Jump to content

Motorcraft SP-542 plug superseded by SP-578? - NGK Ruthenium HX - New Plug Installation DIY


boostededge

Recommended Posts

  • 2 months later...

Edited because I'm even more confused now. Using the NGK part finder is looks like OEM plugs were heat range 7? and the now NGK recommended plugs are heat range 6 wheras Ford is recommending a hotter plug heat range 8 possibly on SP-578? Going to that hot of a plug doesn't sound good, I can see why people would see less timing and be able to run less boost.

 

@1004ron you originally installed the LTR7BHX which are heat range 7 now your going to a COLDER plug LTR6BHX heat range 6.

 

Ford
SP-542 is heat range 7
SP-578 is heat range ?8?

 

Iridium
NGK ILTR7N8 is heat range 7 (original OEM equivalent)
NGK ILTR6S8 is heat range 6

 

Ruthenium
NGK LTR7BHX is heat range 7
NGK LTR6BHX is heat range 6
 

Edited by boostededge
  • Confused 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

I contacted NGK about this and they said they worked with Ford in 2019 and found the heat range 6 plugs (hotter) could be used in all Nano engines, and hence the change from SP-542 (ILTR7 NGK Laser Iridum) to SP-578 (and now SP-594) which are NGK heat range 6 plugs. They found the hotter plugs reduced fouling. However, Ford's SP-578/SP-594 are different from NGK's Laser Iridiums in that they use narrow ceramic insulators at the firing side for better cold performance and reduced carbon fouling.

So that's why the original SP-542 are exact dead ringers for NGK Laser Iridium ILTR7 while SP-578/SP-594 are slightly different from ILTR6. If you look at NGK's ILTR6 and Ruthenium LTR6BHX, their ceramic insulator tips at the firing side are thiccer than the SP-578/SP-594.

Personally from my datalogs and experience, the colder plugs don't really yield much benefit for spark advance under full boost with a tune. Maybe at best 2-3 degrees advance even with E40.

The only current/new Fords to use the CYFS-092 (cold heat range, original factory for 2.7) plugs instead of CYFS-12 (hotter/stock heat range for 3.5) are the 2020-2022 GT500 and the Ford GT (SP-583). To buy the Ford GT plugs, the dealer asks for your VIN and mileage for your GT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...