ocasionaly it would miss just a little, so either the old Motorctaft is missing, or another Champion is on its last leg.

I decided to replace all 8 again, and will go with Motorcraft.

Can I use Motorcraft SP515 ?

Nor realy happy with Champions lasting only 32k miles.

feetwet · 05-09-2012, 07:50 AM

Seems like overkill to replace all 8 again.

I had one 7989 that had a hairline crack in the porcelain that caused a misfire, but that was in a brand new plug, not one that had been working for while.

You might want to swap just the coil to another cylinder

Explorer_PL · 05-09-2012, 08:39 AM

I swapped both plug and coil. It was still missing, now on #2. So I replaced the 7989 with the original Autolite HT1 that I still had in the garage with 99k miles on it. It got to about 95% good, just ocasional misfire uphill, so I knew the coil was OK, the plug was the issue.

Since I do about 80-100 miles a day, i could not wait, and last night I bought 8 Autolites HT1 at Autozone. Total $103 less 20 rebate. Ebay had same prices. This morning before work I replaced #1 and #2 plugs (took me 10 minutes, I am getting good at it

), and drove about 40 miles and absolutely no misfire. Will replace the rmaining 6 in the next few days. Did not coat it with anything, as I am planning to unscrew them every 20k miles anyway.

Explorer_PL · 05-15-2012, 09:24 AM

Update -

over the weekend I replaced the remaining 6 plugs with the Autolites. Drove about 200 miles so far and not a single miss, waaaaaaay much better than driving with Champions (sorry Champion). Before, any attempt to pass a vehicle on the highway, or going uphill would produce a bucking and miss, and eventualy CEL light. I gueass Champions are not made for Fords.

feetwet · 05-15-2012, 09:31 AM

The only time my Champions produced a misfire was when I had a hairline crack in the porcelain on one plug. Once I got a significant enough misfire to register an OBDII fault and determine which cylinder was missing... I replaced my cracked plug, since then, they have been great.

If that was the case with yours, perhaps Champion needs to work on their packaging/handling/testing to prevent cracked plugs from getting to consumers.

Explorer_PL · 05-15-2012, 10:21 AM

Not sure if I had any cracks, the one that was at fault had the porcelain part much darker. So far so good.

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05-08-2012, 08:55 AM	#1
Explorer_PL Wannabe Elite Explorer Rockland County, NY 2006EB,V8, Fisher plow Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 511 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Champion 7989 sparkplug failure. Brief recap of events: At around 99k miles I developed a miss, that got progressively worse, and at around 101k miles I replaced all 8. 7 came out ok, with screeching and noises. 1 broke in 3 pieces, and I had to drill and tap the head. Installed Champions 7989, and coated them with nickel anti-sieze. Last month at around 132k miles, I pulled them all out and recoated them again (most of it was gone). All was good for about 3 weeks or so. Yesterday, I went to work and back just driving on 7 cylinders. Found # 4 cylinder not working. Swapped the plug and the coil to # 2, and #4 was ok now, # 2 was missing so I knew it has to be either coil or plug. I still had the original plugs in the garage, so i just screw in the old Motorcraft, and it's fine. This morning while driving to work, ocasionaly it would miss just a little, so either the old Motorctaft is missing, or another Champion is on its last leg. I decided to replace all 8 again, and will go with Motorcraft. Can I use Motorcraft SP515 ? Nor realy happy with Champions lasting only 32k miles.

05-09-2012, 07:50 AM	#2
feetwet Wannabe Elite Explorer Maple Grove, MN 2006 XLT V8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 153 Vehicle Specs	Seems like overkill to replace all 8 again. I had one 7989 that had a hairline crack in the porcelain that caused a misfire, but that was in a brand new plug, not one that had been working for while. You might want to swap just the coil to another cylinder

05-09-2012, 08:39 AM	#3
Explorer_PL Wannabe Elite Explorer Rockland County, NY 2006EB,V8, Fisher plow Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 511 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	I swapped both plug and coil. It was still missing, now on #2. So I replaced the 7989 with the original Autolite HT1 that I still had in the garage with 99k miles on it. It got to about 95% good, just ocasional misfire uphill, so I knew the coil was OK, the plug was the issue. Since I do about 80-100 miles a day, i could not wait, and last night I bought 8 Autolites HT1 at Autozone. Total $103 less 20 rebate. Ebay had same prices. This morning before work I replaced #1 and #2 plugs (took me 10 minutes, I am getting good at it ), and drove about 40 miles and absolutely no misfire. Will replace the rmaining 6 in the next few days. Did not coat it with anything, as I am planning to unscrew them every 20k miles anyway.

05-15-2012, 09:24 AM	#4
Explorer_PL Wannabe Elite Explorer Rockland County, NY 2006EB,V8, Fisher plow Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 511 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Update - over the weekend I replaced the remaining 6 plugs with the Autolites. Drove about 200 miles so far and not a single miss, waaaaaaay much better than driving with Champions (sorry Champion). Before, any attempt to pass a vehicle on the highway, or going uphill would produce a bucking and miss, and eventualy CEL light. I gueass Champions are not made for Fords.

05-15-2012, 09:31 AM	#5
feetwet Wannabe Elite Explorer Maple Grove, MN 2006 XLT V8 Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 153 Vehicle Specs	The only time my Champions produced a misfire was when I had a hairline crack in the porcelain on one plug. Once I got a significant enough misfire to register an OBDII fault and determine which cylinder was missing... I replaced my cracked plug, since then, they have been great. If that was the case with yours, perhaps Champion needs to work on their packaging/handling/testing to prevent cracked plugs from getting to consumers.

05-15-2012, 10:21 AM	#6
Explorer_PL Wannabe Elite Explorer Rockland County, NY 2006EB,V8, Fisher plow Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 511 Vehicle Specs (Original Poster)	Not sure if I had any cracks, the one that was at fault had the porcelain part much darker. So far so good.