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Question on spark plugs

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by tyty415, May 16, 2014.

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  1. May 16, 2014 at 6:05 PM
    #1
    tyty415

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    tyty415 [OP] New Member

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    I'm new at this, so this is probably a stupid question.

    When my engine (5VZ-FE 3.4 V6) starting "stumbling" I took my brother-in-law's suggestion of changing the spark plugs. (Stupidly) I went to Auto Zone and the ones they gave me are Autolite copper core single electrode. We took one of the original ones out to compare... sure enough they were Denso dual electrode. Can I even use the ones I bought, or should I try to find some NGK or Denso ones instead? Or at least something with a dual electrode?
     
    tyty415, May 16, 2014
    #1
  2. May 16, 2014 at 8:35 PM
    #2
    sirsaechao

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    sirsaechao Well-Known Member

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    Stick with NGK or Denso dual electrodes.
     
    sirsaechao, May 16, 2014
    #2
  3. May 17, 2014 at 2:44 PM
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    Norton

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    Norton Senior Member

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    Welcome to TW, tyty415!

    +1 for OEM (NGK or Denso). Read this for all you need to know about spark plugs for our trucks.
     
    Norton, May 17, 2014
    #3
  4. May 18, 2014 at 8:32 AM
    #4
    tyty415

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    tyty415 [OP] New Member

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    Thanks guys! NGK plugs worked like a charm. Still running a bit rough but hasn't engine hasn't stumbled once since changing the plugs.
     
    tyty415, May 18, 2014
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  5. May 18, 2014 at 9:17 AM
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    Trapperr

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    Trapperr Well-Known Member

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    How old are the wires?
     
    Trapperr, May 18, 2014
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  6. May 18, 2014 at 9:25 AM
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    bldegle2

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    bldegle2 OldPhart

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    Advance discount coupons good for 20% to 30% off, get some NKG wires, should be about $20 after discounts....it solved slight miss and vibration at idle, smooth as glass when pedal pushed....

    Peace of mind, mine were 14 years old (originals)...they wear out internally over time...
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2014
    bldegle2, May 18, 2014
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  7. May 22, 2014 at 4:13 PM
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    tyty415

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    tyty415 [OP] New Member

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    I would bet they are original (so 14 years old)
     
    tyty415, May 22, 2014
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  8. May 22, 2014 at 4:30 PM
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    Tacoma1995

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    Tacoma1995 Well-Known Member

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    I'm gonna keep this thread goin' with another question..

    I jus put my truck back together last week and it was runnin' fine,
    I wanted to put new spark plugs in even though the NGK only had a few thousand miles on them, got some denso plugs at Advance and put them in.
    When I went to drive it down the road I could feel it missin',
    turned around and let it idle and it was missin' at idle also.
    So, I put the NGKs back in. Today, I got some Autolites and it did the same thing.
    Truck cuts in and out when drivin', and at idle.
    I put the NGKs back in and it runs smooth again.

    Am I missing something? I cant figure this one out..
     
    Tacoma1995, May 22, 2014
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  9. May 22, 2014 at 7:50 PM
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    OutlawJas

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    OutlawJas Well-Known Member

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    The Densos that you bought, were they dual electrode?
     
    OutlawJas, May 22, 2014
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  10. May 22, 2014 at 8:36 PM
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    Tacoma1995

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    Tacoma1995 Well-Known Member

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    no, single
     
    Tacoma1995, May 22, 2014
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  11. May 22, 2014 at 8:40 PM
    #11
    OutlawJas

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    OutlawJas Well-Known Member

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    That is why. I made the same mistake once. Our truck needs the dual electrode plugs.
     
    OutlawJas, May 22, 2014
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  12. May 22, 2014 at 8:42 PM
    #12
    OutlawJas

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    OutlawJas Well-Known Member

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    Btw, check out the link in post #3. Great info.
     
    OutlawJas, May 22, 2014
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  13. May 22, 2014 at 8:45 PM
    #13
    Bpassmore8

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    Bpassmore8 Brian13DCSB

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    I work at a Lexus dealership and a bunch of IS 250s and GS 300s get a stumble when coming to a stop which is being caused by carbon buildup basically causing a misfire. A top engine clean or decarb will usually fix it. The fix is temporary on this models but your engine shouldn't have the same problems as those ones do that are causing it.
     
    Bpassmore8, May 22, 2014
    #13
  14. May 22, 2014 at 8:50 PM
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    Tacoma1995

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    Tacoma1995 Well-Known Member

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    I thought I was different since mines a 95 2.7
     
    Tacoma1995, May 22, 2014
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  15. May 22, 2014 at 9:06 PM
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    OutlawJas

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    OutlawJas Well-Known Member

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    Different plugs but still dual electrode.
     
    OutlawJas, May 22, 2014
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  16. May 22, 2014 at 9:35 PM
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    Tacoma1995

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    Tacoma1995 Well-Known Member

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    The plugs recconmended from post #3 are not dual electrode, they are single

    lil confused what ones to get
     
    Tacoma1995, May 22, 2014
    #16
  17. May 22, 2014 at 9:37 PM
    #17
    Alderleet

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    Alderleet Ace of Spades

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    Whats really odd, and i think it has to do with contract obligations, is the 5vz-fe comes from the factory with Denso dual electrode plugs on the drivers side, and NGK dual electrode plugs on the passenger side.
     
    Alderleet, May 22, 2014
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  18. May 22, 2014 at 9:40 PM
    #18
    Tacoma1995

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    Tacoma1995 Well-Known Member

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    so I need dual electrode for my 2.7 3rz engine?
     
    Tacoma1995, May 22, 2014
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  19. May 23, 2014 at 3:53 AM
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    OutlawJas

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    OutlawJas Well-Known Member

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    The
    $3 k16r-u11 denso 3120 spark plug
    k16r-u11 has the "u groove" design. That is in fact the dual electrode design I was talking about. It is essentially two electrodes on one piece. If these were the Densos that you bought and the engine still missed, I would inspect the wires, then replace the Densos one at a time with the old ngk ones you have until you find which one may be causing the problem.
     
    OutlawJas, May 23, 2014
    #19
  20. May 23, 2014 at 11:21 AM
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    Tacoma1995

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    Tacoma1995 Well-Known Member

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    Tacoma1995, May 23, 2014
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