spark plugs? (copper, platinum, iridium, etc)

[BerniniCaCO3]

Hi!

When I'm finished with my rebuild, I'll be putting in fresh plugs.

I've been advised on this forum that $1.50 copper motorcraft is just fine for our cars.
Now, the explorer motor I've salvaged heads and a cam from ran platinum.

Platinum is supposed to last for 100,000 miles,
Copper is supposed to last 30,000?

Is there a reason why platinum would still only last 30,000 in our engines (contamination), or if I spend the extra $25 on one of the less expensive platinum plugs (I surely don't need quadruple iridium imported from germany-- one can spend a LOT on plugs and it won't be me), will I be able to go 100,000 and never need to change plugs again?

[zoomie]

plats arnt all that great, im running autolite iridiums in mine and i lovem.

[Lincolnmania]

i use motorcraft copper plugs on 302's

[merc91]

im running autolite iridiums in mine and i lovem

same, they have taken allllot of shit and they're hangin in there good.

[86VickyLX]

If money is no option, buy platinum. If you want to keep it economical, run copper.

[P72Ford]

I always use copper plugs, and usually a range or two colder than stock.

[gabegt90]

running the stock spec awsf44c mortorcraft plugs in mine it's just fine

[visionmercury]

i run copper autolites in my 87 and they work great , but i run autolite iridum in the marauder

[cld783]

single electrode double platinums (app2545) are good plugs.

[cld783]

single electrode double platinums (app2545) are good plugs.

edit: these are for stock heads.


not sure of a part # for explorer heads. Autolite APP104???

[1987cp]

Neato link for reading spark plugs (incl. determining spark advance and heat range):

http://www.4secondsflat.com/Spark_plug_reading.html

Always get plugs to match your heads:

Exploder heads use Motorcraft ASWF-32C (IIRC, can check tomorrow). Ask for plugs for a '93 Cobra, as they don't list normal copper-core options for Explorers and the guy will try to talk you into platinums, which is retarded and a waste of money.

E7 heads use Autolite 26 or equivalent. Ask for plugs for any '87-up 5.0 Mustang, or anything using D8 or E5 heads.

E6 heads use Autolite 2545 or equivalent. Ask for plugs for a stock '86-up 5.0 Vic.

[BerniniCaCO3]

That is interesting!
I like the idea of spending a little more on platinum/iridium and only changing them 1/4 as often; it'll be cheaper and easier in the end.

Looks like the explorer heads take the same length spark plug and the same "heat" if that's the technical term.

Hey-- there's a guy selling the autolite xp104 iridium plugs for $3/apiece on ebay but I'd have to buy 4 sets of 8. He's got good feedback.
But I only need one or two sets. If I buy the lot, anyone interested in a set of 8 iridium plugs for $24 +$5 shipping? That way I'd get cheap plugs but don't get left with the bulk, and you'd get cheap plugs too

[1987cp]

Ouch. And I thought $16ish was bad enough for a set of sparkers. IMO, there are dozens of better uses for the money, but that's just me, and I drive very little and never change my plugs until they're completely hopeless or I suspect I got the heat range wrong (or, as with one set of Champions, couldn't find a stupid heat range reference in the first place!).

:banana:

[sly]

autolite copper all the way on my stock yachts.

[Lincolnmania]

it's a gimmick, i'll give you an example:
your best bet is to use oem specified spark plugs!

about 7 yrs ago friends of mine got a dodge grand caravan with around 65,000 miles........in stock form it was getting 26 mpg highway.
so they decided to go to myrtle beach for a week and had me tune it up before the trip, my friend provided me with 6 bosch platinum +4 plugs.......i installed them, they went on their trip and only got 18.5 mpg..........when they got home, i installed 6 oem plugs, champion platinums, fuel economy went up to 27 mpg