PennSilverTaco's "Perfect 5-Lug Regular Cab" Build, Aspergers, and General BS MegaThread!

How do I get the plastic intake cover off?

 

Your excessive idling not only hurts your gas mileage but also your engine. I would not be shocked if that is a huge contributor if you are idling over an hour on each tank of gas.

Fill the truck up and don't idle it at all this next tank and see what happens.

Short city trips also crash mileage. I get 20mpgs normally if I do all highway. I get 16 driving in the city since I moved and no longer do virtually any highway trips anymore.

This is why I opted not to go for any side hustles that use my truck. They are virtually moneyless jobs when you take out gas and wear and tear on these things out of the pay.

 

FIFY. Duplicate what comes out. Mess with the next owners head if it’s sold....

Edit: Never-mind. Just saw OP has a four banger.

 

I believe toyota uses denso plugs. I put ngks in mine, but either is fine. Just check the gap. Not sure what it is on the 4 cyl. On the v6 the gap is about .044"

Edit: yes you can do it in your driveway. Just clean up around the plug before you pull it so that no dirt falls into the cylinder and be careful not to drop anything in there. Take your time. Don't over tighten the nee plugs. Its a pretty easy job. There are tbreads on here on how to change plugs already.

 

Pretty sure I used 10mm on the coils? Unless the 4 cylinder is different.

 

Didn't see anything said on a dirty air filter. Worth checking and replacing along with the fresh sparkys.

Even with that, all the city driving/idling with A/C is the MPG killer for anything other than hybrids/plug-in electric cars. Chill out on the lead foot and that helps, too. Big difference in my MPG's when I just grandpa the truck around but it takes discipline.

 

I did the NGK (4904)

$12 ILFR6T11 Laser Iridium Spark Plug, Pack of 1

ILFR6T11 Laser Iridium Spark Plug, it was an instant noticeable improvement.

 

Took me about an hour the first time I did it on my v6, but I'm a mechanic and have lots of tools to help get around the stuff in the way so I barely had to take anything off.

 

Same here, I didn't realize my engine was running so rough until I replaced the plugs. Original plugs had about double the gap they should have had due to wear. First time I drove it with the new plugs I noticed right away it was accelerating much smoother. I didn't think it was gonna make any difference, but I guess my original plugs were worse than I thought lol.

 

Denso

 

DENSO #3493 sk20hr-a11 LONG LIFE IRIDIUM@ ROCKAUTO

 

That bracket in the way though...

Oh, and don't over tighten the plugs when you install them as you'll be threading into aluminum.

 

We don't know what tools you have.

Do you have a torque wrench?

Do you have a 3/8 ratchet with a long extension, the correct spark plug socket and some electrical tape?

 

Grab a magnetic spark plug socket:

$10 GEARWRENCH 3/8" Drive 6 Pt. 5/8" x 6" Magnetic Swivel Spark Plug Socket - 80546

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014ZVSVK/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref=idea_lv_dp_&language=en_US

and gapper:

$6 CTA Tools 3235 Spark Plug Gapper

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00144AZ6K/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ref=idea_lv_dp_&language=en_US

 

My guess is it's mainly the idling with the AC on. My last tank was almost 18 mpg and that was with multiple times towing the boat and no highway at all. I don't use the AC so that's not a factor and I'm running 33's with 3" lift.

 

Absolutely DO NOT use that style of gapper on the Irridium plugs necessary for the i4. You do not want to touch the tip of the center electrode with any other metal as the coating is thin. You want to use a wire style plug gaper where you pull the ground strap. That stated the plugs should come pregapped.

 

Adding to this; tire pressures also play a factor in MPG.

 

When the owners manual tells you to.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/locating-toyota-owners-manuals-1996-to-present.585640/

 

Denso copper

 

Stealership wanted to charge me $270 ish for a plug change I’m like

Four bucks a plug and a hour and a half and a you tube vid I can feel comfortable with and I had no issues.