Just an fyi, I just took out the Bosh Double plat out yesterday and went with plane Autolite copper core and man it wake up(much better idle and power than what I have ever experienced from the truck!). I only had the bosch's in for a year and it didn't make a difference. I always had a slight idle miss at times and after researching that plat isn't a very good conductor I went ahead and and replaced them with the autolite's. I only put about 8K a year and figure I can change plugs out every 2-3 years.

Rob
2000 Expy
5.4L (71K)

 

I use copper's on my Mustang and your right it does run better, BUT they have never lasted more than 12k and normally closer to 10k. Considering how much a PITA the plugs are on the trucks, why subject yourself to the pain?

 

Yeah, I did scrape a little skin and tear a plug boot. I hear the Iridiums last like a plat, but give the performance of a copper. I can put $10/each month and in about 1-1/2 have enough $$ to buy them.

 

Don't get all rapped up in "plat is a poor conductor".
Guess what? Original plugs are Plats. It's used for a different reason.

 

brownfordgt. I am having the same problem with my Tripple Platinum Bosch Spark Plugs, I've heard Bosch was a big no no in these trucks. But Not much about copper/plat. Plugs.

I am going to change mine out, and was wondering if you did it yourself?
If so, how hard was it, and where are they located, if you could get back that'd be great, thanks.

By the way, I have a 2000 5.4 as well...

 

It took me about 2-3 hours. You will need to go ahead and replace the spark plug boots as I was told by a buddy at Ford. Oreily sells them and they are called spark plug connectors. You will need a couple 3-6" 3/8 drive extensions. No swivel joint was needed. You will also need a 1/4" drive ratchet with extensions to take the coil packs off. On the #7 or #8(forgot which) you will have the fuel pressure reg in the way. I used a socket driver that you would use for your cordless drill, hook up a magnetic extension for the driver and then use your 1/4" ratchet and sock on top of that to remove that one. Oh, Before you do anything take your truck and washout the motor so as to get all the dust, grit off. Then use compressed or a vacuum cleaner to get in the spark plug holes before removing the old plug. You don't want anything falling in the holes once you removed the plugs, especially sand.

 

Platinum is a very poor conductor. The reason it is used in todays vehicle is simple. LONGETEVITY

 

Yeah - that, and the Bling factor.

Honestly - the relative conductivity of the various metals ( copper, platinum, iridium, etc) is a minor consideration here. Don't forget these are resistor plugs, so the current limiting factor is by design.

Also consider - at the high voltages in use, any of those metals will conduct sufficiently well to produce a spark, given the correct gap is used.

Remember - lightning will turn any non-conductive matter into a conductor - as in a tree, a 2x4.. even you . If the potential is there it will conduct.

Cheers
Grog

 

This is true! But I did a little (er, a lot) of research when I added the blower to my navi. The reason behind copper or iridium (iridium if you're a billionare) is simply that they spark better without the issues of the lesser conductor that platinum is. (of course, there is a much more techincal reason, but its long, drawn out, and in the end a little boring)

Bottom line is, if you aren't running a forced induction motor, platinum is what you should use. Motorcraft platinum is in my opinion, the best for your Ford vehicle. I have found here lately, it is easier to just pay the little extra and put genuine parts on the car you have. I run a shop, so I have several suppliers and when you order something and wait a couple hours for it, it really pisses you off when it doesn't work, doesn't fit, or is just plain wrong. Ford rarely if ever misses the mark.

 

I have never had good luck with Bosch Platinum in any of my vehicles. I have found that Autolite Platinums seem to give the the most reliable performance over the life of the plug. NGK and Denso are also excellent and give great results. Iridiums are nice, but totally overkill on a relatively stock motor - they will do nothing over any other plug.

 

i love the denso iridiums i have in my truck, i paid alot for this beast and i only put the best longest lasting highest performance parts into it, just my thoughts on parts