I'm looking in the owners manual and noticing that it's two different plugs for the 3.0 V6, and their parts don't seem to be available.

What's the deal with plugs for this engine now?

 

Ford uses a Waste Spark system, there are only 3 Coils in the Coil pack, each coil sparks TWO spark plugs at the same time.
1 5
2 6
3 4

Are the match pairs that spark at the same time, their pistons are both at TDC at the same time, one on exhaust stroke the other on compression stroke.
The spark happening on exhaust stroke is "wasted" so hence the name Waste Spark system

To fire two spark plugs from one coil they need to be wired in Series, so.............
One spark plug sparks from center to tip, normal spark
The other sparks from tip to center, reverse spark

This is why there are two spark plugs listed, one has platinum tip and the other a platinum center, so both are single platinum but reversed coatings
This saved thousands of dollars when installing millions of spark plugs
Double platinum is what you want to use if only buying 6

Or regular copper, not single platinum or one bank will wear out the same as regular copper.

Not sure of current spark plug number for the 3.0l Vulcan
The AGSF12PP was discontinued, the AGSF22PP was speced but I think it was too hot for the 3.0l, made it "pingy" for some users

Autolite used to make the Motorcraft brand with Ford Specs, but Autolite was sold and I think Ford contracted NGK to make Motorcraft brand now but not sure

 

That'd be nice if NGK made the Motorcraft ones, i'd prefer their plugs anyway.

In my research during my posting this thread, and confirmed by your posted re the wasted spark setup, i would say that any double plat plug would be ok.

Now NGK do not say they have a plug for this engine, only O2 sensors, wires and coil pack.

So i really don't care if i run Motocraft plugs, but i do need to know what the current Ford plug is for the 3.0l, that is the current issue, especially if the AGSF22PP isn't really the right one.


***EDIT

The NGK coil pack does make me curious if their pack is not wasted spark, or at least configured in a way that not running double plat matters?

 

Called my local Ford dealer, who said the two plug types are:

SP432
SP500

They check out to be original style, platinum center or ground electrode, depending on side.

 

Only a distributor or COP(coil on plug) are not Waste Spark

Waste spark is what the first gas/alcohol engines used and what all lawn mowers use, and many airplane engines that use magnetos.

Much easier and more reliable to time spark with Crank shaft, and that's waste spark.

Very good read here with picture: https://www.ranger-forums.com/4-0l-o...0-sohc-119625/

Yes to see 4, 5, and 6 get the worn centers, 1, 2, and 3 get worn tips

 

As always, good info, thank you.

I notice they're talking about the finewire plugs, of the two codes i posted above, i'm guessing the SP432 are the finewire?

For all intents and purpose, just shoving 6 of those in the head instead of mixing two sets, should be fine, right?

This post from the link you provided (https://www.ranger-forums.com/4-0l-o...5/#post1817277) mentions finewire as first choice and platinum as second.

 

Both are fine wire, both are single platinum centers

The Autolite APP104 is double platinum
As is NGK PTR5D-13
Both cross reference to the 432

SP-500 would be the Autolite APP103 double platinum

 

Yeah, the 500 is double plat, but in reference to the post i listed, the user states that one is plat, this other is fine wire, and that even though they'll wear more like a conventional plug, the finewire is the better choice.

Also, that NGK you listed, is that actually the correct plug for the 3.0? heat rating etc? as it's a double plat, it will have the same 100k mile service interval the original spec plugs do.

 

I would look up the SP-500 again, from what I read it is a single platinum, and fine wire

Center Electrode Tip Material: Finewire Platinum
Ground Electrode Tip Material: Nickel Alloy

 

I looked up both plugs on Advanced Autoparts, both are stated to be Finewire.

However, despite the 500 being of type "double platinum" - the component parts don't list any platinum!

The 432 on the other hand, is listed as single platinum and the core material is listed as platinum.

This is annoying, all evidence says we need at least one bank with the core plat, and the other with the tip plat. Short of that, you can obviously run double plat.

That'd be fine, if those plugs actually WERE double plat, or had reversed platinum components, which they don't seem too.