Spark Plug Interval

Sorry if this question has been asked before but I can’t find the answer in the manual.

We have a 2009 Tacoma purchased new. About 166,000 kms. Never changed the plugs. Idles and drives smoothly.

Is it time to change the plugs? Also should we go with NGK or Denso?

 

K20hru11 denso

Every 30,000 miles or whatever that is in canadian

*if you have a 4.0

 

30,000 miles eh

 

Which engine?

 

30k miles for the 4.0 Tacoma.

most people run 100k with them.

read somewhere that Toyota suggest to change the plus at 30k so the emissions will be more clean.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference-guide.438945/

Scroll down to spark plugs, pretty simple.

166k km is 103k miles.

If you see denso on one side of the engine and ngk on the other, they’re original most likely.

If you’re still uncertain, remove one. You might find the hook electrode missing or severely eroded and the center electrode severely eroded. You could regap and put them back in. Then go shopping for replacements. Be forewarned, Amazon sells counterfeit spark plugs. I learned the hard way.

 

Terribly sorry I didn’t mention this originally.

It’s the 2.7 L four-banger.

TIA!

 

The 2.7 calls for 100k miles. (160,000 kilometers)
So yes, you are due for a change.

 

Thank you very much!

 

I've got a 4.0 with 213K miles. The original platinums were changed out at a dealer oil change visit years ago with copper/nickel. It was mentioned to me by the service folks there that the 4.0 was supposed to run better and/or have copper/nickel plugs. I just went along with it at the moment. I've had no issues with engine performance (so far) and now have 138K miles on these plugs, but they're about to be changed out. Be interested to see what they look like.

 

@GT2000 We meet again … to my knowledge, 2nd gen 4.0’s come with copper plugs from the factory. I replaced mine with Iridiums at 50K’ish. I’m on my second set of iridiums and they run fine. I saw no performance difference with copper plugs. The benefit I see is they last 100 K’ish.

 

4.0 never had platinum/iridium OEM. Copper only. 30k mile change interval.

 

That's interesting to hear...thinking about it now maybe it was that they were talking about or trying to sell me the ridiculously expensive platinums at that time and there was discussion about copper/nickel. Curious, I checked my records, it was @ 90K I had the plugs changed. Iridiums are working well for you, good to hear. I see you're in BC...took a trip to Vancouver, had a great time...went fishing on the Fraser and caught the hell out of some Sturgeon..very cool!

 

Copper OEM plugs only for me. Now that you mention it, I’m due for a change!

I’m in Victoria which is a short boat ride ride from Vancouver. Grew up on the mainland though. Those Fraser River sturgeon are something else for sure. Modern day dinosaurs.

 

How did you determine that your Amazon plugs were counterfeit?

 

The ground electrode U groove was off center, the groove itself.

Then I came across a YouTube vid that explained the differences and how to tell if you got counterfeits.

 

For what it’s worth, I gapped my Denso copper plugs at 30k miles. They were still well within spec, so I’m going to let them ride until 75k miles. I’m sure everyone’s engine is a little different, so don’t take my input as a suggestion.

Details if anyone is interested:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/a-non-enthusiasts-tacoma-build.667560/page-8#post-27142950

 

Spark plugs are cheap and easy enough that if you have any doubt you might as well change them out real quick

 

So ironic that the 4cyl with easier top access got the longer change interval, and then the V6 with the tricky driver side (those stupid brackets) has the 30k interval lol.

 

Who says you can’t put iridiums in the V6? No lol. You can also put coppers in the I4.