best spark plug for an 8N

[Snarfblat]

Quick question... on my 8N ford...ive had ok luck
with champions plugs... then tried autolites with
much disappointment. now ive got the options of
buying motorcraft, ac delco, or NGK this round. What
do yall find to be the BEST or what i need/want that
will hold up longest? thanks in advance.

 

[WW2N]

Autolite AL-437 is what most use here some NGK-3112 are a bit hotter and Made USA last I knew. What is the problem your having, if you are putting in new plugs and having a problem my guess is something else may be to blame and not the plugs. We need more information. Here is a shot in the dark-If you did a tune-up do you have a front mount distributor if you do and you put in new plugs and wires and it runs rough--firing order is 1-2-4-3 it is easy to cross 3 and 4 up on the dist cap. Front mount dist point gap.015- side mount dist points gap .025 But without more information it just smoke and mirrors on our end. Post back.

 

[Tim Daley(MI)]

Original spec calls for Champion H10 spark plug. As stated, many use the AutoLite 437's. I am currently using Champion H12's (512's) and have no issues. Last set lasted 5 years. H12 is a hotter plug very similar to the AL 437. I have used all three plugs and never had issues with any of them. Some say the Champions foul easy but have yet to see concrete data to back that statement up. Opinions are like, well, you know. Also mentioned, the chances are that your problem is somewhere else is 100% probable, but we need more details as to exactly what your having difficulty with. Fouling? That would be a fuel issue.

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<font color="#FFFFFF" size="3">*9N653I* & *8NI55I3*</font>​

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[maxwell99]

I use autolite AL3116
Have had good results and long life with these plugs.

But no plug is going to last long if your fuel system is running too rich.

 

[Bruce (VA)]

See tip # 7.

What do the plugs look like when you replace them?
75 Tips

 

[old]

I was using auto lite till they started making them in China so I have since switched to NGK that are the specs of the Auto lite 437s

 

[lha]

I got about 5 years good running from a set of Champion H-10c's. I still have them,as they were still good,just had H-12s ready for a tune-up.NGK is a good plug,as is ND[Nippondenso].

 

[Dell (WA)]

Snarfblat........with todays "no-lead" gas, we've found that the exposed tip of the AutoLite 437's to be more reliable than the original Champion H-10's or the hotter version H-12. Gap is still 0.025. CAUTION: with todays BelchFire-V8's and automatic chokes, many new tractor owners (not used to manual chokes) FLOOD their sparkies. When FLOODED, you haffta remove the sparkies and DRY them. Propane torch works well as does time. ........HTH, Dell yer self-appointed sparkie-meister

 

[jimtrs]

Ummm, While the Autolite 3116 mentioned above are a great plug (I run them in all the Internationals and Farmalls), They will not fit in a Ford N. I use the 437's there.

Autolite 437 has a 14 mm thread diameter
Autolite 3116 has a 18 mm thread diameter

 

[Philco]

There's a Youtube video put out by AFCo that explains why you need the Autolite 216 plugs gapped at .020, and not the Autolite 437 gapped at .025. That the comparable Autolite 216 plugs will be the Champion H10, not the H12. Listen to what he explains and why, then make your decisions for plugs. I was running the Autolite 437's gapped at .025, and in years past I used the Champion H12's. Currently, as of 10/13/2024 I will be using the Autolite 216 for his reasons given. He's a tractor mechanic, and does have compelling data to substantiate this latest information that I also accept. Towards the end of his 10 minute video, he explains to go ahead and buy the Autolite 437 IF you can't find the Autolite 216, or Champion H10. But if you can, for side mount distributors of the 8N's, go with the Autolites 216, or Champion H10 with the .020 gaps NOT the .025 gap.
LIsten to his Youtube video, and make your decisions wisely. The title of the Youtube video, "2022 Updated Hard Starting Ford 8N,9N,2N, NAA Jubilee Tractor" put out by AFCo.
And remember, sparkplugs are only a part of the entire ignition system that you suspect may be faulty. Consider your wires that should be copper, and good points, rotor, condenser, a good cap, strong battery, and clean connections of all wires. Sometimes you just need to sandpaper the connections to clean off those spots of corrosion of green, and white acid on the posts, and the ceramic piece on the firewall they call the ballast. Do it yearly.

