Some gave good advice....stay OEM when possible. The replacement plug is a double platinum anyway.
Best spark plugs?
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Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
In transverse V6 engines like your Escape, where getting to the rear bank is impossible, use iridium plugs that last longer; they're good for 100k.
My recommendation is the Denso Iridium TT "Twin Tip" part number 4713.
The Denso TT is the only good iridium plug available for your engine, since the Denso Long Life and NGK Laser Iridium don't appear to be available for your application. The "performance" iridium plugs (Denso Iridium Power and NGK Iridium IX) aren't that great and will only last 40-60k.
Should you decide to stick with platinum, the best platinum plugs for your application are the NGK Laser Platinum (part number 93858) and Denso Double Platinum (part number 5091). However, these are only good for 60k.
How many miles on your Escape? Because it seems early for a 2012 car to need new plugs already, as most modern cars come with iridium that are good for at least 100k. But if you do have high mileage, and you need to pull the intake, consider replacing the valve cover gaskets while you're in there (and Rock Auto has the valve cover gasket set cheap on clearance right now).
Is there any access for the rear plugs? Some of those engines have cutouts in the intake, allowing plug/coil access without having to remove the intake (an example is the 95-99 Maxima).
Most Motorcraft plugs are made by Autolite, but they're not the greatest.
Thanks for the info!
It has right at 60k, and I plan on changing them soon before I go back to work/school/life and dont have time anymore.
The OEM plugs are platinum according to the Ford Manual.
I plan on changing gasket(s) and other things while I am in there since it is a pain to get to those back 3.
Originally Posted By: Wolf359
I had a Duratec engine and I changed plugs at around 70-80k even though they were supposed to last 100k. The reason you change them is so that they don't get completely rusted to the block. Gas mileage did improve afterwards and even though they were platinum plugs, the gap did open up a little over time.
I have noticed that the gap varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. I thought this kind of went by the wayside in recent years for new vehicles?
Originally Posted By: punisher
Some gave good advice....stay OEM when possible. The replacement plug is a double platinum anyway.
OEM is regular platinum not double (as specified by Ford)
Nowadays there are only a few plug manufacturers, so why is going OEM still the best idea?
In transverse V6 engines like your Escape, where getting to the rear bank is impossible, use iridium plugs that last longer; they're good for 100k.
My recommendation is the Denso Iridium TT "Twin Tip" part number 4713.
The Denso TT is the only good iridium plug available for your engine, since the Denso Long Life and NGK Laser Iridium don't appear to be available for your application. The "performance" iridium plugs (Denso Iridium Power and NGK Iridium IX) aren't that great and will only last 40-60k.
Should you decide to stick with platinum, the best platinum plugs for your application are the NGK Laser Platinum (part number 93858) and Denso Double Platinum (part number 5091). However, these are only good for 60k.
How many miles on your Escape? Because it seems early for a 2012 car to need new plugs already, as most modern cars come with iridium that are good for at least 100k. But if you do have high mileage, and you need to pull the intake, consider replacing the valve cover gaskets while you're in there (and Rock Auto has the valve cover gasket set cheap on clearance right now).
Is there any access for the rear plugs? Some of those engines have cutouts in the intake, allowing plug/coil access without having to remove the intake (an example is the 95-99 Maxima).
Most Motorcraft plugs are made by Autolite, but they're not the greatest.
Thanks for the info!
It has right at 60k, and I plan on changing them soon before I go back to work/school/life and dont have time anymore.
The OEM plugs are platinum according to the Ford Manual.
I plan on changing gasket(s) and other things while I am in there since it is a pain to get to those back 3.
Originally Posted By: Wolf359
I had a Duratec engine and I changed plugs at around 70-80k even though they were supposed to last 100k. The reason you change them is so that they don't get completely rusted to the block. Gas mileage did improve afterwards and even though they were platinum plugs, the gap did open up a little over time.
I have noticed that the gap varies greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. I thought this kind of went by the wayside in recent years for new vehicles?
Originally Posted By: punisher
Some gave good advice....stay OEM when possible. The replacement plug is a double platinum anyway.
OEM is regular platinum not double (as specified by Ford)
Nowadays there are only a few plug manufacturers, so why is going OEM still the best idea?
Double plats are only needed on the reverse fired waste spark ignition systems where the current flow direction is from the block back to the coil. Typically bank one on Fords.
