• Sign Up! To view all forums and unlock additional cool features

    Welcome to the #1 Explorer ST Forum and Explorer ST community dedicated to Explorer ST owners and enthusiasts. Register for an account, it's free and it's easy, so don't hesitate to join the Explorer ST Forum today!


Spark plug change

Sean R.

Sean R.

New Member
#1
Messages
19
Reactions
13
Points
2
Location
Western NC
#1
Who had changed to a heat range cooler plug and who hard is it to the the plugs on the ST... Thank you for any advice.
 

UNBROKEN

UNBROKEN

4000 Post Club
#2
Messages
4,592
Reactions
5,368
Points
352
Location
Houston, TX, USA
#2
It’s not too bad. Take the strut brace off for extra room. Pull the cover off the HPFP and toss it...it’s just a sound dampener and take the bolts out of the hard lines across the top of the engine so you can move them out of the way. After that it’s all standard stuff.
 

OP
Sean R.

Sean R.

New Member
Thread Starter #3
Messages
19
Reactions
13
Points
2
Location
Western NC
Thread Starter #3
UNBROKEN said:
It’s not too bad. Take the strut brace off for extra room. Pull the cover off the HPFP and toss it...it’s just a sound dampener and take the bolts out of the hard lines across the top of the engine so you can move them out of the way. After that it’s all standard stuff.
Click to expand...
Nice.. And thanks.
 

D

DChute

New Member
U.S. Air Force Veteran
#4
Messages
1
Reactions
0
Points
1
Location
Jefferson City, MO, USA
#4
What is the general recommendation for spark plug upgrade for the ST?
 

C

CrankyPants

Member
#5
Messages
40
Reactions
19
Points
2
Location
Dallas, TX, USA
#5
UNBROKEN said:
It’s not too bad. Take the strut brace off for extra room. Pull the cover off the HPFP and toss it...it’s just a sound dampener and take the bolts out of the hard lines across the top of the engine so you can move them out of the way. After that it’s all standard stuff.
Click to expand...
There is really no need to take off the strut brace.
 

ron@whooshmotorsports

ron@whooshmotorsports

Member
Vendor
#8
Messages
309
Reactions
310
Points
67
Location
Las Vegas, NV, USA
#8
Big Dummy

Big Dummy

Member
#9
Messages
93
Reactions
52
Points
17
Location
Virginia
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#9
Hey guys, I was about to replace the plugs in my 2020 as they are the original with 50,000 miles on them. I picked up a set of Motorcraft from the dealer “part SP-594” and I noticed this thread and basically the NGK plugs are the ones most recommended. My question is about the temperature range, what is the benefit of running one step colder? This is something I have never been concerned with and just wanted to know if a step colder is better than what Ford has spec for the vehicle. I have a Tune but am currently running stock to help MPG, I have a VERY HEAVY FOOT with the tune on. If anyone could answer this I would be greatly appreciative…. Wouldn’t need a long explanation, just a short to the point type explanation please. Thank you in advance
 

T

TMac

1000 Post Club
#10
Messages
1,706
Reactions
1,494
Points
262
Location
Knoxville, TN
#10
Hotter or colder has to do with the average expected temperature of the plug. It doesn't have anything to do with spark energy so it won't have any impact on MPG. A plug should be hot enough to burn off deposits and cold enough so as to not burn up the electrodes, insulators or cause detonation. Some prefer a colder plug in a high performance vehicle, but practically speaking if they're not causing detonation or they aren't burning electrodes the stock setup is absolutely fine.
 

Big Dummy

Big Dummy

Member
#11
Messages
93
Reactions
52
Points
17
Location
Virginia
Vehicle
2020 Explorer ST
#11
TMac, thank you for the info, well written and just what I was looking for.
 

TLST22

TLST22

Member
#12
Messages
158
Reactions
95
Points
27
Location
Minneapolis, MN, USA
Vehicle
2022 Ford Explorer ST
#12
Just installed the NGK Ruthenium HX spark plugs a few weeks back, great little upgrade so far. The install isn't bad, the hardest ones are the back (towards the driver/passenger side) but if you take your time and have the righ tools it's a simple job.
 

T

TMac

1000 Post Club
#13
Messages
1,706
Reactions
1,494
Points
262
Location
Knoxville, TN
#13
If I could add a bit to my last post in this thread. Consider the engine as a "system". If you're running high ethanol blends, I would not be running colder plugs. The latent heat transfer of ethanol is higher than that of gasoline which lowers the heat range of the plug, altering it's ability to burn off deposits. Another example of hot-rodding "lore" that might have made sense 40 years ago. I don't have any opinion on ruthenium vs copper vs platinum vs iridium but running "colder" plugs is not a performance enhancement.
 

C

Cruising68

1000 Post Club
#14
Messages
1,630
Reactions
1,187
Points
262
Location
Chicago, IL, USA
#14
I found straight copper plugs ran best in my CTSV. I believe all the precious metal tipped plugs do so only for longevity and do nothing for performance. Just my opinion of course.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

BLucas86

BLucas86

Member
#15
Messages
79
Reactions
34
Points
17
Location
Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
Vehicle
2022 Explorer ST
#15
What’s the torque spec for the spark plugs? Haven’t seen that mentioned in the forum
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Explorer ST Posts



Top