Spark Plugs and the Dealership Parts Department

Hello there everyone. Just a few questions for you. I could use some help here.

I just got off the phone with the parts guy at the local Toyota to check and make sure they had the NGK and Denso spark plugs in stock. When I mentioned this to the parts guy he said there is NO WAY that Toyota would put 2 different plugs into the engine EVER. I told him straight up that he was wrong and that is how all the Tacomas are.

After going back and froth for a few minutes he said "Look I have the Densos and only the Densos. That is all that the computer says they ever put in the 6 cylinder engine since 2005."

At that point I said thanks and hung up.

Why is it that Toyota seems to not know there own vehicles? or did I just talk to a duesch bag parts guy that doesnt know his mouth from his ass hole?

Please let me know what you think.

 

Every tacoma comes from the factory with 3 densos and 3 ngk's.

I reaplced mine with all denso's at 30K

 

That is exactly what I said!!! What a crap hole that guy was.

 

And all they sell are the Densos

And in his defense, he's just a parts guy, not a tech. He's trained to find replacement parts in the computer. It has densos as the replacement for the 05+ trucks so that's why he said 'that's all they ever came with.' Without ever pulling the plugs and seeing for himself that's all he can go by, anyone else would do the same.

 

The guy said that all they sell are the Denso. I gave him part numbers for the NGK and the Denso and he said they dont carry the NGK. He said all they have ever put in the Tacomas were the denso and I am wrong

 

he is a parts guy, all he knows is what part numbers are on the screen. Ive worked for BMW service for years and its 100x's worse. assembly plants do crazy things that no one ever gets to really find out about unless you are the actual tech that is working on the car. most of the times those techs dont care what comes out as long as what is going in works

 

My local dealer parts dep.had the Deer in the headlight look when I ask him why I had two dif. spark plugs. then he asked me who worked on the truck. I told him you guys? one of the tec. were call in he ask me the same once again i told him only you guys. They will call the factory Mon. and ask. I will post what i find.

 

They probably do only sell the densos. My truck had half NGKs and half Densos from the factory. It now has Densos in all six holes. It runs fine. I'm sure it would run the same with NGKs in all six holes.

If this is about having your truck run right, just get the Densos at the dealer, or the NGKs from NAPA, or if it makes you happy go to both places and get three of each. The truck won't know the difference.

If this is about being right and the parts guy being wrong, feel free to print out posts from TW documenting the half and half spark plug issue and take them to the parts guy. He'll either laugh at you or say you are lying. Then you'll either buy the Densos, walk out, or you'll assault him. I'd recommend buying the Densos.

Not trying to be a dick, but I've been where he is, and it sounds to me like he's just doing his job. Maybe a little cocky, maybe not, I'm not the one dealing with him.

 

Why are there two different types of spark plugs in the truck?

 

They are identical specs, two different suppliers. Just a way to keep the two supplier's contracts with Toyota satisfied is what I'd guess.