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01 Taco 3.4 Tune Up Help

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by bajaracer, Sep 21, 2008.

  1. Sep 21, 2008 at 12:13 PM
    #1
    bajaracer

    bajaracer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    05 PRERUNNER DBLCAB SPORT 4.0
    AEM DRY BRUTE FORCE, FLOWMASTER 50 SERIES, 285/70/17 BFG'S AT KO2'S MOTO METALS 17X8 885's with 5100's LOUD STEREO
    Is anyone running a sparkplug other than dealer item like a BOSCH,DENSO, CHAMPION, NGK, E3..and is it a twin electrode? Does it have to be a to be a twin electrode? Anything better out there?
    Second question, where do you put in the tranny oil after draining it?
    Thanks guys.
     
  2. Sep 21, 2008 at 12:20 PM
    #2
    HerNameIsLucy

    HerNameIsLucy I miss Lucy. :-(

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    Yes, they have to be twin-ground plugs, I believe it has to do with the shrouding of the 4 valves per cylinder thing (but I may be wrong on that). I put NGKs in my 02, seems to run just fine. Just about any make should be good, but from my past experiences stay away from Bosch. Toyota's don't seem to like them (idle like crap)

    Dealer changed the tranny juice before I bought it, so don't need to change it yet. When I do I'll use good old Toyota stuff. Can't help, but can't hurt either.
     
  3. Sep 21, 2008 at 12:24 PM
    #3
    HerNameIsLucy

    HerNameIsLucy I miss Lucy. :-(

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    Does your taco have the big stickers under the hood saying something like "MUST USE TWIN PLUG"? Wondering if that changed for the 02 3.4?
     
  4. Sep 21, 2008 at 12:46 PM
    #4
    bajaracer

    bajaracer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    when i bought the truck from the previous owner it had twin electrodes...
     
  5. Sep 21, 2008 at 12:48 PM
    #5
    HerNameIsLucy

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    Chris? Will?
     
  6. Sep 21, 2008 at 1:11 PM
    #6
    BeefTaco

    BeefTaco WESTern Alliance: NORCAL COAST

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    I would stick with the factory Denso plugs should be single electrodes. If you have and Auto trans on the passenger side of the truck near the fire wall is the dip stick for the trans it will have a orange handle on it you fill the trans through there.
     
  7. Sep 21, 2008 at 1:18 PM
    #7
    JimBeam

    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    when will and i changed mine a few weeks ago we went with the densos that the dealer carries...all single ground
     
  8. Sep 21, 2008 at 1:52 PM
    #8
    bajaracer

    bajaracer [OP] Well-Known Member

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    so why does my manuel say to use twin electrodes and either ngk or denso?
     
  9. Sep 21, 2008 at 2:53 PM
    #9
    BeefTaco

    BeefTaco WESTern Alliance: NORCAL COAST

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    My bad after looking it up it takes the twin electrode plugs I was thinking 3.0 :eek: don't use the single electrode plug it could damage the coils.
     
  10. Sep 21, 2008 at 4:48 PM
    #10
    HerNameIsLucy

    HerNameIsLucy I miss Lucy. :-(

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    BeefT could you tell me where you read the single will damage the coils? I've been guessing about the valve-shrouding thing so far, would be good to know the real reason.

    Thanks!
     
  11. Sep 21, 2008 at 5:54 PM
    #11
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    actually...they were dual ground plugs...............they are needed for the 3.4.
     
  12. Sep 21, 2008 at 5:55 PM
    #12
    JimBeam

    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    well i stand corrected then...oops....i thought they were single?
     
  13. Sep 21, 2008 at 5:55 PM
    #13
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    i remember, cause when we were installing them, i was checking gap on both sides of the plug.
     
  14. Sep 21, 2008 at 5:56 PM
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    JimBeam

    JimBeam BECAUSE INTERNETS!! Moderator

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    aha!
     
  15. Sep 21, 2008 at 5:56 PM
    #15
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    you need the dual ground plugs.
     
  16. Sep 21, 2008 at 5:58 PM
    #16
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    Late to the thread, but what he said! ^^^^^^^^
     
  17. Sep 21, 2008 at 6:00 PM
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    HerNameIsLucy

    HerNameIsLucy I miss Lucy. :-(

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    Found this at sparkplugs.co.uk:

    Q8. Why do some spark plugs have multiple ground electrodes? A8. This is an attempt by the manufacturers to increase the service life of the spark plug. The ground electrodes can wear down rapidly in some engines. Tiny particles of metal are removed from the ground electrode each time the plug fires hence they gradually wear away. There is a misconception that a multi ground plug will produce mutiple sparks - this is not true, only the nearest electrode to the centre (i.e. currenty the longest) will spark, as that becomes worn, another electrode will become the longest and replace it as the sparking electrode.

    Q9. Do my multi ground electrode plugs outperform single ground plugs? A9. In most cases, no. The additional electrodes disturb the flow of gases around the spark plug tip and performance may even be reduced. In addition, for high performance applications the additional metal within the combustion chamber will retain more heat and may be more prone to detonation/pre ignition.

    Q10. Can I replace my multi ground plugs with a single ground Iridium plug?
    A10. Yes, in most cases - providing a suitably dimensioned Iridium replacement is available.

    But then it goes on to say always use what's recommended by the manufacturer. (?)
     
  18. Sep 21, 2008 at 6:01 PM
    #18
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    as always....late.....but i just got back from my dad's house a few minutes ago brotha!
     
  19. Sep 21, 2008 at 6:10 PM
    #19
    chris4x4

    chris4x4 With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine. Moderator

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    The Toyota 3.4 has a hemispherical combustion chamber and the plug being in the center does not disturb the air/fuel flow.

    The 3.4 engine is not considered a "High Performance" engine. If this was the case, every 3.4 out there would be pre igniteing like crazy. :rolleyes:

    This is not the case in the Toyota 3.4. Many people have used single electode plugs only to have diminished performance. Im not so sure of the credability of this source. Its a United Kingdom site, and I dont think they know much about how a vehicle should perform.
     
  20. Sep 21, 2008 at 6:13 PM
    #20
    HerNameIsLucy

    HerNameIsLucy I miss Lucy. :-(

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    Thanks Chris, I too had my doubts about that site. Seems to me the "always use what the manufacturer recommends" at the end is their little disclaimer.
     

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