Another Spark Plug Question
Thread Starter
|
Senior Member
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 344
Likes: 0
From: Madisonville, KY
Another Spark Plug Question
Hey Everyone,
I haven't been to this discussion page for a very long time, so please forgive me for not being up on the current hot topics. I saw a slightly similar thread to mine but not exactly. Last year I did my first plug change @ 95,000 mi and had a ball doing it (took 2 days, those plug boots were just about welded down in the tubes and there's not a lot of get-ahold-of room in there). Anyway, I used Bosch Platinums and saw no real improvements, but for the first 2 or 3 months it ran fine just like it always had. Then I got the ole' Check Engine light and took it to the local Auto Zone. They hooked it up and told me I had a misfire on the rear 2 cylinders and probably needed new spark plugs. I said, "those are only 3 months old!". They said, "Oh". Well, with the fond memories of the first plug change I've been driving it for the last 9 months or so with the light on and have kinda began to ignore it. It's really started chugging in the last week so I broke down and told myself I'd put a new set in.
Finally to the question: are Platinum plugs just not the best choice for a '98 4.6? Or does Bosch have a bad reputation in general? When I do this plug change, I want to try to make sure there are no reasons to have to do it again for a long time. I bought a set of Autolite Platinums, but I'll sure take them back if a standard plug is better. Can somebody give me some advice? I appreciate it.
Fordman3
I haven't been to this discussion page for a very long time, so please forgive me for not being up on the current hot topics. I saw a slightly similar thread to mine but not exactly. Last year I did my first plug change @ 95,000 mi and had a ball doing it (took 2 days, those plug boots were just about welded down in the tubes and there's not a lot of get-ahold-of room in there). Anyway, I used Bosch Platinums and saw no real improvements, but for the first 2 or 3 months it ran fine just like it always had. Then I got the ole' Check Engine light and took it to the local Auto Zone. They hooked it up and told me I had a misfire on the rear 2 cylinders and probably needed new spark plugs. I said, "those are only 3 months old!". They said, "Oh". Well, with the fond memories of the first plug change I've been driving it for the last 9 months or so with the light on and have kinda began to ignore it. It's really started chugging in the last week so I broke down and told myself I'd put a new set in.
Finally to the question: are Platinum plugs just not the best choice for a '98 4.6? Or does Bosch have a bad reputation in general? When I do this plug change, I want to try to make sure there are no reasons to have to do it again for a long time. I bought a set of Autolite Platinums, but I'll sure take them back if a standard plug is better. Can somebody give me some advice? I appreciate it.
Fordman3
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 0
From: WY
Never had a problem with the Bosch Platinum plugs in my 4.6L trucks. The local Ford racing teams use nothing but Bosch plugs in their trucks.
If you get a mis-firing cylinder a few months after doing a spark plug change, it's often just the boot popping off of the plug. Of course, the local autoparts store will be happy to sell you a new set of plugs.
If you get a mis-firing cylinder a few months after doing a spark plug change, it's often just the boot popping off of the plug. Of course, the local autoparts store will be happy to sell you a new set of plugs.
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,053
Likes: 0
From: Aggieland, TX
On some of these trucks there are heater lines that go over the back two plugs. Sometimes they can leak. I would make sure there isnt water in there and that that isnt the cause of your misfire.
Alot of the threads I see on the Bsoch plugs tend to be good or bad. Some people's engines run fine with them, some people have problems. I tell people just to stick to Motorcraft and avoid the possibility of the plugs not working properly.
Alot of the threads I see on the Bsoch plugs tend to be good or bad. Some people's engines run fine with them, some people have problems. I tell people just to stick to Motorcraft and avoid the possibility of the plugs not working properly.