Peace

Philco

 

[Brown David]

There's a Youtube video put out by AFCo that explains why you need the Autolite 216 plugs gapped at .020, and not the Autolite 437 gapped at .025. That the coomarable Autolite 216 plugs will be the Champion H10, not the H12. Listen to what he explains and why, then make your decisions for plugs. I was running the Autolite 437's gapped at .025, and in years past I used the Champion H12's. Currently, as of 10/13/2024 I will be using the Autolite 216 for his reasons given. He's a tractor mechanic, and does have compelling data to substantiate this latest information that I also accept. Towards the end of his 10 minute video, he explains to go ahead and buy the Autolite 437 IF you can't find the Autolite 216, or Champion H10. But if you can, for side mount distributors of the 8N's, go with the Autolites 216, or Champion H10 with the .020 gaps NOT the .025 gap.
LIsten to his Youtube video, and make your decisions wisely. The title of the Youtube video, "2022 Updated Hard Starting Ford 8N,9N,2N, NAA Jubilee Tractor" put out by AFCo.
And remember, sparkplugs are only a part of the entire ignition system that you suspect may be faulty. Consider your wires that should be copper, and good points, rotor, condenser, a good cap, strong battery, and clean connections of all wires. Sometimes you just need to sandpaper the connections to clean off those spots of corrosion of green, and white acid on the posts, and the ceramic piece on the firewall they call the ballast. Do it yearly.

Peace

Philco

Nine year old thread Philco.

 

[NormanSavesTractors]

For those coming to this thread from google search.

Yesterday's Tractors sells the ideal spark plug for the Ford 8N.

Here is a link:

https://www.yesterdaystractors.com/AL437_Spark-Plug_5415.htm

 

[OldBlue61]

Got my Autolites from YT!

 

[Hobo,NC]

Got my Autolites from YT!

get'em while they are hot.

As of January 2026, First Brands Group is winding down and discontinuing its Autolite spark plugs business, along with Cardone and Brake Parts Inc., following bankruptcy proceedings. After failing to find a viable buyer or secure funding, the company is liquidating these North American operations while retaining other, more profitable automotive brands like FRAM and Trico.

I am so heart broken (I hope they rot in ell) they sold their sole to China.

 

[Lynn Patrick]

NGK 3112's in my 6 Fords!

 

[Eman85]

I've got a set of NGK's sitting on my bench, been there for a year or more, for my 8N when I get around to tuning it up whatever that means any more. The Autolites have been in there for probably over 10 years or more, so have the points.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Autolite's down fall happened around 2009/2010. They went completely to ell their bread and butter aftermarket garage installers dumped them. Even tho they sent production back to Mexico they were not a trusted brand anymore the DIY market could not keep them afloat.

Its just another story of milking a trusted brand for all its worth. You use a set every 10 years a shop uses several sets a day are a week. You may get a defective plug once in your lifetime what if it happens on every set you put in. I had a autolite come apart and rattle around in a cylinder it was not uncommon to hear someone else say they Experience the same.

 

[Mad Farmer]

Autolite's down fall happened around 2009/2010. They went completely to ell their bread and butter aftermarket garage installers dumped them. Even tho they sent production back to Mexico they were not a trusted brand anymore the DIY market could not keep them afloat.

Its just another story of milking a trusted brand for all its worth. You use a set every 10 years a shop uses several sets a day are a week. You may get a defective plug once in your lifetime what if it happens on every set you put in. I had a autolite come apart and rattle around in a cylinder it was not uncommon to hear someone else say they Experience the same.

I remember getting a set of plugs from them back at that time.

In a couple months all the exposed metal above the head was crusty/rusty. That's when I switched to NGKs.

 

[HarryVanderpool]

Spark plugs have a very simple task. They receive a high energy pulse and return it through a gap to complete the circuit.
Brand makes absolutely zero difference.
Gap them, install them and run them.
Possibility of failure is equivalent to being struck by lightning.
Plug issues are usually an indicator of other problems in the system.
Unless you are running your N HARD day after day, every day, plugs will last for a decade or more.
And even then, clean, file, and regap and you're good for years.
I read the chainsaw forums and folks rant about changing plugs twice annually!!???
Our 60cc saw that has heated our house EVERY YEAR since 1981 is on its second plug.
Our Stihl 056 Magnum got its second plug just recently.
Don't obsess over plugs!

 

[Mad Farmer]

Spark plugs have a very simple task. They receive a high energy pulse and return it through a gap to complete the circuit.
Brand makes absolutely zero difference.
Gap them, install them and run them.
Possibility of failure is equivalent to being struck by lightning.
Plug issues are usually an indicator of other problems in the system.
Unless you are running your N HARD day after day, every day, plugs will last for a decade or more.
And even then, clean, file, and regap and you're good for years.
I read the chainsaw forums and folks rant about changing plugs twice annually!!???
Our 60cc saw that has heated our house EVERY YEAR since 1981 is on its second plug.
Our Stihl 056 Magnum got its second plug just recently.
Don't obsess over plugs!

See post #18 above.

Autolite was Chi-Com made for a while and were POS. Whatever coating they used on the metal didn't last a month. Left in a few months/year, rust would flake off when removing them. NGKs are plated and still shiny after a year installed.

You'd have to blow out the area around the plug with air, before you screwed out the last threads. I do that anyway as debris collects there after running an N a while.