Which is truly the Best Spark Plug For a 2nd Gen 2007 Explorer Sport Trac 4.0 V6?

[DILLARD000]

Yep, fix the known problem with the OxSensor first, before spending money+time on other unknowns.
Bosch 15719 with 24i00 0m610 Long Cable+Plug is good to replace any Ford 4WireNarrowBand Sensor; allows routing the cable well away from any hot\moving parts, then just neatly CableTie up any extra slack.

 

[swshawaii]

^ aka Motorcraft SP412

Definitely the OE replacement for your 2008 V6. Appears Motorcraft doesn't have a direct replacement other than nickel. Autolite has Double Platinum APP5143 and Iridium XP5143.
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=949945&cc=1441678&pt=7212&jsn=450
VERY important to check the .054" gap out of the box. Many manufacturers say pre-gapped from the factory, but all it takes is a short drop on the snout and the ground electrode bends and closes. Also, NGK says anti seize is not needed on their plated plugs. Others say anti seize alters torque and good grounding. Regardless of spark plug plating, I would never consider installing spark plugs in aluminum heads without a very light coat of copper or nickel anti seize, especially at these 85K+ intervals. YMMV

 

[bk10s]

O-E-M

 

[Rip Jones]

Since I was asked by an Admin on this Forum what I did on my ST 4.0, here goes. I had about 90K on my ST, and the guy that did all my auto help, said let's go with new Factory Motorcraft wires, and regular Bosch plugs. That what we did. Coils were good. Has been running fine. One of the old boots was torn, so it was a good thing we changed everything out. I bought my ST third owner, so I did not know how the previous owners had done. We also replaced the POS thermostat housing. Ford should be beaten for that. I'm at 180K now, and had to replace the MAP sensor CABLE, a few months ago. Cheap connector, left me on the side of the road. I'll drive the wheels off it, before I replace it. I still love it....Rip

 

[kaw900r]

I like the autolite sparkplugs

 

[user 64972]

Any spark plug that isn't two piece. The originals that broke a lot when you tried to remove them were a FORD blunder and should have been a recall. I paid the dealer to change them because I didn't want to deal with broken plugs. I also paid them to de-carbon the combustion chambers and, I would suspect, helped the dealer to not have any broken plugs. I believe they installed Autolite one-piece plugs.

 

[swshawaii]

Two-piece spark plugs only applies to late 2007-08 4.6L 3V V8 engines.
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/120

 

[user 64972]

Two-piece spark plugs only applies to late 2007-08 4.6L 3V V8 engines.
http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/120

Oh yeah, it was early and I didn't catch that. I'd still use Autolite one-piece plugs! And be sure they are actually one piece!

 

[swshawaii]

IIRC, Champion is the only one piece plug available for the older 3V cylinder heads.
Brown coil boots indicate newer and improved 2V heads.

Spark Plug

 

[curtis james]

Yea the plug design ford did there for a few years i will never understand but had the same issue in my 05 f150 and had to get a extractor.

 

[user 64972]

The dealer said they replaced them with Autolite one piece!

Surely a dealer wouldn't lie or BS me! LOL! Oh well, my '07 only has 80,000 miles on it and I'll probably never replace them myself again!

 

[swshawaii]

HT1 is Autolite's only spark plug for your 2007 4.6L 3V.
HT1 is a TWO PIECE design. Do a search.

Unless the dealer used another plug such as the one piece HT15 they are mistaken.
Either way, hope they used nickel anti sieze. Good luck.

 

[user 64972]

I don't care anymore.

That is what they told me. I would assume a large dealership used anti seize. I would wonder if FORD actually would have used anti seize when they built it. This is my first and last new FORD ever. Some things on a new vehicle that I never had issues with when I used to buy only GM! But then, GM isn't the GM of old!

Some of the things these trucks had issues with shouldn't have left the factory with IMO!

I'm a Toyota man now. Once you drive one, you'll never stop! LOL! No, really, our 2013 RAV4 has been great and the dealer has never done anything I'd ever question!

 

[DAM Sport Trac]

Just FYI, anti-seize will not help or prevent the breakage. The piece that breaks off is well below the threaded section. Below the threads in the head is basically a tube. It gets packed with corrosion and carbon build up that causes it to seize and break of during removal.

That’s why the procedure for removal is to start to remove the plug a little bit (about 1/4-1/2 turn out) then send some carbon dissolving chemical down the plug tubes and wait awhile for the chemical to dissolve/soften the build up. Then, if the lower piece of the plug didn’t break off with the initial removal you’re good to go.

SWSHAWAII posted a great link that shows the issue.
Overall if the tube diameter was larger I don’t think the two piece plug design would be a problem.

 

[swshawaii]

Thanks DAM.

Yes, I failed to mention to apply anti seize to the ground electrode shield (tube).

See Figure 1 from the Ford TSB linked below.
https://www.aa1car.com/library/ford_tsb_08-7-6.pdf

 

[DAM Sport Trac]

As always, be sure not to get any anti seize on the tip of the business end of the plug or you will get a misfire.