Who's still using their OEM plug wires

[362104]

Mine are stamped 1993. What's the life of these things? I have no idea. Any major indicators?

Keith

 

[362104]

 

[Bluestreak]

I have seen many cars with OEM wires on that come into my shop. Usually to see if your wires are bad you mist them with water and see if they ark. If you see that - replace them. It you remove them and see the boots cracking or the coil ends cracking - that would be another sign. I would automaticaly recomend wires every 50-60 K ( when ever you do a tune up). so I would personaly recomend you install a new set, but what the ****, you had them on this long what the **** is another year or 2.

 

[TROG]

Greetings,

I got a little sticker shock when I hit 120k on my 1993 SHO/ATX. Oil was starting to ooze around the plugs, seals and gaskets, etc. and sure enough we replaced the plug wires and just about everything else on the engine too, (snicker!).

My wife and I are a couple of old farts and the original owners of our 1993 and yes the car is silver like my hair, hahaha! Needless to say, we don't use a heavy foot on the gas very often and we try to drive with a bit of "personal discipline" if you know what I mean. (Older drivers do that sort of thing!) If I ever sell this car, someone is going to get "one heck of a nice unit" with a fantastically well maintained engine!

At any rate, we’ve had all the engine servicing work done in a FORD shop over the years, so we’ve used OEM plugs as well as any other part we’ve needed.

I'm new to this site and no expert on all the performance stuff out there, but I did notice the change of plugs at 120k was a remarkable improvement for the engine’s performance. I suspect that OEM is a fine option and keeping with manufacture specifications is nice to do too!

Call-sign member "Bluestreak" makes a good point in that the key is to watch those wires carefully and inspect on occasion to insure good serviceable condition and reliability.

I suspect that problems with the spark plug wires created by diminished ability to conduct "the juice" is going to affect other parts of the engines computer sensing system and the engine in general.

Well, so much for stating the obvious, but to my mind, unless you are VERY knowledgeable about tweaking all these electronics, I'd stick with OEM or at least match resistance and compatibility down to the "N'th" degree!

Later,
TROG

 

[Mrhappytuzi]

Gotta Place an add in the SHOTRADER

 

[1993MTXSHO]

Id say the bigger the wires the more spark you can get which should make for a better combustion. OEM wires are supposed to last 120k miles and then be replace, but sometimes age contributed as well and they should be changed sooner. Hope that helps

 

[Kickinsho]

Well I must say that my car has the original plug wires on her yet and she has 145k on the clock. She runs well and has never given any trouble. Maybe this spring she can get a new set. She might be needing new plug well seals and we can do the wires at that time.

Right now she needs a new heater inlet hose.

Later,

Kris

 

[allbuti]

I have the original OEM wires in my '92 SHO with 236K. It gets 29mpg on road trips, so I don't plan to change the wires, until the gas mileage drops. I have 70K on the Motorcraft spark plugs, but I am about to change these, while I can (I hope) get them out. I also am using the original mufflers, which seems pretty good to me, for a 14 1/2 year-old car.

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Mine started crapping out around 150K. The wires still worked fine, but they had a tendency to start "popping off" of the spark plugs...while driving. It wasnt fun going along with 6 cylinders...and then 5 out of no where. When they were going out, I was still getting great gas mileage (26-27) as long as they stayed on.

 

[Mrhappytuzi]

Hmm my cars a 90'.. when i pulled my wires they had 89 stamped on them

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Hmm my cars a 90'.. when i pulled my wires they had 89 stamped on them

That makes sense though. About 1/2 of the "90" cars are built in '89, while the other 1/2 are build in '90. Just like the 2007's have been out since August...and we just entered 2007.

My wiper motor had Nov. 01 '93 on it off of my '94.

 

[362104]

At a $175 a set for Motorcraft, I may think twice. At least I won't have problems with them, unlike Taylor or Accel with fitting.

 

[RAYJAY]

At a $175 a set for Motorcraft, I may think twice. At least I won't have problems with them, unlike Taylor or Accel with fitting.

i got the accels on my 1994 atx and they fit great seal good and every thing

on the 1993 atx i used the delco wires and the y fit good too

Jeff

 

[jbserra]

I have a brand new oem set in box. $120.

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

I got a brand new set of motorcrafts for less than $100...

 

[362104]

Where were you guys 2 weeks ago when I needed them? Holy Crap Motorcraft is just a tad on the high side. I had them replaced when I had the 60K done.

 

[jbserra]

I got a brand new set of motorcrafts for less than $100...

Yes, but some people pay more then $100 for them in a pinch, like I did. These were $145 because I bought them on Ebay when I couldn't find them elsewhere. Compared to $160-$180 at Advance Auto Parts, they were a better deal. So at $120, I am losing money. If anyone is interested, please make an offer. I don't need an extra set around...

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Yes, but some people pay more then $100 for them in a pinch, like I did. These were $145 because I bought them on Ebay when I couldn't find them elsewhere. Compared to $160-$180 at Advance Auto Parts, they were a better deal. So at $120, I am losing money. If anyone is interested, please make an offer. I don't need an extra set around...

I wasnt meaning anything against you...just letting ppl that they can (or at least when I bought them a year back) be had for a decent price.

 

[red89mtx]

still on my stockers but not for long im at 137k