hey all I recently discovered that after going through all my service records for my truck I found that even though I've had all my proper oil and filter changes my spark plugs have yet to be replaced. I've got a 2000 Ranger XLT V6 4.0L(OHV i think ) with almost 68000 on it. I was wondering what the normal time frame is until you should replace your plugs with rangers?

Also does anyone have any recommendations on replacement plugs? I'm hoping maybe it will help improve my gas mileage a bit too

 

look in your owners manual, mine says like 100000km or 150000, I can't remember. Don't use anything other than motorcraft plugs and wires other brands can cause problems. You have 68000 miles I'm assuming I'd change them if you never have.

 

I think I read 100k miles but I just did mine at 65k and they needed it. A little rough looking. Plugs and wires were a fun Saturday afternoon.

 

I've always remember people saying 100,000 miles. Use Autolite as the only other brand you should ever use other than Motorcraft.

 

Yeah forgot to mention that It feels like my engine is starting to run a little bit on the rough side. I'm pretty sure mine could use a replacement and I'm about due for another oil and filter change anyways. Thanks for the info Motorcraft it is

 

Yeah.. you shoudl post a pic of yoru engine bay, then we can tell if your running an OHV or SOHC..



The plugs were a pain on my own SOHC (Pre-bodylift anyway) and the wires were easy as pie pre-bodylift.. simple pop and push type job on them.. installed my coilpack at the same time, which is the best time to do it =)

 

They are rated for 100k miles.

I'll tell you this though. The popular opinion on this board is that no other plug will perform better than stock. This not true. See my web page

 

the SOHC did not come into play until 2001. the 2000's had the OHV.

 

Rich, your link proved nothing!!!

The best plug to use on Ford vehicles that haven't been bastardized, or have the $hite run out of them, are
the Motorcraft double or fine wire platinums.

 

My truck has 60k on it (3.0 tho) and I just replaced the plugs. The stock ones were GONE, I put new ones in and now I get like 4mpg more atleast lol thats how bad they were before.

 

Definately not my experience with my 3.0L:

New Motorcraft double platinum:





Motorcraft double platinum with 50K miles:




Did you buy your truck new, so you know the mileage is accurate?

 

Any good advice with installing them on an 02 SOHC? I have a BL and I hear that helps.

 

Bob, yes my link proves nothing. But come sit in my truck and you can see for yourself it idles smooth as silk. Definately better than the stock plugs.

Hook up a wideband A/F guage and you can see it runs leaner at WOT. (more of the fuel being burnt)

The stock plugs are fine. I'm not saying they aren't. Just know that there is a "better plug" out there. They cost a small fortune but are a very good plug that will stand up to many years of abuse, nitrous, boost, and will still idle smooth after 50k miles of that kind of hard usage.

Rich

 

I use the Bosch platinum 2, mostly because I hate gapping spark plugs. This is the only advantage to them that I have can tell. No performance increase, no mpg increase.

 

Rich, if you were getting a misfire at idle with the stock plugs, you probably had some other problem. I've never heard of the stock (Motorcraft) plugs causing rough idle, or misfire. There have, however, been many posts about misfire problems with Bosch plugs.

I notice that the Denso plug in your picture has a much shorter "reach" than the stock plugs.

 

Have you personally run these plugs for >50K miles in a vehicle with boost or nitrous, or are you picking this up from advertisement HYPE?

 

My personal experience with the denso iridium plugs is that when I checked them after 60K miles, they still looked almost new, and I was having no issues with idle or performance. The Motorcraft fine wire platinums are my second choice though, fine plugs.

 

No, I bought it used but I know both of the previous owners.

 

Bob back off. I'm not a punk kid who reads what some marketting weenie posted on a companies web page.

To answer your question. Yes

I not only have in the past, but am currently **still running** the same Denso IT20s in the caddy (100shot of nitrous and 50k+ miles of family car duty)

Rich

 

What year caddy Rich? If it's 2000 or newer it has COP, which is an entirely different system than Ford's EDIS (waste spark system).

I got to tell you I'm really shocked about that Northstar running more than 50K miles!

 

Its a 2001 eldorado. Here is a VIDEO
And yes it has COP ignition.

You and everyone else knows of the northstars "reputation".

I choose to do some research on that motor instead of following the popular opinion. I educated myself on what typical failures happen.. then prevent them! It's now got 88k miles on it and has seen many 100shot runs down the dragstrip. Oh and.... on the same plugs.

Rich

 

I would think that running nitrous would aggravate a chronic head gasket problem, not prevent it! The plugs made it, what about the engine, tranny, etc.?

 

Hence my point. Popular opinion does not equate to fact.
Do you know what the "chronic head gasket problem" was? Do you know what GM did to address it? Do you know what year they addressed it? Do you know how a northstar owner can make sure it never happens?

Not sure what your fishing for Bob. But the motor is all original and the tranny too. Both get oil changes and I've never seen one sliver of metal or excessive wear.

Just because something is "oem" does not mean it's the best. I'll not argue it'll work just fine. But as an OEM engineer I can tell you that nearly everything we do is filled with compromises. Most often it's manufacturing consessions. The second most compromise is to protect for 150k miles and the owner ignoring maintainence of thier car.

There are several rules of thumb that I hold to with hot rodding near stock cars.
1) Allow *everything* to warm up before pushing it. (motor, tranny, brakes, bearings, ect..)
2) Never allow something to get too hot.
3) Octane is your friend. (pay attention & take care of your friend)
4) Never over rev a engine.
5) Avoid "shocking" anything mechanicaly.

Do those and you'll be able to push a stock vehicle past what most people consider to be "safe".

It's all in the science of thermal cycling and physical loading.

Rich

 

Ok, what are the "typical failures", and what did you do to prevent them?

The Northstar has tons of problems, where do you want me to begin?

 

Rich, would you consider TSB's "popular opinion" or "FACT"? When you did your research, how did you discount these problems with the Northstar V-8?

Here are the TSB's, just for the Northstar V-8, only on the 2001 Eldorado:


http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...00914D/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls..._01012/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...604032/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls..._01393/TSB.htm (beauty -- head gaskets)

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls..._01771/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls..._01792/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls..._02006/TSB.htm (beauty -- engine replacement)

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...01009A/TSB.htm (beauty -- burning oil)

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...604014/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...04024D/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...02004B/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...063003/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...d_0804/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...d_3036/TSB.htm

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...d_3951/TSB.htm (beauty -- knocking noises, burning oil)


ALL TSB's for 2001 Eldorado:

http://www.cadillacforum.com/recalls...r_2001/TSB.htm


And this URL is great.....ever heard of the Chevy sales slogan "Heartbeat of America"....this might be where it originated:

http://pistonslap.com/



My approach to these kind of problems: I know better than to buy a GM product!!!!