I need to buy plugs and a coil pack. I want Motorcraft parts. I hear the platinum plugs last longer. They also cost more. Do they work better?

 

A more powerful spark will create higher cylinder pressure, which will create more power. Voltage determines the power of a spark. The plug gap and the electrode material determine the amount of voltage required to jump across the gap of a spark plug. First there was steel, then copper, now were hit with platinum and iridium. I'm holding out for the plutonium plugs myself. Precious metal plugs require less voltage to jump the gap and some people complain of a loss of power after swapping copper core plugs with platinum due to the loss in voltage. Widening the gap a couple of thousandths from the OEM suggestion restores voltage and the power, but some Isuzu and Nissan vehicles will even trip a code causing the CEL.

Most computers will compensate for the change, but it's been my experience to go with what is recommended and stick with the factory gap. Those are the plugs the engineers designed the engine around and they work. If you are looking to increase performance, there are many other ways to achieve it with more efficiency. I've never had a customer come back due to the plugs being wrong.

 

Due to the laws of physics, the coil will only put out enough voltage to jump the spark plug gap. Electricity will take the path with the least resistance.
The difference between copper and platinum is, their ability to resist erosion. The platinum will hold up the longest.

 

I suggest either Autolite or Motorcraft Double plats. Looks like ford put single plats on one side and double on the other. Think that is called screwing ol shep.


tom

 

If you decide on copper plugs, you will have to change them three times as often (on average) as the plats. Some say the coppers are better than the irridiums for performance applications, just not longevity.

 

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I would go with the plats if I were you, as I recall the stock plugs out of my 2000 F150 were plats.... besides I know with mine it was a pain in the freaking butt to change the plugs, so I would rather not do it more often....

 

Stick with Motorcraft Plats. if you are stock. If you are modified, racing, or force inducted, go with the irridums or copper.

 

I went back with Motorcraft AWSF-32C copper plugs in my 4.2V6.The throttle response was alot better and my mileage increased a little.Also,the power increased somewhat too.I started out gapping them at .045 then continued to play with the gap until I settled with .050 as my set gap.

 

i am a big believer in iridium plugs. put them on my motorcycle right after a base line run on a dyno, switched them in the parking lot, and then ran her again.....whala, an instant 2.1 rear wheel hp up to 119.7 and 73.9 tq, repeatable.... too bad they are like 8 dollars a piece. plus my suzuki is known to foul plugs, but ran her all year (8000 miles) on the same set of iridiums. the copper originals would have fouled at least once in that time. (btw same plug heat range was used, just the iridium equvilent.) the whole reason for platinum plugs is fouling resistance, and th the same for iridium, more resistant to fouling than the platinums...