100,000 Mile Spark Plugs ???

[alexefron]

i know there have been some complaints (from nissans if i remember correctly) about 100k mile sparkplugs rusting into place. I personally would just change em at 50k or so to prevent that. I seriously doubt that the anti sieze would last 100k miles since the block tends to get heated up pretty nicley

 

[spindlecone]

Have used perma-tex antiseize on plugs for years, seems to work,since it is rarely used I also have the same container of the stuff I bought 20 yrs ago, says it is good to 1600 degs.
In looking at the PT site, they list a nickel based antiseize that is good for 2400 Degs, that may be the ticket.

 

[tower]

My 02 was running crappy at 75,000 so I pulled the plugs I could not believe the truck was still running the plugs where brunt. Replaced the plugs truck runs great, well as great as can be expected.

Really it cost what <$20 and about 20-30 min why would you wait? Cheap insurance.

 

[rancherlee]

Personally I run Autolite 763 Copper plugs in all my aluminum head Fords (all 3 of them) they are the same heat range as the stock platniums and I change them out every 12,000 (when I change the oil, Mobil 1) costs less than 8$ and the plugs are easy to change on 4.6L's anyhow. Copper plugs also allow more spark energy since Platnium acts like small resistor (but lasts 4-5 longer than copper). On my thunderbird with the Vortech blower I was getting spark blowout under boost with platniums and a quick switch to coppers cured the problem. Better spark = more complete burn = Better fuel economy/emissions.

 

[daveleeander]

My 02 was running crappy at 75,000 so I pulled the plugs I could not believe the truck was still running the plugs where brunt. Replaced the plugs truck runs great, well as great as can be expected.

Really it cost what <$20 and about 20-30 min why would you wait? Cheap insurance.

Mine was the same. #3 plug had white gunk all over the end. One of my friends said it was from additive I had put in the gas, but I've never put anything in either the gas or oil. I too was surprised the truck was still running as big as the gap was in the plugs.
I'm going to start changing at 50k whether they need them or not.

Dave

 

[JohnnyO]

Platinum spark plugs can last 100K, but IMO they should be more often to prevent the plugs from getting stuck/bonded/rusted in the block...

Exactly, my buds at the Ford dealer have told me that a few times on the aluminum headed engines they've had to replace the heads, at great cost to the customer, because they ruined them getting 100k mile plugs out. If that's me, I'm calling lawyers.
Sure anti-seize will help, but the factory doesn't put that stuff on the plugs.

 

[rancherlee]

Exactly, my buds at the Ford dealer have told me that a few times on the aluminum headed engines they've had to replace the heads, at great cost to the customer, because they ruined them getting 100k mile plugs out. If that's me, I'm calling lawyers.
Sure anti-seize will help, but the factory doesn't put that stuff on the plugs.

Lawyers won't help you, ANY vehical with alumium heads can run into this problem. I've had to helicoil the plug threads on many different engines/manufactures vehical when I was an auto mechanic. BEST thing you can do it let the Car/truck sit over night to make sure the engine is stone cold before trying to change the plugs on an aluminum headed engine.

 

[JohnnyO]

I agree about letting the motor cool to room temp first. What I'm saying though is that if you wait until 100k to change the plugs, as per the manual, and the threads strip out of the heads because the plugs are corroded in there real good, then it's Ford's fault for recommending an interval that long and they ought to pay for it (IMO).

 

['97 V8]

i agree with that. ultimatly you could just change em sooner and save yourself the trouble of having it break in the block. Mine were replaced in the summer with bosch 4+ spark plugs. didnt notice a difference but hell its good quality.

 

[vp6799]

So, what would be good plugs to go with??

Should I stick with the motorcraft double platinum plugs, or another type of plug???


Vic

 

['97 V8]

motorcraft is a good choice along with bosch plugs.

