Not EVEN close.
https://www.tunedbyzfgracing.com/product-page/sp542-spark-plug-set-of-6
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5.4L 3V and 3.5 Twin Turbo Counterfeit Spark Plugs
- Thread starter JExpedition07
- Start date
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Not EVEN close.
https://www.tunedbyzfgracing.com/product-page/sp542-spark-plug-set-of-6
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762mm
Full Access Members
I have never fallen for the "Motorcraft plugs or bust in your Ford" propaganda from FoMoCo.
I have used NGK and Denso platinum and Iridium with great success in my previous Ford (Explorer). The engine purred like a kitten for 16 years...
Now my Expy has Champion Iridium plugs from Rockauto and they are great... they're genuine Champion and cheaper than even the Motorcraft knockoffs.
A good brand plug will work just fine in your Ford, despite the dealership's horror stories you may hear. This counterfeiting is yet another reason to choose another alternative.
I have used NGK and Denso platinum and Iridium with great success in my previous Ford (Explorer). The engine purred like a kitten for 16 years...
Now my Expy has Champion Iridium plugs from Rockauto and they are great... they're genuine Champion and cheaper than even the Motorcraft knockoffs.
A good brand plug will work just fine in your Ford, despite the dealership's horror stories you may hear. This counterfeiting is yet another reason to choose another alternative.
Motorcraft SP-509 SPARK PLUG https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001HY6EIA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_hoAsEb9DBCCXB
This is one of the sellers on the recommended list of fordtechmakuloco.
This is one of the sellers on the recommended list of fordtechmakuloco.
762mm
Full Access Members
I trust Rockauto as much as I'd trust a dealership, myself. I am yet to have a "fake" part shipped and I literally ordered over 100 times from these guys over the years, as I maintain all of our family's cars and trucks. They are really good with returns too if they screw up and send you the wrong part (happened twice, I think). My fridge is full of the complimentary "xxxxx's car built with RockAuto parts" magnets and now I started putting them on my tool cabinet in the garage, lol!
Ordinarily I'd agree that it's better to check stuff out in person, however the local parts stores charge $20-25 per iridium plug, whereas the Champion iridium plugs were $6 a piece at RA. Even with a shop discount, the price is still ridiculous locally. I have taken my chances online every time and I am yet to get burnt by Rockauto. I only buy local if I need the part right away, for urgent repairs. Anything that can wait gets ordered through RA or sometimes Amazon Canada (due to free shipping).
That said, I'll be ordering Melling cast iron timing tensioners and high volume oil pump from RockAuto very soon, plus some other doodads for the Expedition. Their parts kept my old Explorer on the road for 16 years for a fraction of the local cost. In RockAuto, I trust!
(this is not a paid advertisement, btw!)
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As far as online goes, RockAuto is one of the best because of their volume and they have a reputation. Amazon really doesn't care about the reputation as numbers takes care of itself.I trust Rockauto as much as I'd trust a dealership, myself. I am yet to have a "fake" part shipped and I literally ordered over 100 times from these guys over the years, as I maintain all of our family's cars and trucks. They are really good with returns too if they screw up and send you the wrong part (happened twice, I think). My fridge is full of the complimentary "xxxxx's car built with RockAuto parts" magnets and now I started putting them on my tool cabinet in the garage, lol!
Ordinarily I'd agree that it's better to check stuff out in person, however the local parts stores charge $20-25 per iridium plug, whereas the Champion iridium plugs were $6 a piece at RA. Even with a shop discount, the price is still ridiculous locally. I have taken my chances online every time and I am yet to get burnt by Rockauto. I only buy local if I need the part right away, for urgent repairs. Anything that can wait gets ordered through RA or sometimes Amazon Canada (due to free shipping).
That said, I'll be ordering Melling cast iron timing tensioners and high volume oil pump from RockAuto very soon, plus some other doodads for the Expedition. Their parts kept my old Explorer on the road for 16 years for a fraction of the local cost. In RockAuto, I trust!
(this is not a paid advertisement, btw!)
You should know from my previous post that I am the ultimate cheapskate!
Some things are still worth paying more for to have Hands-On and I have to worry about return shipping. This is why I buy parts that can fail or, do like window regulators from the local parts store that I can walk in and swap it out if it breaks. Not going to bother sending it back or waiting for a new one to come up from eBay or RockAuto.
I solve the problem with price by not buying these ridiculously overpriced stupid iridium plugs.
You guys do realize this will never end right?? It started out with platinum, and then double platinum, and then multiple tips, and then iridium. You know they will come up with something new 15 or 20 years from now if we're still using spark plugs and internal combustion engines so they can jack the prices up and get people to buy them.
Sure, iridium last a little bit longer but it's not necessary and plenty of other plugs in most applications last plenty long enough.
And before anyone goes and tells me about how hard the V6 twin-turbo is on spark plugs I will remind you I won't have to worry about this because I'm against the entire design of the engine and hey turbo, let alone 2 on a daily driver or work vehicle. So I will never own one. I will wait till they replace it with something else and skip right over that engine in history.
Another note on why I trust local places more than online is because it seems local places aren't that worried about or smart enough to buy from the cheapest sources and try to save money. They still live in 1985 where they need, they order, and it gets paid for.
Online companies are always sourcing things are trying to keep their prices low as possible so it looking for a better deal.
O'Reilly Auto Parts is not going to change where they get their spark plugs from. It's too big of a hassle just to save a few pennies. Online places are often approached buy vendors all the time wanting to supply them Parts at a lower price.
This does happen to a point especially on hard part's like alternators and starters and fuel pumps in the local part stores and it's done at a company or Regional level but it just and even greater likelihood for online sellers because they are far more competitive than the local places.
Basically though, we just need to keep sharing videos like this and become aware on how to spot the face so we can always send them back.
Work on shorter replies gentlemen...geez.
Oh well, another thread has digressed...this one from “make sure you are getting the right plug” to “the value of Rock Auto”.
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Oh well, another thread has digressed...this one from “make sure you are getting the right plug” to “the value of Rock Auto”.
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07navi
Full Access Members
I'm wondering if the 515 plug is worth using since it's now much cheaper and I am a tightwad too and don't mind changing plugs. It was the updated non-breakable go-to Ford plug up until a few years ago. I would never buy iridium since plugs are like tires, they start wearing out from day one and they will get caked with deposits no matter what you do.
Not gonna do it...
Scroll on down or skim it.
I'm on here for my pleasure, not yours.
Or a nicer way of saying it is that members are all here for their own enjoyment, learning, sharing, Etc... no one has any requirement to do anything out of the way or to conform their actions to anyone elses wishes.
But what do I know I need a Snickers.
Hulkster
Active Member
Did you literally say China stole from us and they are the end all. So America has never stolen from another country. Should would go back to the 50s and see what was happening in America. America never steals ideas from anyone sounds good not true. It’s not a country thing it’s the companies within and the country that chooses to overlook for their benefit financially. Every country does this lol. Stop creating bias and hate on one situation while ignoring others.
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