The Spark Plug thread (Un-official)

[JimmyXR7]

Changed my spark plugs for the first time yesterday. The Marauder has 65,000 miles on it. Removed plug from no. 1 cylinder and gap was .057 instead of .054 and the white insulator was grey. Looks like it was a good time to change them. Platinum plugs sure wear a lot better than the old copper plugs wear. The used plugs were motorcraft AWSF 32EM and the new plugs are AGSF 32WM.

This was the easiest spark plug change I have done on a automobile with a V8 or V6. Had a new spark plug socket with good internal rubber and a long extension. I was surprised the torque was to be only 11 ft-lbs on installation. The aluminum engine requires less installation torque for the plugs than the old cast iron engines.

Jim

[fastblackmerc]

OK, so you changed your plugs and didn't have any problems............. :confused:

[justbob]

So what do you want? Info??

Supercharged application:AGSF 22C or new # SP505, Also Autolite 103. Gapped at .032 is what I use.
First time using a dab of antisieze, they've always came out just fine, precisely torqued with my right arm. Changed usually once a year.

[Ms. Denmark]

Hi Jim. Glad you didn't have any issues changing the plugs. Once again these cars make life a little easier.LOL BTW I'm from San Jose. Went to Willow Glen.:) And don't mind these other two jamoks. I can vouch for one of them. :D

[Marauderman]

.....and I can vouch for the other.....over and over and over again. He is the one to turn to for info......for sure.........:D:cool:

[JimmyXR7]

Hi Jim. Glad you didn't have any issues changing the plugs. Once again these cars make life a little easier.LOL BTW I'm from San Jose. Went to Willow Glen.:) And don't mind these other two jamoks. I can vouch for one of them. :D

Hi, I grew up in the unincorporated county area and went to Los Gatos High. Moved to Silicon Valley in 1959 as a boy when it was the "Valley of Hearts Delight"

Point of this thread was to remind Marauder owners:

NOT TO FORGET THE SPARK PLUGS.

Platinum plugs are not solid but plated with platinum. Once the spark wears a spot through the platinum plating the spark plug will wear quickly. So I replaced them.

Some Marauder owners are starting to have problems with the coils. If the spark gap increases due to wear, it will put more of a load on the coils. I think it was a good time to change the plugs and would recommend other MM owners measure one of the plugs at 60K to 65K miles to obtain the condition.

Jim

[fastblackmerc]

Hi, I grew up in the unincorporated county area and went to Los Gatos High. Moved to Silicon Valley in 1959 as a boy when it was the "Valley of Hearts Delight"

Point of this thread was to remind Marauder owners:

NOT TO FORGET THE SPARK PLUGS.

Platinum plugs are not solid but plated with platinum. Once the spark wears a spot through the platinum plating the spark plug will wear quickly. So I replaced them.

Some Marauder owners are starting to have problems with the coils. If the spark gap increases due to wear, it will put more of a load on the coils. I think it was a good time to change the plugs and would recommend other MM owners measure one of the plugs at 60K to 65K miles to obtain the condition.

Jim

Actually the best thing to do is gap the plugs at the lowest possible gap, then as they wear you'll still be in the "range". Plugs are cheap.... change them once a year.

[dakslim]

Actually the best thing to do is gap the plugs at the lowest possible gap, then as they wear you'll still be in the "range". Plugs are cheap.... change them once a year.

What do you gap yours at, Jim?:confused:

[fastblackmerc]

The manual says from 0.052 to 0.056. I set mine at 0.052.

[JimmyXR7]

The Auto store's computer said the spark plug gap was to be .054. I checked and all 8 were preset to .054. The ones I removed varied from .057 to .058.

The FORD maintenance guide says to change the spark plugs at 100,000 miles under normal conditions. For extensive idle conditions, change the spark plugs at 60,000 miles. The extensive idle conditions would be police duties or taxi.

I purchased my Marauder with 28,609 on the odometer. It takes me 20 minutes to get to work in the morning and 35 minutes to return home as the cross traffic requires more idle time at the lights. Almost half of the drive miles are freeway miles.

If I drove more freeway, I probably could have gotten 100,000 on the spark plugs. However, many drivers drive through town in this area and the plugs should be checked sooner.

Jim

[fastblackmerc]

Spark plugs are cheap. No reason not to replace them once a year.

[tbone]

Spark plugs are cheap. No reason not to replace them once a year.


What?! They last 100k miles.

[SC Cheesehead]

What?! They last 100k miles.

That's what Ford sez.

[tbone]

It's what all the major manufacturers say about the latest platinum plugs. It's part of the 100k tune up interval. Don't you think they would like to sell more plugs by having a shorter change interval?

[Ktorres1]

I have had a coil problem recently and had to replace on of my coils. I started to again slightly feel that same hesitant feel while sometimes driving so I replaced all spark plugs that were do for change anyways to NGK iridium and I'm thinking of replacing all coils to msd coils to ensure smooth idle and high rpm support! Any opinions on what performance can be gained?

[fastblackmerc]

I have had a coil problem recently and had to replace on of my coils. I started to again slightly feel that same hesitant feel while sometimes driving so I replaced all spark plugs that were do for change anyways to NGK iridium and I'm thinking of replacing all coils to msd coils to ensure smooth idle and high rpm support! Any opinions on what performance can be gained?

None what so ever.

Stock coils are sufficient for a N/A motor. I'd change the coil connectors / springs to the GMS ones tho.

Iridium plugs are overkill for a N/A motor and are an unnecessary expense.

[babbage]

The Auto store's computer said the spark plug gap was to be .054. I checked and all 8 were preset to .054. The ones I removed varied from .057 to .058.

The FORD maintenance guide says to change the spark plugs at 100,000 miles under normal conditions. For extensive idle conditions, change the spark plugs at 60,000 miles. The extensive idle conditions would be police duties or taxi.

I purchased my Marauder with 28,609 on the odometer. It takes me 20 minutes to get to work in the morning and 35 minutes to return home as the cross traffic requires more idle time at the lights. Almost half of the drive miles are freeway miles.

If I drove more freeway, I probably could have gotten 100,000 on the spark plugs. However, many drivers drive through town in this area and the plugs should be checked sooner.

Jim

Just plain silly to wait for 100K - you can get much better power and MILEAGE for the whopping $10 it costs for new plugs. That's about 3 gallons of gas. You'll get much better mileage with plugs changed every 2 years or 18,000 miles tops. The gas you save easily pays for new plugs.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.