96 4.0 OHV Plugs and Wires

[Josh B]

Top pic, "drivers side" center(#5?) looks to be running Rich

And maybe #1, lower pic far right, hard to see center ceramic

But over all they look fine, I would just clean, file and re-gap them

I've got a check engine light but haven't gotten around to hooking up the code reader yet

 

[Josh B]

Don't forget to put your tools away!

If I could find it! I had a Snap-on 1/2 x 9/16 ratchet wrench in my hand somewhere to pull the starter ground with but it got left somewhere and it got dark while I went trying to locate it, wound up using a combination wrench and a flashlight to get the cable off to brush it up

 

[enginepaul]

A note about Motorcraft plugs. They are all double platinum as far as I have seen on Ranger part numbers, They seemed to be listed as just "platinum" on the parts store computers but Ford makes them in double because of the coils on their engines.

 

[cbxer55]

Slightly off topic, I know, but it is a 4.0. In a Mustang.

I am getting a code P0300, random misfire. Bought it with 115,000 on it. Fairly certain the plugs are the factory originals. Nobody but me changes plugs religiously, right? LMAO!!

Got the following items, to install today after I buy some plugs.

https://www.carid.com/accel/front-s...pn-140035.html?singleid=688225439&url=3291436
https://www.carid.com/2007-ford-mus...s-221604176.html?parentsubmodel[]=ENGINE|4.0L

Hopefully the code for the misfire goes bye-bye. Other than that, it's running superbly. Can't feel any misfire with the old butt gauge.

 

[cbxer55]

Well. I changed the plugs first and cleared the P0300 code. Took it for a drive, started and stopped it numerous times. It came back pdq. So I changed the coil next, the Accel Supercoil I linked above. Did the same, took it for a drive, started and stopped it numerous times. Again, code came back. So, today I changed the wires to the JBA spiral wound all metal wires. Did the same drive again. So far, so good. Hopefully that fixes it. If it doesn't, I have no idea what else to do. I suspect, looking at the wires, they may have been the culprit. Keeping fingers crossed.

Funny thing is, I bought the car November 15th. There were no codes when I bought it and all the monitors were set. so no one did anything funny. Because the EVAP takes a long time to set. The P0300 came up rather suddenly last week. Guess I am going to have to do the fuel filter soon. Have no idea when, or even if, the previous owner ever did. But, I am getting no codes for anything else, just the misfire.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Letters in more generic Ford part numbers are usually the initials of what the part is.

FG = Filter, gasoline
FD = Filter, Diesel
FL = Filter, Lubricant
SP = Spark plug.


Either way, the SP500 is a nickel coated plug. Somewhere in the last 10 years or so some engineer figured out you can get similar results to a platinum, or double platinum, with nickel, and it costs a lot less to make.

So... What, second cheapest metal on earth, and we just now figured this out?

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

It's a 4.0.

Pee on it. Makes it run better.

 

[adsm08]

So... What, second cheapest metal on earth, and we just now figured this out?

I said he was an engineer, not that any of them were smart.

I put this discovery on par with penicillin. Excellent, but accidental.

 

[cbxer55]

Well, I drove it to work and back yesterday, and the damn P0300PD code is back. So it wasn't the ignition causing it. Next step, I'll change the fuel filter and check fuel pressure. One can never know if the previous owner ever changed the filter. I suspect most people don't. So I'll start there and check fuel pressure after the change.