 

[ma96782]

What was the subject again? Oh yeah, 100k mile sparkplugs. I'm ashamed to admit it but I did get lazy and never replaced mine until then. As a matter of fact I forgot it then and didn't until my next oil change so I left my factory plugs in until about 106,000 miles as I recall. Unbelievably, the plugs looked just fine. I replaced them with Motorcraft platinum OEM replacement plugs identical to the 100k+ mile ones I took out, and there was no change whatsoever in performance, engine idle/roughness, or MPG. I cannot believe what I am writing but based on my own experience, I am forced to declare that those plugs probably would have lasted a whole lot longer than 100k miles.

NOW, THAT IS FUNNY (in a GOOD way).


STORY:

I used to drive a subsidized police car (I was the owner and I was responsible for maintenance).....and wanted to make sure it was in good shape as it was also my daily driver. I went to my favorite mechanic and told him to do a tune up (plugs, wires, check timing, etc)......'98 Chevy Monte Carlo, HEI, V6, 60K miles.....he said basically: that IF it wasn't mis-firing.......leave it, till it does, then come see him, the new elec. ignitions can go 100K w/o a problem.

For me………..your mileage may vary…………whether it comes from a double platinum or a copper core………….a spark is a spark…………it sets off the fuel and the process continues. Same idea for wires. Though, your LUCK w/ certain manufacturers is a factor.......with your purchases.

OK, so he was talking about a CHEVY. But, the idea of a 100K mile spark plug….yes, I’m a believer.

I also, understand your concern over this planned long trip.........STAY SAFE, GOOD LUCK, and HAPPY MOTORING.

Aloha, Mark

 

[alexefron]

a spark isnt a spark, there are a ton of things that change it including wires, plug material, gap, heatrange, etc

 

[KaiserM715]

I just recently got a Haynes manual, and for the 4.0L OHV, they recommended avery 60k in lieu of the factory recommended 100k.

 

[DeRocha]

I just recently got a Haynes manual, and for the 4.0L OHV, they recommended avery 60k in lieu of the factory recommended 100k.

Was this recommendation for regular or platinum plugs? Platinum plugs do not allow carbon deposits to build up like reqular plugs, as such the can and go 100K+ easily... But as mentioned earlier in this thread plugs can get fused to the engine block and cause issues... As such IMO it would be best to change them @50K just to make esure this didn't happen..

 

['97 V8]

hell, just spend the extra few dollars for cheap insurance and replace em every 60k.

 

[ma96782]

a spark isnt a spark, there are a ton of things that change it including wires, plug material, gap, heatrange, etc

Jeez......so technical.......

What I ment was: When a spark ignites the air/fuel mixture it doesn't matter if it was started by a $1.49 Champion or a $7.99 Bosch spark plug.

And, OF COURSE, follow your manufacturer's recommended spark plug specs......adjust according to your reading of the plugs, etc.....did I really have to say that?

Sorry, but old folks (like me) still remember (do I?) when we had carburators in our vehicles and did tune-ups (points, plugs, condensors, adjust timing, adjust air/fuel mixture, all that) at least once a year (10K-12K)......and plugs were changed cause they were frequently fouled. Gas was .75 a gallon, muscle cars were made in AMERICA, girls were girls, long hair was found only on women, guys didn't wear earrings, tattoos were a thing only a salior would do, illegal drugs frequently ment only marijuana and..........

GETTING BACK TO MY EARLIER POST:

My '98 CHEVY Monte Carlo still had the same plugs at 112K (when I sold it).


Aloha, Mark


PS......There ARE guys who still pull their plugs just to read them at ____ miles.......sometimes, they'll replace um' just cause.......and sometimes they put the "old" ones back in. Whatever floats your boat.

 

[JohnnyO]

Sorry, but old folks (like me) still remember (do I?) when we had carburators in our vehicles and did tune-ups (points, plugs, condensors, adjust timing, adjust air/fuel mixture, all that) at least once a year (10K-12K)......and plugs were changed cause they were frequently fouled.

Oh man, sometimes we were lucky if they lasted THAT long. If you had something like a Z-28 with 11-to-1 compression, the plugs were toast in about 3000 miles. On they other hand, it was easy to change them...at every oil change.

 

['97 V8]

well look at the bright side, at least we aint changin plugs on a Porsche.

 

[Beeker]

For those of us who don't want to use platinum plugs, What should we Gap our Plugs too?