when to change plugs
 

just wondering when you guys change spark plugs and what kind do you guys like.i have a 97 F-150 4.6L with 62,000 miles any help would be great.

Had mine changed around 60,000; I'm not much of a believer in waiting for the 100,000 mile mark. The service manager also said the longer you go, the more difficult it can be to get the old plugs out due to rust, etc. Total cost was about $110 (2 years ago) for parts and labor to replace with Motorcraft plugs. My opinion is that it you should look at changing now rather than later.

Most people say change the plugs at around 100k.

Also, it's best to just stick with the Motorcraft plugs.

When I had my '97 I changed them at 45 then 80 and sold it at 90...ran like a clock each time

The plats. do last longer than conventional plugs, Still I pulled mine around 60k and they had a considerable gap. I would go ahead and tune it up now. Don't forget the fuel filter and clean the throttle body as well. You will prob see a small improvement in performance that will make the work worth it

This is the first vehicle I have ever owned with the extended maint intervals. I figured the plugs would have been plat to plat firing but when I changed them at 56K(trying to fix a problem that turned out to be a coil pack) I was astounded at how ate away the anode was. It was not plat only the cathode was plat. I found out that Ford just packed the things with coils that would fire a .100 gap and that is what allows the extended intervals.

realy it's up too you,
i put in a set of bosch platnium 2's at the recomendation of a parts counter guy. we'll my 4.6L burnt them up in about 3000 miles. i'm currently running motocraft double platniums.
the dealer will recommend staying with autolite or motocraft double platniums. due to the hotter spark. but there's owners on this site that are running other plugs with good results.

I burned up some Bosch's about 2000 miles. I now run Autolite double plats. I don't see any difference in them than the MotorCraft plugs after 18000 on them.

tom

Don't wait, do it now. I waited until 100K on my '97 4.6. The gaps on 5 out of 8 plugs were around .077. I was surprised it ran as well as it did. I had one misfire right before I changed them. You might as well do the wires, too. I did it myself, took about 3 1/2 hours.