I just replaced my original spark plugs on a 2010 4 banger Tacoma with 211,000 miles (pics)

So I’ve been a little lax in replacing the spark plugs in my Tacoma. You can see from my signature that I use Fuelly. My miles per gallon have dropped by for this winter down to low 16 mpg. I was suspicious from the fact that my truck was running horribly in the cold that it was either the mass airflow sensor for my spark plugs. Well today was finally 55°F so I pointed the hood to the sun and broke out the tools. I can’t believe how easy it is to do a spark plug swap on a four-cylinder. The old plugs came out creaking like a rusted door hinge. Slow and steady. I put a tiny amount of anti-seize on the new ones. Keep in mind the OEM gap on tacoma spark plug is supposed to be .043 these plugs measured upon removal greater than .07 but technically since there was no linear line between the iridium tip and the ground arm to spark to it sort of had to go at an angle. The great news was inside the coil packs everything was nice and clean. No oil no black no char. Just even wear on all of the spark plugs.
I guess I’ll see you at 422,000.

 

You might have set a TW record for miles on a set of plugs! One of your plug tips actually had a split it appears in the photo but maybe that’s just a shadow?
Good write up, will be interested to see what kind of milage you get with the new plugs.
I’ve done a little reading on plug replacement for the 2.7L out of interest though I’m only at 8700 miles lol. Doesn’t seem hard at all, just the intake removal.
I suggest a change at 311,000 miles next time haha.

 

Those poor coil packs.

 

VERY easy to do...Especially now that I've done it. I budgeted 2hrs and was done inside 1hr...I think it's the first time i've had a DIY that EVERYTHING went how it was supposed to go...Hardest part is getting the air intake hoses shimmied back into proper place...

Engine already sounds a million times better...Now I can hear ALL the exhaust noise

 

I did mine around 110K and same, about an hour or so. Not as bad as I expected.

 

Good to know, and nice write-up. I'll probably do mine in the spring, pushing 170k +. Still getting right around 20mpg give or take a little. Not a daily in winter months though.

 

This guy is very helpful...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8K7DVOfzAw

 

Yep, watched that one a while back. Thanks

 

That might have been the one I viewed as well, or if not it was damn close.

 

Wait. How do you know these are originals?

 

I bought the truck 2 years old with 78K on it from the place where the original owner had it serviced (carfax). They had all the service records. The original owner was an obese man who smoked vanilla scented cigars and ashed in a cup between his legs...There are still burn holes in the seat and on hot summer days the smell of vanilla tobacco wafts the cabin...I digress...The Toyota dealer that sold me it gave me a full write up on what it was due for etc..It was a certified used...
I have it on good authority that they were original when I bought it 130K ago...and I'm pretty sure my wife never snuck out and put a set in for me

 

I didn't take any pics but mine looked good for 110K. I've owned the truck since about 6500 miles (see signature for the exact number)

 

Well. I'd smoke a vanilla flavored cigar with you in celebration, just for helping that motor.

 

I enjoyed my grape flavoured ones, before the state of MA banned em

 

Anti seize is absolutely not necessary nor recommended on sparkplugs with the silver colored threads. That is a sacrificial coating that breaks away to release the threads after getting cooked in the heads over the miles. Adding anti seize can alter your torque value, resulting in potentially stretched spark plugs, or even broken off spark plugs.

Black oxide threaded sparkplugs absolutely require anti seize, otherwise they get corroded in place. Torque specs on these take anti seize into account.

 

I bet you were in 8th grade and corrupted by big tobacco....and not an adult making adult decisions

 

Yes, I read all the pros and cons on this...I feathered a minuscule amount of anit-seize....

 

That is either way too much or not enough.

If you’ve been here long enough you’ll understand the statement above. If not, you will soon enough.

Best of luck keeping this thread on topic now.

 

You're lucky they didn't let loose and chang-a-lang on those pistons. lol

 

I use anti-seize and Fram filters. My truck is probably self destructing in my garage, as I type.....
Tomorrow, it will be as reliable as my '77 Camaro was.... (hint: It was a piece of shit.)