I noticed my truck was having trouble starting up quickly. I wanted to change my spark plugs before it got too cold. From what I read, I need 0.054" gap for my 4.0 SOHC. I went to the store, and the guy at advance auto said they didn't have any in stock, and he gave me some that he said were transferable. I went home and looked up online what he gave me. The ones he gave me have a gap of 0.059". Will these work, or do I need to return these and get the 0.054"?

 

You have to gap spark plugs yourself, while they may come out of the box close to spec they are not all going to be exactly the same.

Biggest thing is length and heat range

 

What plugs did you buy? I wouldn't put anything other than motorcraft plugs in it. Don't ask me how i know.

 

I ended up going back and swapping them out. I got the NGK Iridium TR55-1LX

 

Yuck.

 

What makes you say that? They did not have any autolites or motorcraft in stock.

 

look up any spark plug forum on here and 99% of the posts will say use motorcraft. I just did mine today and wires from fordparts.com, took a good part of my day on my 4.0. However, now I have a ticking noise that I'm hearing but its only when I'm driving up the hill to my house when it drops into a low gear and goes into higher RPM (Its a steep hill starting from a stop sign). I dont have any ticking noise when its idling or driving regularly on flat ground though. Any thoughts? I'm going to post this issue around a few other forums to try and get some ideas.

 

Rangers don't like anything other than OEM spark plugs. Read all the threads and this will become clear to you.

The engine was designed for specific plugs and plug type. Using something else may work, but it won't work as well as it should.

Take those back, go to a ford dealer, and buy motocraft.

 

NGK are not bad and I use them when Motorcraft are not available, but simple fact is.... Motorcraft will last longer in the 4.0l

 

NGK aren't bad, if they are in a snowmobile. You can do what you want, butt i am telling you from experience, put motorcraft plugs in it. Not autolite neither. Motorcraft.

 

I'll return the NGK's tomorrow. I already placed my order for motorcraft plugs, and will pick them up at the dealer this week. Thanks everyone.