spark plug conflict - 6 Cylinder Gasoline - Ranger Engine Tech

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ShovelheadKevin wrote: I run 2 different temp plugs in my Harley, but that's to keep both cyls the same running temps.I run my 96 Sporty the same way. I also index for both the Sporty and the E-glide. The E-glide has a tuner to adjust it out and correct the fuel mix for the stage I mods.

MaDMaxx, what year is your Ranger? When I tried the NGK's I got multiple misfires and I did have to gap them down to .044". Thinking about that all the plugs have had to be gapped down except for the E3's as they aren't adjustable.

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 07:33 pm

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Kevin- Ranger plugs don't need to be indexed although you could if you really wanted to.

Because of the type of coils used, the spark plugs have reversed polarity on the right versus left cylinder banks. To save a tiny bit of money per vehicle, the factory once used two different plugs with platinum only on the correct electrode for each bank's ignition polarity. That meant that the left bank and right bank plugs were different and carried different part numbers.

To avoid confusion and possible (probable?) installation mistakes, the bank-specific plugs were not made available as replacements. Instead, double platinum, finewire platinum or iridium replacement plugs are readily available and provide long service life with either polarity. So, a set of spark plugs with a single part number can be used in both banks.

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 07:43 pm

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ShovelheadKevin
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V8 Level II wrote: Kevin- Ranger plugs don't need to be indexed although you could if you really wanted to.

Because of the type of coils used, the spark plugs have reversed polarity on the right versus left cylinder banks. To save a tiny bit of money per vehicle, the factory once used two different plugs with platinum only on the correct electrode for each bank's ignition polarity. That meant that the left bank and right bank plugs were different and carried different part numbers.

To avoid confusion and possible (probable?) installation mistakes, the bank-specific plugs were not made available as replacements. Instead, double platinum, finewire platinum or iridium replacement plugs are readily available and provide long service life with either polarity. So, a set of spark plugs with a single part number can be used in both banks.

Thanks so much brother. That one post answered a multitude of questions. :frd

I used to index plugs in our racing karts as well. Then again, methanol can make for some interesting tuning. ;)

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 08:32 pm

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Yeah, as V8 said, no indexing required, but they are the reasons Ford did the whole two plug setup each side.

You can either run regular quality plugs and swap them at normal intervals, or get double platinum and run them for longer intervals - one side of the engine wears down the outer electrode and the other side of the engine wears down the center tip.

TSquare, the NGK's i used are on the previous page of this thread, including the model number. I had to expand the gap to .44 as they were too tight for the Ranger on this model of plug. Sounds like you may have got an NGK that just wasn't suitable at all.

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 08:44 pm

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ShovelheadKevin
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What lasts longer in our applications, double platinum or iridium?

BTW......I do plan on staying w/Autolites.

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 08:57 pm

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I can't remember if the iridium is that on both contacts, but i can say they're not worth it in our engines.

Double plats are rated for 100k miles, so if you're gonna drive it for that long, go ahead and spend the money on a nice set.

Otherwise, spend very little on some nice, but otherwise nothing special plugs for much less - i got the G-Powers, which oddly are a single platinum, and nice, but very cheap.

Short version, at a nominal service interval, i'll have to replace one bank of plugs.

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 09:00 pm

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ShovelheadKevin wrote: What lasts longer in our applications, double platinum or iridium?

BTW......I do plan on staying w/Autolites.

If you really want to stick to Autolites, they're really cheapy priced plugs, so grab the APP103's for double plats, looks like about $3 a plug with a rebate.

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 09:26 pm

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ShovelheadKevin
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I just figured I'd stay with the gal I brought to the dance in the Autolites.
I know that Fords can be finicky like MOPARS.......GM's are just sluts and you can use almost anything. lol

The main thing is I now understand the manual vs reality. It just threw me off when I read that in the manual.

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Posted: Sun Dec 17th, 2017 09:31 pm

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Yeah, the manual started me off on the wrong foot too.

My personal choice is always NGK, factory choice by *many* manufacturers as well as a go-to for people in motorsport.

Engines can be fussy about the spec of a plug, but not the brand.
Some engines just aren't fussy on specs - like this 3.0 of mine; didn't care plugs were worn flat with gaps of .100 thou, still ran smooth/nice.

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