New Spark Plugs

[97TaurusGuy]

I was just wondering what Taurus owners recommend for replacement spark plugs in my 97 Taurus with the Vulcan engine. I am hoping to find some new plugs that will help make the car run smoother, it runs great now but can always be better. I see platinum plugs all over now, are these any good. Thanks for your suggestions!

[Willyum]

Don't think that you can go wrong replacing plugs with ones like original. Champion is a good alternative. Automakers have been installing platinum plugs since the "100,000 miles between tuneups" advertising. If you have been taking care of the car you probably won't be able to tell any difference in the way it runs with the new ones.

[Paul Masley]

I don't think that I would put Chanpion Plugs in a Ford. I suggest that you use the original Motorcraft plugs that came with it.

[drdisque]

yep, motorcraft are the only ones that run right on EEC-V fords.

[Willyum]

Champion has been making quality spark plugs for nearly as long as there have been cars on the road. To bad mouth their product is foolhardy. Their plugs can be depended upon to fit and work perfectly and not gaul in aluminum cyl heads.

[Paul Masley]

Willy, I wasn't bad mouthing their product, just speaking from experience. I put three sets in a row (they were under warranty) in my truck. The truck either blistered the porcelin or melted the electrodes off. They were the proper designated plug for the truck. Champion could not figure out the problem and finally refunded the what I paid for them. I put a set of Motorcraft plugs in with no problems after that.

Since then, I changed to Bosche plugs in my Ford Truck for a test, but strictly Motorcraft in my Taurus.

Champion plugs are actually made for Chrysler products.

Now for an expression I heard an old farmer say about Chanpion plugs, "I wouldn't put those dang thing in my lawnmower!" I tend to agree.

[Willyum]

Paul, Guess that you can have a bad experience with anything, I've had several, too many to discuss. If you don't use Bosch or Champions in a VW bug you will likely have to heli-coil the heads from them being galled. Have never had any kind of problems with my 3 year old Taurus SES, can't say the same for the '91 Honda Accord that I traded for it. Need to take care of whatever you have and give it a chance to perform.

[mr_tw]

I put the Bosche Platnum +2 in My Vulcan, and I did note it to run better, (Mind you my old plugs were bad and I do have over 320k on it) remember, if you get a plug with multiple electrodes you will not improve preformance, it will just preform at the same level for a longer period of time due to the electrode being able to swich to the other one(s) as thee others wear out but other than these I would use motomaster productas, apperently when a product says it reaches the manufactured specs, the motomaster part usually scores in the 125% to 150% range, my uncle was a ford Mechanic for many years and says there 2 plugs are the only ones he would reccomend, and he would seriously discourage the use of Spitfire or NGK, but thats just him, no company bashing intended. Alsdo the platinum is a better conductor and will last longer giving you a better spark and longer life, and I would reccomend them if you are the type of person who uses above average parts in your car, also there are iridum plugs as well but I think they cost in the area of $17 or $18 for 2 (Cdn) but again, another step up

[Froze_Tread]

Get the motorcrafts if u havent allready. If it requires platinums get them if it dont dont. You will only see problems if u waver and should only change brands and types if your modding your engine and need a colder or hotter plug. Ive tried a couple dozen times to go the cheap rout on our fleet but always end up swapping um out again "what a waist of time and money". BTW autolite is going to manufacture the new plugs for the F150 new 5.4 damn 9/16's plug

Anyway good luck.

[TomV]

I have been on another Taurus message board and this issue has come up there as well. It appears that there are some plug particulars that are accounted for in the computer programming that may not be incorporated in non-Motocraft plugs.

As cars have gotten more complex so have the plug designs. Minor differences between one platinum plug brand versus another does not mean that one is inferior to another, just that they are different. Since most home mechanics are not aware of all the design issues the engineers had to account for, it seems a bit risky to use plugs other than those recommended by Ford. An engine is just a bit too expensive to repair because of damage caused by $30 worth of plugs.