Best Spark Plug / Cables choice, for Mileage 1st - performance 2nd

[cobrajocky]

I've got a '97 Mazda B4000SE 2WD ExCab 4.0L V-6 with only 98k miles (aka a Ranger XLT 4.0L). Replaced the plugs once at 45k, never on the cables. It's getting "stubborn" to start when it's wet (rainy) cold days in SoCal and I suspect (and have been told) it's the cables and plugs - time to replace.

Pretty sure the 2nd set of plugs were the OEM Motorcrafts and they've been "OK". The engine burns no oil, still tight and pretty damn powerful.

Looking for some solid recommendations on what plugs (brands and models) are best for Economy/Mileage most and secondly, performance ... it's getting old like me. I do nothing off-road, it's 2WD with a Lear shell on the bed. I also want to get a long life out of these cables and the plugs, another 50 to 60k miles! And, I also want to stay economical on the cost.

Best choice on the cables - Silicon, copper, what?

Best choices on the plugs - do I get sucked into the Platinum's, Iridium, solid gold with diamonds, or is Copper really just as good? Brand, models? It's mind boggling just looking through the 30 or 40 different plugs now! Things were a lot simpler back when this truck was new.

Thanks, much.

 

[Dirtman]

Without getting into the tech, bottom line is copper plugs work fine but do not last in modern engines. Platinums are an upgrade from copper but with a waste spark ignition you need double platinum or iridium if you want them to last. Its all about how long they last, when new and gapped properly they all work and perform the same. You can buy coppers every 10,000 miles or iridiums every 100,000.

Cables stick with oem. Which is usually motorcraft or autolite.

 

[Mike Tonon]

Without getting into the tech, bottom line is copper plugs work fine but do not last in modern engines. Platinums are an upgrade from copper but with a waste spark ignition you need double platinum or iridium if you want them to last. Its all about how long they last, when new and gapped properly they all work and perform the same. You can buy coppers every 10,000 miles or iridiums every 100,000.

Cables stick with oem. Which is usually motorcraft or autolite.

Do you know the part number for the Iridiums?

 

[HighMileage93]

NGK Iridiums are great. Silicone jacketed 8mm or bigger wires are what I like. Used to use Bosch Platnums too and got TONS of miles out of them.

 

[Dirtman]

Do you know the part number for the Iridiums?

No, and that's really none of your business!

Sorry just watched ace ventura... Autolite iridiums start with XP. Douple platinums are PP. Regular platinums are P. Coppers have no prefix. Cross reference any plug to autolite and stick XP in front of the numeral. I dont know the exact number for the 4.0.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Autolite platinum and splitfire plug wires hasnt skipped a beat on almost three years on the same plugs.

 

[cobrajocky]

Has anyone tried the Champion® Platinum Power™ Spark Plug (https://www.carid.com/1997-mazda-b-series-performance-spark-plugs/?filter=1&sub-model[Liter][]=4.0L)? The price is very appealing!

Back in the day (70's and 80's) we used nothing but Champion's in our 69 and 70 Mustang Boss 302's and 350's (Cleveland blocks) we raced SCCA. Except for the Jap car racers who ran NGK's, everyone else swore by Champion's.

I think I'll go with the NGK wire set, 8mm, wire cores and silicon jackets at a great price ($27 and change)

 

[sgtsandman]

Has anyone tried the Champion® Platinum Power™ Spark Plug (https://www.carid.com/1997-mazda-b-series-performance-spark-plugs/?filter=1&sub-model[Liter][]=4.0L)? The price is very appealing!

Back in the day (70's and 80's) we used nothing but Champion's in our 69 and 70 Mustang Boss 302's and 350's (Cleveland blocks) we raced SCCA. Except for the Jap car racers who ran NGK's, everyone else swore by Champion's.

I think I'll go with the NGK wire set, 8mm, wire cores and silicon jackets at a great price ($27 and change)

I won't even put that Champion crap in my lawn mower. There is a reason they are so cheap.

This is one place where I will insist you stick with the OEM product that originally came with the engine. Anything else is more often than not a waste of money.

 

[8thTon]

I would have said to go with Motorcraft original type, but the Autolite XP iridium plugs that were in my 3.0 when I bought it are wearing quite well. Iridium is very tough high temp material and is a good fit with the wasted spark ignition that burns off the center electrode of half the pugs. Autolite makes Motorcraft plugs.