I just recieved my champion plugs and learned they are not one piece as I had heard they were. Look at this photo. In the groove to the right of the threads there is a bluish color. This is heat from the laser welding process that mated the plug body to the plug extention.

Guess these aren't a better choice after all.

FWIW, the set I ordered from RockAuto are junk. 2 have welds that are clearly over powered and are probably weak. 1 had a cracked ceramic body (electrode end) from being dropped. Another has the ground strap that was is mounted off centered. Clearly these Made In Mexico spark plugs are GARBAGE.

 

1st...they are one piece, they are welded, but the ford plugs are two seperate pieces entirely....which is the difference..... who cares how the ground strap is mounted....that won't really matter if its off center so long as its welded and the gap is right....

 

I've heard more than once that they aren't the best quality, and should be gapped and changed often, but its better than them breaking off in the head! Personally, I'd rather go with Brisk plugs... they truly are one piece.

 

+1 on Brisk plugs.

 

Well all i know is mine have been in for 12,000 miles or so now...and have been working great....

 

Just check them every 15-20,000 miles, just as you would with a Brisk, because they are more conventional and subject to gap wear. The Champions have one advantage over Brisk - they last longer. The Brisk plugs use a silver ground strap. Its very good as far as conductivity but it wears faster. I don't have any hard data, but I've heard the Brisks are good for about 25K max. The Champions likely last a lot longer. Either way, its better than Autolite/Motorcraft plugs. If the vehicle is built with supercharger, turbocharger, NOS, etc., Brisk is the only solution outside of Autolite HT0s because the Champions are standard temps. My next plug change I'm putting in Brisk plugs rather than HT0s.

 

What is the part number for a 05' 5.4l as far as the Brisk if you don't mind? I am at about 39-40k on my original and think I will opt for an earlier change. Also where do you tend to find the best price?

 

Brisk Racing :: Ford Vehicles Brisk Spark Plug Application Charts

Don't have retail prices though, I get them wholesale through an account I have.

 

Thanks for the help.

 

I'm at 45k on my 06 and it's time i do belive for me to do mine.... What are you guys soaking your plugs with? This breaking off thing scares me...lol... I'm very able to do my own plugs... but again the braking of the plug bothers me.


Mark

 

Motorcraft carb/intake/maf cleaner or Kroil. Funny thing... Ford used to recommend Kroil (which is the best damn penatrant/cleaner I've used) and I guess they figured out if they recommended their own product they could make some extra money off this!

When I change mine (more often than most because they are subject to more extreme conditions under boost) I soak them overnight, then again 15-20 minutes prior to the job.

 

Funny thing with mine...I backed them out 1/8 turn, and they were then loose enough to take out by hand....i never needed to use anything....granted...i took mine out at 25,000 miles or so...

 

This past weekend, I was on a road gig with my band, and we started having misfires. After leaving it to a shop, and renting a car to get to the gig, I find out the culprit was a defective brand new (installed for 2 months) Champion 7989 spark plug. The plug was changed. Today I returned the rental in Gulfport, MS, picked up the truck, and drove home with no problems.

I bought the truck only two months ago, and I spoke to the mechanic that worked on it for the used car lot that sold it to me. He explained that they took the truck in with a cylinder missing, and he changed the spark plugs and fuel pump, and now it runs fine (which it did.) He went on about how the Champion plugs are great... they'll last 100K miles and will never break in the cylinder head like the factory ones, which prompted him to purchase a $600 removal tool, etc, etc.

 

There is nothing wrong with the Motorcraft spark plugs, follow the correct procedure for removal and use antizise when installing.

 

Tell that to my bank account after spending $2300 at my local Ford Dealer
to get one broken off plug extracted! Just one!



RH