Best plugs for stock

[Foxone]

Just picked up an 04 3.8. Just wondering what plugs would be best?

[Mustangfan2003]

motorcraft or autolite

[Spark Plug]

Stock Ones


motorcraft or autolite for sure

[SimplyOrange]

motorcraft!!! had an autolite come apart in the cylinder one time.

[lowflyn]

Motorcraft or autolite, had a hard time finding the motorcrafts for some reason though.

[VCS_SSSTANG]

As long as its not Bosch plugs..

[Mustangfan2003]

Quote: Originally Posted by SimplyOrangeTPS motorcraft!!! had an autolite come apart in the cylinder one time.

well autolite builds the plugs for ford. you can sit an autolite plug next to a motorcraft and they look almost the same.

[Mustangfan2003]

btw i got autolite xp plugs in my car now and it seems to be running pretty good. i was getting better mpg until every freaking gas station put E10 in their gas and now i'm back to where i was. anyways i know ford uses autolite and chrysler uses champion but who makes the plugs for gm? i know about a week ago i picked up some new plugs for my moms trailblazer and the pack said made in japan and it kinda looked like some NGK plugs i've seen.

[Scorpion1]

IIRC GM uses Champions or autolites. Ive seen both.

[Spark Plug]

gm is normally ac delco, i know some new chrysler stuff is bosch from the factory.

[SpectorV]

stock OEM ones gapped correctly of course~ thats all you need.

[Danger Dude]

Quote: Originally Posted by SimplyOrangeTPS motorcraft!!! had an autolite come apart in the cylinder one time.

Autolite are the bomb. I would not use anything else unless it was motorcraft on a Ford. I believe the plug you had might have been dropped. The best thing you can do is inspect each plug before you leave. Never buy bulk packs from Wal-Mart. The abuse boxes go through when they unload the trucks is a horrifying. Check closely for any machine flashing or metal thats stick out inside the combustion chamber especially on the landing or flat area that the spark can jump to. I was on a dyno and between runs I installed new plugs and lost 5hp. So we took a thermal reading and one was much colder so we pulled that plug out and a tiny piece of metal was sticking up on the landing opposite of the side electrode and once I filed it down we gained back 8 hp.

Quite honestly I have throughout the years tried every type of spark plug, V groove, U groove, Splitfires, Super Duper ultra Extreme Platinum tips, Delco, Champion, Accel and every type in between and I can honestly I have never seen any magic performance or mileage improvement that a new stock plug whould nbot have accomplished when changing out old worn out plugs. The best advice I can give is either use stock plugs or motorcraft in Fords. Honestly Bosch aftermarket stuff is junk. They make really good OEM equipment but not aftermarket stuff and stay away from high dollar plugs which are only taking money out of your pockets just as oil filters that cost 10+ dollars. A complete waste of money on something that cost less then $5 does just as good a job or better.

Ford-Motorcraft or autolite
Chevy-Delco or autolite
Jap cars, bikes or Outborad motors- Manufacturer brand , Denso, NGK or autolite
European cars- Manufacturer brands which are mostly Bosch or Bosch

[Herbstang]

3.8s came from the factory with a 42 heat range plug, this is a very hot plug, some vehicles will even ping from the factory.
Recomendations: NA 3.8s 22 heat range plug

Power Adder 3.8s 22 heat range plugs
3.8s running very high boost, a large nitrous shot, or a high compression ratio may want to run a colder 12 heat range plug.

Motorcraft AGS-12C Copper Spark Plugs
Recommended for high boost, large nitrous shots, or high compression ratio NA vehicles.
Gap before installation.
Power Adder gap at .035"
NA gap at .054"
12 Heat Range.

[SimplyOrange]

it could have been a freak accident, i always check my plugs before install.the electrode fell off of one into my cylinder, and another one had the ceramic shield over the electrode bouncing up and down causing a misfire... could have been a freak thing.i have cold heat range autolite on my nitrous right now, im just really weary of them.

[Herbstang]

Quote: Originally Posted by SimplyOrangeTPS it could have been a freak accident, i always check my plugs before install.the electrode fell off of one into my cylinder, and another one had the ceramic shield over the electrode bouncing up and down causing a misfire... could have been a freak thing.i have cold heat range autolite on my nitrous right now, im just really weary of them.

I hijacked that info from VMP I'm currenty using Motorcraft AGS-12C Copper Spark Plugs which VMP suggested

[VCS_SSSTANG]

Quote: Originally Posted by Herbstang 3.8s came from the factory with a 42 heat range plug, this is a very hot plug, some vehicles will even ping from the factory. Recomendations: NA 3.8s 22 heat range plug Power Adder 3.8s 22 heat range plugs 3.8s running very high boost, a large nitrous shot, or a high compression ratio may want to run a colder 12 heat range plug. Motorcraft AGS-12C Copper Spark Plugs Recommended for high boost, large nitrous shots, or high compression ratio NA vehicles. Gap before installation. Power Adder gap at .035" NA gap at .054" 12 Heat Range.

Most of the guys running boost run tr6 gapped @ 30.

[wallysan27181]

Quote: Originally Posted by VCS_SSSTANG As long as its not Bosch plugs..

AHMEN from the back row!!! I wasted time and money, not to mention how I felt when I drove my 97 and it missed and hesitated. I joined this site and then found out about BOSCH......I changed them to Autolites and she runs like a top now! I will never use BOSCH plugs again in my Pony. Just wish I had found this site sooner.......

[Mustangfan2003]

Bosch works good in euro cars i guess but if i owned a bmw or something like that i still think i'd go with a different brand after all the Bosch stories.

[1234]

If im not mistaken autolite and ford have a thing with eachother. I worked in a part store for a few years. We had tons of reps come trough there. They all told me they work with Ford to make their plugs.