And all plugs are copper core. there are no plugs with copper electrodes. When talking platinum, iridium or regular (nickle) you are talking about the plated material on the exposed electrodes.
And all plugs are copper core. there are no plugs with copper electrodes. When talking platinum, iridium or regular (nickle) you are talking about the plated material on the exposed electrodes.
Originally Posted By: CT8
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I'd get OEM plugs.
I would agree.
OEMs all the way. There is so much engineering involved with building the engine that the spark plugs are a huge factor. Stick to what was intended for them.
Originally Posted By: rooflessVW
I'd get OEM plugs.
I would agree.
OEMs all the way. There is so much engineering involved with building the engine that the spark plugs are a huge factor. Stick to what was intended for them.
Iridium does allow an ultra-sharp electrode, but the change intervals are quite short. I believe the high-end Denso Iridiums with those very tiny electrodes have a change interval of like 30k, but the performance should be marginally better.
I'd stick with a double- or quad-electrode platinum.
I'd stick with a double- or quad-electrode platinum.
Update: Looks like Autolite Iridium plugs are going to be the winner. And as an added bonus, they are running a promotion to the end of august that will give you $2.50 back per plug!
Check out the promotion below.
http://www.rockauto.com/Images/CurrPromo...20-%20A2568.pdf
http://www.rockauto.com/Images/CurrPromo...20-%20A2568.pdf
Motorcraft is almost always Autolite - but Ford has been using Denso or NGK-made plugs lately, caveat emptor.
I found that my Dodge came with NGK Nickel when I went to change the original plugs a while ago. And that is a 2006 model, so it may not be anything new but who knows
The best plug is either the one mentioned in the user's manual, or a newer part number that replaces the old part number in your manual.
Anyway, I have encountered situations where a certain platinum plug would be discontinued and an iridium plug would be introduced to take the place of the platinum plug.
Anyway, I have encountered situations where a certain platinum plug would be discontinued and an iridium plug would be introduced to take the place of the platinum plug.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The best plug is either the one mentioned in the user's manual, or a newer part number that replaces the old part number in your manual.
Anyway, I have encountered situations where a certain platinum plug would be discontinued and an iridium plug would be introduced to take the place of the platinum plug.
The 2012 Escape's owners manual doesn't list any plug; it just says see the dealer. Here is the owners manual. Go to page 323.
The best plug is either the one mentioned in the user's manual, or a newer part number that replaces the old part number in your manual.
Anyway, I have encountered situations where a certain platinum plug would be discontinued and an iridium plug would be introduced to take the place of the platinum plug.
The 2012 Escape's owners manual doesn't list any plug; it just says see the dealer. Here is the owners manual. Go to page 323.
Is the plug listed on the emissions sticker under the hood?
Usually there is no need to deviate from the OEM spark plug but if you have a lot of money to spend, DENSO Iridium TT (Iridium Twin-Tip) is the latest technology in OEM spark plugs and are made for most cars as aftermarket replacements as well.
http://densott.com/
Well, truly speaking, the latest technology is laser plugs that will ultimately replace spark plugs but they aren't commercialized yet.
http://densott.com/
Well, truly speaking, the latest technology is laser plugs that will ultimately replace spark plugs but they aren't commercialized yet.
Originally Posted By: slacktide_bitog
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The best plug is either the one mentioned in the user's manual, or a newer part number that replaces the old part number in your manual.
Anyway, I have encountered situations where a certain platinum plug would be discontinued and an iridium plug would be introduced to take the place of the platinum plug.
The 2012 Escape's owners manual doesn't list any plug; it just says see the dealer. Here is the owners manual. Go to page 323.
Okay, I was unaware of that. My parents usually had a Honda or a Toyota, and they would either have a part number under the hood or in the user's manual.
Originally Posted By: artificialist
The best plug is either the one mentioned in the user's manual, or a newer part number that replaces the old part number in your manual.
Anyway, I have encountered situations where a certain platinum plug would be discontinued and an iridium plug would be introduced to take the place of the platinum plug.
The 2012 Escape's owners manual doesn't list any plug; it just says see the dealer. Here is the owners manual. Go to page 323.
Okay, I was unaware of that. My parents usually had a Honda or a Toyota, and they would either have a part number under the hood or in the user's manual.
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