Spark plug change is this normal?

How’s all this look for you mechanics on here? This is after a quick 5 minute drive and now sitting at idle in the driveway

 

Healthy...

 

Looks good to me

Take another screen shot cruising up a modest hill

 

I changed spark plugs on my Hybrid after 153k (10 years). They still looked fine. So Atkinson cycle is not the issue. Manual calls to replace at 120K. DI is a maybe.
Edit: Checked the service schedule on my other D4S engine car. Toyota put 120k to replace plugs. So DI is not the issue.

 

This is why buying a used Tacoma is such a losing proposition. Everyone has their own interpretation of scheduled maintenance.

 

The interval for plugs on the 5vz is every 30k, as is diffs, transmission, t-case, coolant and brake fluid. Interval for timing belt every 90k. I do it religiously. Do you have to do it? No, but some of us actually like the idea of doing maintenance because we like working on cars or because we sleep better at night. Changing the plugs every 60k is like every 4 to 6 years with normal driving, so for $120 every 5 years average for new plugs seems like a small price to pay to keep up with recommendations from the manufacturer.

Maybe the actual argument we have is there are those of us who believe that those of us who subscribe to the if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mantra are actually cheap and lazy and vice verse there those of us who beleive those of us who subscribe to the I’ll just do this because it’s a lot like painting my house every 10 years, whether it needs it or not it’s what’s recommended, are actually suckers.

To each their own

 

Why the heck are folks still putting 93 octane in a naturally aspirated, low compression, water and oil cooled motor that doesn't call for it?

 

11.8:1 is low compression?!

 

By today's standards, yes.

 

I have always used 91E0 or higher after dealers fill. My truck sits 5 days a week so I don’t want any ethanol.

From my experience, all my Japanese brand vehicles ran better/smoother and got better MPGs using 91E0 or higher. I also do believe “premium” gas has more cleaning additives.

Now using chevron 94E0 with a tune and truck drives absolutely amazing and gets stock MPGs if I drive conservatively. I’ve got about 650 of extra weight, E load 33s and 2” lift.

 

The plug manufacturer says they'll last 120k. That's in the right engine with the right usage. Not specifically these trucks.

 

yep. my brz is currently at 54k, but also has a 60k mile plug change that i'm coming up on. which is perfectly fine with me. the car hasn't cost me anything but 2 idler pulley's, a serpentine belt, a few dozen oil changes, and 4 sets of tires, which is the cheapest i've ever gotten out of almost 10 years of any car. my last used truck, i kept for 3 years. i paid $5k for the truck. i had to do almost $7k in work to keep it on the road.

 

Puts on engineer hat…

im betting the reason the plug interval is 60k is meeting emissions standards from the feds. The plugs likely start to break down around that time and don’t burn 100% of the fuel leading to raw hydrocarbons in the exhaust. Changing plugs addresses that.

the fact that the plugs are still working at 150k proves they are still ok and if they went bad at 60,001 miles then 90% of tacomas out there would be dead on the side of the road. It’s the same thing with 0W-20. It’s to appease Uncle Sam and mileage requirements.

 

Does that engine have the automatic deep cleaning cycle?

 

Never consider myself an actual mechanic but I was a fairly decent parts changer back in my day. These plugs came out of my 2017 at about 58,000 and I would say that was right about time.

 

His post is about as relevant as an oil change interval on an EV

 

People always say "apples to oranges" but I am just saying apples to oranges.

 

D4S system is the same across I4 and v6. But il plug obd2 just for you.

 

Hybrid, figured that would be running on electric at least half the time? Double the spark plug life would be about right?

 

Not trying to start a piss fight, I am interested.