Hey guys. Been a while since I've been around here, but i have found myself around another 4.0l. My father-in-law has an explorer sport, and I want to change his plugs.
I forgot the plug number, from way back when I had my Ranger.
I don't want any Autolite numbers-I learned that lesson the hard way. Just looking for the stock, Motorcraft plug number.
Thanks.

 

SP498 sound right?

 

Needs to be PP, double platinum, or regular copper, single platinum will be a waste of money

The 4.0l SOHC or OHV uses Ford's Waste spark system, also 3.0l, and 2001 and earlier 2.3l/2.5l

This means 1/2 the spark plugs spark from center to tip, and the other 1/2 from tip to center.
So if you get platinum tips only then 1/2 the spark plugs will wear out just like regular copper.
If you get platinum centers then 1/2 the plugs will ear out like regular copper.

So double platinum or regular cooper

As a side note many of these engines came stock with TWO different spark plug numbers.
Platinum tips on one bank and platinum center on the other bank, Ford saved alot of money by doing that, and you could do that as well, although the savings, IMO, is not worth it, for 6 spark plugs, when you are talking thousands and thousands of spark plugs then it does make sense(cents)

 

I am thinking Motorcraft SP500...

 

...so I want motorcraft double platinums then? What is that Motorcraft number?
If the truck came with the sp498s, I really would rather put them back in, waste of money or not. I learned with my Ranger, how picky these engines are about plugs, hence the noway to the Autolites.
Yes, I realize Autolite makes Motorcraft, or vice versa, whatever. My truck wouldn't run right with anything besides the stock motorcrafts, and it caused me to chase a buck for a long time, due to switching to double platinum autolites.

 

Never had an issue with Autolite in a 4.0l, OHV or SOHC, and can say the same about Motorcraft.

Motorcraft is the Ford Brand, for almost all its parts, but Ford doesn't make these parts.

Yes, the Autolite Spark plug factory does make Motorcraft spark plugs BUT........it makes them to Ford's specifications, not Autolites, so Motorcraft and Autolite are not the same spark plugs.
BUT again.........Autolite does have the exact specs for the Motorcraft sparks plugs, so pretty safe bet the Autolite spark plug made for the Ford 4.0l engines will be just fine to use, and almost always cheaper because it won't have the 3rd party mark up, from Motorcraft/Ford.

Autolite-----------------------parts store---------end user

Autolite-------Motorcraft------Parts store---------end user

Got that extra mouth to feed in there, lol

 

Hahaa, I hear ya.
I ended up throwing the sp500's in it. Runs/idles great. The damn boots were a real pain to get off, but after that, it all came back to me, as to where to get at the plugs, and which extensions and so on.
Next is the plugs in my 07 f150. I'm sure you know about those issues, so I won't bore you with that.

 

I just replaced my SP 498 (single plat) with SP 440 (Double plat). She seems to idle a little smoother. I haven't had them in for long so I don't know if mileage is any better.

They were about $5 each at Autozone.