What spark plugs for 3.0

[adsm08]

I was wondering if I could have went to Ford place and bought exactly what came in my truck?I

No, you couldn't have. The service parts we can get at the dealership aren't differentiated. We get either the double platinum or nickel electrode plugs that are good for both sides. The plugs you put in should be good for another 100K.

 

[8thTon]

Hence my "without getting too technical" remark...

Also you have it backwards. Single platinum plugs have a platinum ELECTRODE, but a standard nickel ground prong. On those plugs on the batch fired side the ground is what burns up. Double platinum and iridium plugs have a platinum plate on the ground prong that prevent wear when the spark is reversed. (Autolite iridium's only have an iridium electrode, the ground prong is still platinum like a standard double platinum plug).

For wasted spark/batch fired systems one plug fires as in a normal system. Yes, its ground electrode loses mass with each arc, but no faster than in any other system. It’s the reverse plug that has a problem because there is so little mass in the center electrode. So the Autolite iridium plus are just what you need - the ground electrode doesn’t really need iridium, it will last long enough anyway.

 

[Kira]

Oh man....I hope you're not telling me the gentle measure I gave my SP440's with a ramp gauge damaged them too badly.
I didn't pry against any firing surface.

 

[8thTon]

Oh man....I hope you're not telling me the gentle measure I gave my SP440's with a ramp gauge damaged them too badly.
I didn't pry against any firing surface.

Then you should probably be fine.

 

[Burnsy]

I'm getting ready to do my plugs tmrw on my 01 3.0......i bought autolite AP104 they're single platinum......i can go get 3 doubles in the morning, I think that's the APP104....which side of the motor do the doubles go on? Driver or passenger? It's a flex fuel if that matters. Thanks

 

[Burnsy]

Ford did this to save 40 cents... your truck uses a waste spark ignition system which without getting too technical means plugs on one side of the engine fire twice. The side that fires twice requires a double platinum plug (platinum ground and electrode), the other side only requires a single platinum plug (platinum electrode only). So instead of just using 6 double platinum plugs ford cheaped out and used a less expensive single platinum plug on one side...

When you buy new plugs just put double platinums or iridium's on both sides. I don't know the motorcraft part number but it would be an autolite app104 for double platinums or xp104 for iridiums. (Autolite makes motorcrafts plugs)

I'm doing my plugs tmrw.....01 3.0 flex....i already bought AP104 singles.....i want to go get 3 doubles,APP104......what side of the motor do the doubles go on? Driver or passenger? If that's how it works(one side of the motor)..........thanks

 

[Ranger850]

I'm doing my plugs tmrw.....01 3.0 flex....i already bought AP104 singles.....i want to go get 3 doubles,APP104......what side of the motor do the doubles go on? Driver or passenger? If that's how it works(one side of the motor)..........thanks

Dirtman is no longer here, but maybe @RonD can answer your question.

I used Bosch Platinum Crossfire plugs in my 3.0 ( non flex fuel) and had great results. But to be honest I had a major engine failure not too long after I put them in.

 

[RonD]

On a Ranger V6
Passenger side uses regular spark, center to tip
Drivers side uses reverse spark, tip to center
Assuming coil pack is factory wired, lol

Which is why there are often 2 spark plug numbers listed for V6s, one has coated tip, the other a coated center, coating makes spark plugs last longer
For Ford using thousands of spark plugs every year it makes since(cents) to use two different single coating spark plugs
For owners just get 6 double platinum
Or 6 regular(no coating)

Standard Single platinum plugs have coated tip, but can be order with only coated center, the different number

Good look here on how spark plug centers wear on drivers side, i.e. cylinders 4, 5 and 6: https://www.ranger-forums.com/2-9l-3-0l-v6-tech-32/flex-fuel-spark-plugs-119781/

Also which spark plugs are recommended for 3.0l gas only and 3.0l Flex Fuel

3.0l use 0.042 to 0.046 gap, gas only or flex fuel
Disregard gap info on Emission sticker in engine bay

 

[Josh B]

Seems you need two sets and then use 3 of one set, and 3 of the other

 

[Burnsy]

On a Ranger V6
Passenger side uses regular spark, center to tip
Drivers side uses reverse spark, tip to center
Assuming coil pack is factory wired, lol

Which is why there are often 2 spark plug numbers listed for V6s, one has coated tip, the other a coated center, coating makes spark plugs last longer
For Ford using thousands of spark plugs every year it makes since(cents) to use two different single coating spark plugs
For owners just get 6 double platinum
Or 6 regular(no coating)

Standard Single platinum plugs have coated tip, but can be order with only coated center, the different number

Good look here on how spark plug centers wear on drivers side, i.e. cylinders 4, 5 and 6: https://www.ranger-forums.com/2-9l-3-0l-v6-tech-32/flex-fuel-spark-plugs-119781/

Also which spark plugs are recommended for 3.0l gas only and 3.0l Flex Fuel

3.0l use 0.042 to 0.046 gap, gas only or flex fuel
Disregard gap info on Emission sticker in engine bay

Thanks...I took back the singles AP104 and just got 6 APP104 doubles.....never got around to putting them in today, gonna do it tmrw. We had nasty weather today in FL

 

[RonD]

Seems you need two sets and then use 3 of one set, and 3 of the other

Yes, or just use double coating and no worries
As said for 6 spark plugs its not a big difference in cost, for 6,000 you can save some money on using the two different single coatings

 

[ptf18]

So... are the SP500 plugs "correct" for the 3.0l FFV engine in ALL 6 cylinders?