Do these spark plugs look normal for 40K?

I pulled the spark plugs today to put some anti-sieze compound on the threads. It's just a simple safe thing to do if I'm going to run these plugs to the recommended 100K miles. Everything seems fine with the truck as well as the spark plugs, except for the way the porcelain looks kinda burnt:




Is this a common, harmless event with the 2TR or the Denso plugs? Or is it a problem? And after only 40K miles? Given how cheap they are, I'm leaning towards replacing them just for peace of mind. But I'd like to know what, if anything, is wrong here.

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It's common, the burnt part of the porcelain is no longer sealed to the metal part. It's A good idea to change spark plugs at 30k miles.

 

I think you have a good idea "to put some anti-sieze compound on the threads" 2.7's with iridium plugs are supposed to be good for 100,000. The guys that are saying change them at 30,000 have 4.0 and they are correct for that motor. 100,000 is scary just because they could be welded in by then so the anti-sieze compound at 40,000 should solve that problem.

 

That is the cleanest looking spark plug tip I have ever seen! But that is coming from a guy that has only changed plugs on carbureted motors where a lot more carbon and gunk build up on the plugs, I have never changed a fuel injected plug before. I think they recommend you change the plugs every 100k on these trucks, not sure though.

 

x2, 30k mile interval is for the V6 engine.

Those look a lot better than mine did at 40k miles (I have a V6 and should have changed them at 30k miles ).

 

Thanks for that...I googled that phrase and found a bit more. Glad to know nothing is wrong. I've had old plugs with a small tan ring around them, but nothing like this big dark brown/burnt oil stain.

 

Ya, that's corona.
The clue is the "looping" you can see in the ghosting of the stain.
That is the corona being affected by the magnetism in the steel shell.

Had that not been present, and had that been a Champion plug, I'd have said that the plug has broken it's seal and should be replaced.

But I've never heard of Denso having problems with seals.

 

Don't they put anti-seize on the plugs at the factory? My 2TR has 70k miles and runs perfect, so I hadn't planned on taking the plugs out before the 100k recommended replacement... unless there might be an issue getting them out of the head...?

 

I replaced mine at 100k with no problems whatsoever and they looked almost exactly like that. There was no difference in how the truck ran after I changed them.

 

That's good info. How was the gap

 

Sorry don't remember. It's been 25k ago.

 

OK. Did you regap them or just put them back in ?

 

I replaced them with new OEM Denso Iridiums. Checked the gap on the new ones and they were pretty close to spec. Can't remember what the spec is though.

 

Since they came out without a problem do you think you will wait til 100,000 next time

 

Yep, that's the plan.

 

Thanks. I was going to take mine out to make sure they didn't get "welded" in but with the benefit of your experience I don't think I'll bother til 100,000.

 

Wife's '04 Rav4 was fine at 100k.

Parts guy at the dealership actually tried to talk me into the cheaper plugs. Told him I don't mind the extra cost for the infrequent changes.

 

Agreed. Your time - my time is worth more then the extra charge.

 

Platinum tip or iridium tip plugs are fully able to last for 100k miles. While there is no need to replace them at 30k at all, it is not a bad idea to apply anti-size on the threads. Just make ABSOLUTELY sure that you don't get any on the tip.

 

i pulled my iridium@130km,,came out easy but i chkd gap,rifght on money,,hard to believe dealer about the 192km srvc,put anti seize to make life easier later..were very clean.