Spark Plugs

Might be a dumb question, but, how often do you guys replace your Gen 2s spark plugs. My 2013 TRD Off Road has right at 160,000 miles and still has the same plugs in it.

time to change?

 

Might as well leave those in forever

Copper plugs are supposed to be replaced at 30,000 but lots of people go longer than that.

I’ve replaced mine about every 50,000. It’s cheap and only takes 20 minutes.

 

I've changed mine 2 maybe 3 times in 220k miles. #6 cylinder is always fun

 

Yes.

And any other maintenance items that have been passed over.......

 

Factory manual states every 30k miles. I heard they say that for emissions.

 

I do mine every 30k miles with OEM Densos. They could go longer, but they are cheap and the job is relatively easy.

 

Truck has been regularly serviced since day one ……. Except for the spark plugs.

 

Look in the stickies to find recommend maintenance intervals. Source plugs from a reputable place. Don’t use Amazon counterfeits. Center & gap new plugs to specification.

 

I just got done doing a bunch of maintenance to my buddy's girlfriend's 06 DCLB that she inherited with 147k on it. It was the NGK/Denso mix, so I'll assume they were the original plugs. Lots of center electrode wear on all 6. Buddy said it runs so, so much better now.



Sparkys are cheap and easy to replace. I'll stick with the Toyota service intervals on this one.

 

My truck had the originals plugs in it at 120k lol. What's funny is I didn't really notice much of a difference in performance with the new plug. Runs a bit smoother now, a little better gas mileage. The 1GR is a tough motor

If you find that you have 3 NGK & 3 Denso plugs than you know they are the factory plugs. Be sure to post your mileage and gap size on the spark plug thread haha

 

Wait , Toyota mix & matched plugs ....on purpose ? That sounds like something dodge or gm would do....

 

I change mine every 30,000 miles and they still look really good so no doubt you can run them longer than that.

 

Do you use copper, platinum or iridium plugs?

 

Yeah. That’s very common. Apparently the rumor is that they were partners with both companies so they used one brand on one bank and the other brand on the other bank.

 

at 60k the plug gaps on mine enlarged to about 0.050, i probably gapped around .041 ish.
I've done them twice now, both around 60k and i like that as a top of the range number. Plugs were in decent shape, just worn a little.

 

I do all my maintenance per the service schedule. Except, I drain and fill trans and all transfer case / diffs every 30k.
So, plugs at 30, 60 ,90...

 

I use copper plugs.

 

x2 copper plugs

 

FOLLOW UP: Got my plugs changed today. The plugs that I removed were, indeed, 2 different kinds; Denso on one side and NGK on the other, both copper. The plugs on the driver side were a breeze even with all the hoses, etc, in the way. The passenger side, however, not so much. They were extremely, EXTEMELY difficult to get out. Once I did get them out it was apparent that some sort of thread locker, yellow in color, had been applied when they were installed. I was scared to death of damaging the head. But, in the end I did get them out.

As for the new plugs, I called a friend of mine who has more Toyota certifications than I can name and has been a exclusive Toyota mechanic for about 15 years. He strongly recommended going with Iridium plugs and gave me about 15 minutes worth of reasons. So, Denso Iridium plugs it is.

Got them installed and went for about a 15 mile test drive, both streets and interstate. I felt a noticeable difference in acceleration and smoothness at cruising speed. As for gas mileage, we’ll see.

Just for giggles, I asked my friend what a “typical” charge would be to install a new set of plugs. What he told was so absurd I hesitate to say. Then I called a local “Name Brand” shop and asked the same question and was given a price of $456. I’ve got $75 invested for the Iridium plugs and a tube of white lithium grease.

That’s it for this saga.

 

Follow Up #2: When I changed my plugs, copper to iridium, the increase in performance was quite noticeable but in crease in MPG was only very slight. As a second step I removed both the Mass Air Flow Sensor and Throttle Body and gave both a thorough cleaning. Air Flow Sensor, in particular was very dirty. Since doing this I have gone through 2 tanks of gas.

Before doing any of this I was getting, in average 19.5 MPG on the highway. My first tank of gas, 250 mile trip, all highway, I got 21.5 MPG. Second tank of gas, today, 200 mile trip, almost all highway, I got 21.35 MPG.

To say that I am both surprised and pleased would be a gross understatement.

Next move Cold Air Induction? Maybe, but still very much on the fence with this one.