Need the collective wisdom. Of this group:

I have A 1998 E 350 Club Wagon that started life as a 15 passenger Thrifty van (ext body 10 cyl. 6.8 gas engine). 2nd owner converted to family camper van, I purchased in 2002 w 70k mi., owned since. Now has 170k mi. I have never changed spark plugs ... seems to run just fine but I have no idea when previous owner might have changed them. Have read that Ford put some funky spark plugs in these vans when manufactured.

Q: do I pro-actively change out plugs or wait for issue? Because of weird plugs do I go to dealer? Or is it something a competent mechanic can handle. Don't want cyl head issues ...

Thoughts?

Nat

 

You would notice a difference when plugs are replaced at around 60,000 mi.
Get better service from Motorcraft plugs.
Should not be any problem with your year vehicle concerning replacing plugs.

 

thanks .. super helpful!

 

Nothing unusual about your plugs. This is what I would install..

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...t=7212&jsn=454

 

Thanks! so it looks like the spark plugs you are recommending are $2.38 a piece. Yikes that's inexpensive. I certainly would like to NEVER have to replace them again as the cost is entirely in the labor (I'm not doing it myself). I'd like to try to keep the van at least another 100k miles -- and it has 170k mi on it now. Based on that info, would you recommend Double Platinum or any of the other higher end plugs ?? Or for my coil-on plug system ... this will be just fine?

Thanks!

Nat

 

Considering the mileage benefit you should receive with plugs replaced sooner would offset the cost especially since the cost of gasoline is expected to go up, just how much, unknown.

 

Regular copper core plugs need replacing at 30-40k miles. Platinum can get you to 75-100k miles and beyond.. If the plugs are hard to change, I would go with Motorcraft double platinums and run them for 100k.

 

OK so I ordered these 2x Plat plugs:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...7212&jsn=10945
And these coil-on plug boots:
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo...&jsn=17&jsn=17

Anyone have any issues with either?

Thanks again~

Nat

 

Even after it has been strongly suggested to use Motorcraft plugs as they perform best in a Ford, you order Bosch. Well, you will find out soon enough. All we can do is lead the horse to the water but some choose to drink the cool aid instead.

 

RockAuto didn't have Motorcraft double platinum plugs for this van -- unless I missed them. ?

--Nat